Lakers to wear ‘Black Mamba’ uniforms to honor Kobe Bryant at NBA finals
The team will bring out the Mamba jerseys once again as they shoot for a 17th NBA championship
Looks like the Los Angeles Lakers plan to pay homage to the Kobe Bryant’s legacy while attempting to win their 17th NBA championship.
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According to ESPN, its been confirmed that on Friday, players will be rocking their ‘Black Mamba’ uniforms, styled specifically to honor Bryant during Game 5. A team source told the publication that originally they were planning to wear the black alternative uniforms in Games 2 and 7 of the NBA Finals. But the Lakers lead the Miami Heat 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, and given they have a possibility of winning the title in Game 5, the adjustment was made.
“Mamba and Mambacita jerseys approved for game 5,” Vanessa Bryant wrote in an Instagram story Wednesday evening. “Let’s go @lakers.”
Lakers coach Frank Vogel, LeBron James and Anthony Davis have all spoken on how Bryant’s legendary “Mamba mentality” has fueled the team since his helicopter crash back in January. Not only does the team chant “1-2-3 Mamba!” whenever they break huddles, both James and Davis have gotten tattoos in his honor.
So it comes as no surprise that the team has dedicated the rest of the season to the NBA legend who played all 20 seasons of his career in the purple and gold.
“Obviously, we’re representing him,” sad Davis after hitting a game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference finals . “Especially in those jerseys. It’s his jersey, one he created, and any time we put it on, we want to win.”
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ESPN reports, “The Lakers first wore the Bryant-inspired uniform on Jan. 26, 2018, against the Chicago Bulls — two years to the day before Bryant’s death. The alternate uniform is part of the “Laker Lore Series,” which included a jersey inspired by Magic Johnson in 2018-19 and another by Shaquille O’Neal in 2019-20.”
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