Every year on August 24th, the sports world comes together to honor icon Kobe Bryant and his jersey numbers of 8 and 24 for Mamba Day. Bryant's untimely and tragic death on January 26th now provides a much different perspective to the Black Mamba's life and legacy.
Today, we're celebrating the Laker legend and how he inspired millions upon millions of fans through his mamba mentality, a-list smile, and big shots on the basketball court.
Highlights
Hailing from Lower Marion High School in Philadelphia, PA, Kobe Bryant was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets. The young prodigy was then traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he built a 20-year career and earned the following accolades:
- 5x NBA champion
- 2x Finals MVP
- 2008 NBA MVP
- 18x All-Star
- 11x All-NBA First Team
- 2x NBA scoring champion
- 9x All-Defensive First Team
- NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion
Allen Iverson
Letter to homie!!! @playerstribune. Link in bio!!! @kobebryant https://t.co/SYFOQEYvQc— Allen Iverson (@Allen Iverson) 1598275014
Former All-NBA point guard Allen Iverson penned a letter to Kobe with the Player's Tribune.
WNBA
"The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do." - K… https://t.co/wxF2awoW5c— WNBA (@WNBA) 1598274301
Kobe Bryant played a pivotal role in the promotion of women's basketball with his Mamba Sports Academy and personal relationships with some of the best female basketball players in the world. The WNBA is recognizing Bryant's impact on the game and his devotion to women's equality.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Remembering Kobe Bryant. https://t.co/J9SKfN9etN— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Los Angeles Dodgers) 1598212452
The LA Dodgers and Kobe Bryant had a special relationship through the years, where Bryant can be found throwing out the first week or sitting next to the field. The Dodgers are now celebrating the life of the Black Mamba and his daughter Gianna.
Nike
Kobe Bryant's partnership with Nike led to some of the most iconic creations in branding history. Today, Nike is honoring the late-great with a tribute video unlike any other.
NBA on TNT
On Inside the NBA, Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal opened up about Bryant's legacy and what he means to the sports world.
Kobe Bryant's global reach will forever be felt, and we're honoring the Black Mamba by keeping him in our hearts always.
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