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Lakers Remember Bryant With ‘Black Mamba’ Uniforms

  The Los Angeles Lakers wore special “Black Mamba” jerseys to remember Kobe Bryant in game four of their first-round playoff series on Monday in … Continue reading Lakers Remember Bryant With ‘Black Mamba’ Uniforms


LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks along the sideline with Kobe Bryant signage in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers walks along the sideline with Kobe Bryant signage in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round against the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. . Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

 

The Los Angeles Lakers wore special “Black Mamba” jerseys to remember Kobe Bryant in game four of their first-round playoff series on Monday in the NBA’s quarantine bubble in Florida.

The Lakers also wore a special patch bearing the No. 2 in a heart as they paid tribute to Bryant’s daughter Gianna as well before the Western Conference contest against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 18-time all-star Bryant died, along with his daughter and seven others, in a helicopter crash seven months ago in Calabasas, California. He was 41, and Sunday would have marked his 42nd birthday.

 

ORLANDO, FL – AUGUST 24: The Los Angeles Lakers huddles against the Portland Trail Blazers for Game four of the first round of the 2020 Playoffs as part of the NBA Restart 2020 on August 24, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.  Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

Monday was also ‘Kobe Bryant Day’ in Los Angeles, where the city is honoring the five-time NBA champion with a move to rename the downtown road in front of the Staples Center arena after him.

“This is a gift to the city of Los Angeles and to all the Kobe Bryant fans around the world,” councilman Curren Price said of the proposal.

Kobe Bryant Boulevard will stretch south from the arena for several blocks to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

 

ORLANDO, FL – AUGUST 24: Signage shown at the arena during Round One, Game Four of the NBA Playoffs on August 22, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida. . Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

In 2016, Los Angeles initially declared August 24 to be “Kobe Bryant Day”. Orange County followed suit earlier this month with the same honor.

Bryant wore No. 24 for his last 10 seasons and No. 8 before that with the Lakers.

The move comes one day after Vanessa Bryant posted a heartfelt message to her late husband and daughter.

“To my baby. Happy birthday. I love you and miss you more than I can ever explain. I wish you and Gigi were here to celebrate YOU! I wish I could make you your fav food or a birthday cake with my Gigi. I miss your big hugs, your kisses, your smile, your loud ass deep laugh,”  she wrote in an Instagram post.

On Sunday, Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers paid tribute to Bryant with a pre-game ceremony before their 11-3 win over Colorado.

The Dodgers donned Bryant’s No. 8 and 24 jerseys and the team played a video tribute.

 

ORLANDO, FL – AUGUST 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during Round One, Game Four of the NBA Playoffs on August 22, 2020 at AdventHealth Arena in Orlando, Florida.  Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP

Bryant became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career with the Lakers.

The 6-foot-6-inch Bryant scored 33,643 points, the fourth-most in NBA history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38,387), Karl Malone (36,928) and LeBron James (34,241).

Bryant was chosen as the NBA finals MVP for both of the two most recent Laker championships.

Shoes worn by LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers following Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.  Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

 

Shoes with #8 and #24 to honor Kobe Bryant are worn by Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

 

Shoes with #8 and #24 to honor Kobe Bryant are worn by Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Four of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 24, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.  Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP

 

-AFP