Kobe Bryant’s legacy is being celebrated on a day two cities have named after the late Lakers superstar.
Both Los Angeles (2016) and Orange County (earlier this month) proclaimed the 24th of August as Kobe Bryant Day as a tribute to the two numbers — 8 and 24 — that Bryant wore during his NBA career. The Lakers have all of his jersey numbers retired.
On January 26, Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, a disaster that left millions across the globe mourning.
Sunday would have been Bryant’s 42nd birthday — and many, including Bryant’s widow, Vanessa, posted heartfelt messages to commemorate his life.
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Here’s a look at how the 18-time All-Star is being honored.
The Lakers:
For the team’s Game 4 match against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, the Lakers will be providing exclusive black Nike jerseys which Bryant had a hand in creating.
8/24 pic.twitter.com/FuDTL6OrpE
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 24, 2020
The jerseys were originally released in 2017, and it features a snakeskin-like print along with a special patch dedicated to Bryant’s daughter Gianna, who wore No. 2 during her basketball career.
Bryant, who won two Olympic gold medals, has played for the Los Angeles Lakers all his entire career and won five NBA titles.
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The City of Los Angeles:
President of the Los Angeles City Council Herb J. Wesson Jr. announced on Monday that after Bryant in his honour, the city will pave a part of Figueroa Street near Staples Centre. The stadium has always been called the “Home That Created Kobe.”
Championship parade after championship parade, Kobe Bryant led the procession down Figueroa St, from MLK to Olympic. After the @Lakers win this year, they will be marching down #KobeBryantBlvd.
*COMING SOON*#MambaDay #MambaForever #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/8VmHNpTjKF
— Herb J. Wesson, Jr. (@HerbJWesson) August 24, 2020
“Kobe’s reputation is larger than football. # KobeBryantBlvd should be a message to everyone, young and old, who pushes it down, there’s no barrier that’s too large and that with the # Mambamentality everything is possible.”
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Other LA teams:
The Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to Bryant by wearing his jersey at their game on Sunday.
The team also debuted a memorial video narrated by legendary retired Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully.
Remembering Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/J9SKfN9etN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
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