The Lakers will unveil a statue of former announcer Chick Hearn in front of the Staples Center next week.

Sources close to the team say that the statue will be unveiled before Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series.

Hearn was the voice of the Lakers for 42 years until his death in 2002.

"I feel so wonderful about this," said wife Marge Hearn. "This is the best thing that can happen to someone in their whole life. How many people get a statue? It's a shame he didn't get to see it. And even if he did, he wouldn't believe it."