Nearly seven months after the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, Nike honored the Lakers legend with Mamba Week. Starting Aug. 23 — what would have been Bryant’s 42nd birthday — Nike dedicated its platforms to spreading Bryant’s legacy of passion, focus, honesty, fearlessness and optimism.
In memory of Bryant, Nike debuted several Mamba-inspired items Sunday, including a unique collection of Kobe V Protro sneakers and a limited-edition jersey. The black snakeskin jersey shows the number 8 on the front and 24 on the back, commemorating the first and second halves of his career.
Nike also released a film titled Better narrated by Kendrick Lamar. Better captures Bryant’s fierce drive to be a better winner, fighter and father in all walks of life.
The film highlights Bryant’s illustrious career and includes tributes to Gianna. Clips from Nike athletes including Megan Rapinoe, Serena Williams and Michael Jordan are also played throughout the video as they share Bryant’s wisdom.
Throughout Mamba Week, Nike highlighted one word each day from Bryant’s mantra, including passion, focus, honesty, fearless and optimism. All-star Nike athletes shared what the word meant to them, how Bryant instilled the value in them and how the next generation will carry on his legacy.
Nike also plans to continue its support of Bryant’s foundation, the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, with a $1 million donation.
The tribute to Bryant will last longer than just Mamba Week, however.
On Monday, Aug. 24 — 8/24, representing the two numbers that Kobe donned during his time as a Laker — Herb J. Wesson Jr., president of the Los Angeles City Council, announced the portion of Figueroa St. between Olympic Blvd. and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. will be renamed Kobe Bryant Blvd.
That same night, the Lakers faced the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 4 of the first round of the NBA playoffs, wearing special-edition Mamba jerseys with a commemorative patch for Gianna. At one point in the first quarter, the Lakers made a shot to bring their lead to 24-8, another symbolic moment in Kobe’s memory.
“When I looked up and saw we were up 24-8, I was like, OK, he’s here in the building,” Lebron James said in a postgame interview. “To go out there one day removed from his birthday and then his day of 8/24, to be able to have a game on this day, the stars aligned.”
Behind 30 points from James, the Lakers celebrated the special day with a 20-point victory, giving them a 3-1 series lead.
Bryant has constantly been at the forefront of the Lakers’ minds in the months since his passing.
Preparing for their first playoff game in seven years, the Lakers began practice on Aug. 16 with a video to inspire and remind them of Bryant’s fierceness.
“It was a bit of a sermon that ties in Kobe and what it means to be a Laker and it was pretty powerful, that two-minute video,” guard Alex Caruso told Lakers media after practice.
“The message was strong: About our opportunity here and what Kobe stood for,” head coach Frank Vogel added. “And we’ve said that since this all happened — since we lost Kobe — that we want to embody what he stood for. I thought it was an appropriate time to do it today.”
For Lakers forward Anthony Davis, Mamba Week is extra special. Davis was one of the few NBA players Bryant mentored, and Bryant was the first veteran to provide that guidance to Davis.
“Not a day goes by that we don’t remember him,” Davis told the Los Angeles Times. “Now we have the opportunity to finish this season off and make him proud. We know that’s what he would want. He would want us to go out there and compete and bring another championship home. Anytime we step on the floor, we play for his memory.”
For the remainder of the playoffs, the Lakers will certainly keep Bryant’s legacy alive. James and the Lakers will use the inspiration from Bryant in hopes of winning the team’s first championship since 2010, when Bryant won NBA Finals MVP.