This August 23, Kobe Bryant should have blown out his 46 candles, and Los Angeles will celebrate the traditional “Mamba Day” on Saturday. A day dedicated to Kobe, inaugurated on August 24, 2016, four months after his retirement from sports.
A reference to his two jersey numbers worn by the Lakers, 8 and 24, this tribute day was decreed by the former mayor of the city, Eric Garcetti, and since his disappearance in a tragic helicopter accident on January 26, 2020, the event has taken another turn.
On the occasion of “Mamba Day”, Los Angeles has had a makeover. The Santa Monica Ferris wheel will be lit up in the Lakers' colors to display the numbers 8 and 24 of the “Black Mamba”. Nike has released several Kobe Bryant billboards in the city. On these billboards, we can find the slogan “No time to lose” in reference to the next Olympic Games which will take place in Los Angeles in 2028.
Downtown LA with a Mamba Makeover #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/IkcdIBpp2z
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) August 22, 2024
An event beyond basketball
Nike also installed a field in the heart of the city for the second edition of the Mamba League Invitational, a two-day tournament featuring some of the best high school players in the country.
These events go beyond basketball, as the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team will once again pay tribute to Kobe Bryant by offering fans a special jersey, similar to the one worn by the Lakers during “Mamba Day” 2020 in the bubble.
The Dodgers are giving away an exclusive Kobe Bryant jersey at their game on Aug. 25th pic.twitter.com/MISrSif5uv
— MLB (@MLB) July 24, 2024
As a reminder, a second statue of Kobe Bryant was unveiled in front of the Crypto.com Arena earlier this month. The latter celebrated the bond he had with his daughter Gianna.
