Kobe Bryant was one of the most competitive and dedicated players to step foot on an NBA floor, always bringing unmatched intensity and heart to each practice and game. It’s why so many young basketball players look up to the late Lakers legend as one of the all-time greats in the game.
Bryant was tragically killed in a helicopter crash in January and would have turned 42 years old on Sunday. The Rams are honoring the Los Angeles icon by implementing “Mamba periods,” which are competitive sessions in practice.
Sean McVay explained the reasoning behind it on a conference call Sunday, sending his thoughts and prayers to the Bryant family.
“As we get started, you know a lot of people talk about, especially in this area, this would have been Kobe’s 42nd birthday and tomorrow being 8/24, being able to recognize him. You talk about the guy that epitomizes the mindset and mentality as a competitor that you want to embody,” McVay said to open his media session. “I know there’s so many people that have such a great affinity and appreciation for Kobe in our building players, coaches alike. You know, we’ve implemented when we do a lot of competitive-type periods, we call those Mamba periods. I just wanted to be able to acknowledge that and just say that he’s in our thoughts and our prayers, and so is his family with today being what would have been his 42nd birthday.”
It’s a nice touch by McVay and the Rams to honor a legend in the city in which they play. It’s yet another example of the way McVay just “gets it,” always having outstanding awareness and understanding for what’s happening outside the walls of the Rams’ facility.
After Bryant’s death, almost every player on the Rams’ roster paid tribute to him on social media or shared some type of story about the former Lakers star, and it hit especially close to home for those who grew up in Los Angeles watching him win five NBA titles.