Tag: Black Mamba

Lakers decide to wear ‘Black Mamba’ jerseys in Game 5 vs. Heat

The Lakers have said multiple times they don’t want to lose in the Mamba jerseys and decided to wear them in a potential close-out Game 5.

The Los Angeles Lakers are only one win away from winning their 17th championship and they have made it clear they want to win the title in their first chance. The Lakers, according to Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press, have elected to wear their special ‘Black Mamba’ edition jerseys in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night. The Lakers lead the 2020 NBA Finals best-of-seven 3-1 over the Miami Heat and while they are still scheduled to wear the jerseys in Game 7, if necessary, they have decided Friday is the night they want to wrap up this season with their fourth straight five-game series win.

The Lakers are 4-0 so far in the playoffs with their Black Mamba jerseys and all players on the team have said they feel a sense of pride when wearing them, giving them extra motivation not to lose while wearing the jerseys that are made to honor Kobe Bryant.

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Warriors honor Kobe Bryant in first home game since his passing

In the Warriors’ first home game since the passing of Kobe Bryant, Golden State paid respect to the fallen NBA legend.

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Over the past two weeks, the Golden State Warriors have been on an east coast road trip; in that time, the NBA lost a legend. Kobe Bryant. his daughter Gianna and seven others were in a fatal helicopter crash on January 26.

The Warriors’ last five-games were all played away from the Bay Area since his passing. Following the NBA trade deadline, Golden State returned to their home, the Chase Center in San Francisco.

The first game since their return, the Warriors hosted Bryant’s team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Although time has passed, Golden State paid their respect to the late Lakers’ Most Valuable Player.

Starting with their outdoor arena video board, the Warriors displayed Bryant’s No. 8 and Gianna’s No. 2 basketball jersey as fans arrived at Chase Center.

The outdoor video board located in Golden State’s “Thrive City” in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood also displayed the names of all nine people involved in the tragic helicopter crash.

In the arena, the Warriors gave away black shirts with the Bryant’s jersey numbers of No. 8, No. 24 and No. 2 listed across the chest for those in attendance.

Before the game started, the Warriors played a video tribute to Bryant, featuring the moment he walked off the floor in Oracle Arena for the final time.

The Warriors’ two-time Most Valuable Player, joined in the tribute to Bryant, wearing his No. 24 Lakers jersey during the game along the sideline.

The Warriors will host the Lakers again in late February before traveling to Bryant’s home arena, the Staples Center, on April 9.

Stephen Curry wears Kobe Bryant jersey to Chase Center vs. Lakers

In the Golden State Warriors first game since the death of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry wore Bryant’s No. 24 jersey to the game versus the Lakers.

It’s been 20 days since the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant, and his impact is still making waves throughout the NBA.

Since the fatal helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter, Gianna and seven others, the Golden State Warriors have been on a five-game east coast road trip.

On Saturday, the Warriors had the opportunity to honor Bryant against his former team, the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors paid respect to Bryant by giving away T-Shirts that labeled both his No. 8, No. 24 and his daughter’s No. 2 jersey numbers.

Before the start of the game, Golden State played a pregame video tribute featuring Bryant.

Stephen Curry, who’s spoken about his relationship with Bryant, also posted a social media commemoration in honor of the fallen NBA legend. On Saturday, Curry continued the Bryant tribute by wearing a special No. 24 jersey to Chase Center.

Curry’s missed all but four games for the Warriors and won’t have the chance to honor Bryant with his play on the court. However, the two-time Most Valuable Player is progressing through his rehab and could return from his broken hand injury in March.

If things go as scheduled, Curry could be in line to play in Golden State’s final game against the Lakers on April 9 in Los Angeles if he’s able to return healthy from his broken hand injury.

Report: Alec Burks to change from No. 8 jersey in honor of Kobe Bryant

Alec Burks is moving on from his No. 8 jersey and switching to No. 20 to honor fallen NBA legend, Kobe Bryant.

Since the devastating news of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others, the NBA has tried to honor the fallen legend.

Players like Stephen Curry, D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green have all weighed in on social media in remembrance of Bryant. During the Warriors’ first game since his passing, Golden State and the Philadelphia 76ers honored Bryant with a pregame ceremony, and each team took violations after the game tipped off.

Against Golden State, 76ers’ center, Joel Embiid wore Bryant’s No. 24 in his honor, instead of his regular No. 21 jersey. The 76ers all wore No. 8 or No. 24 with Bryant laced across the back in pregame warm-ups.

The honors for Bryant keep rolling in as the news of his death is still rippling through the NBA. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports is reporting Golden State swingman, Alec Burks will change his jersey from No. 8 to No. 20 with respect to Bryant.

Other players in the NBA are changing from either Bryant’s No. 8 or No. 24 to different jersey numbers. According to reports, Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, Detroit’s Markieff Morris and former Warrior, turned Laker, Quinn Cook have all swapped numbers since the loss of Bryant.

No Warriors will be switching from No. 24 as it’s already retired in honor of Hall of Famer, Rick Barry.

D’Angelo Russell reacts to loss of former Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant

D’Angelo Russell uses Instagram to react to the loss of his former teammate Kobe Bryant.

Long before D’Angelo Russell suited up in his No. 0 Golden State Warriors white and blue jersey, the Ohio State product was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Los Angeles legend, Kobe Bryant was one of Russell’s first teammates in the NBA.

Before Bryant’s retirement from the NBA, he spent one season alongside the newest Golden State Warrior, Russell. Russell, with only one year of college basketball experience, was playing alongside a five-time champion in his first season in the NBA.

Earlier in the 2019-20 season, Russell credited Bryant’s lessons from his rookie season after closing out a much-needed win for Golden State against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Bryant tragically passed away in a fatal helicopter crash alongside his daughter Gianna, and seven others in Calabasas, California, on Sunday.

One day later, the devastating news is still rippling through NBA circles. Bryant’s impact has been felt across the league with games starting with 24-second violations to honor the fallen All-Star.

Players around the world have weighed in on the loss of Bryant, with several Warriors players, including both Draymond Green and Stephen Curry each paying tribute.

In response to the devastating news of Bryant’s death, Russell went to Instagram to pay tribute to his fallen teammate.

Watched you closer than ever man, learned more than I could in such a short time, asked you more questions than ever. True Role ModeI. I find myself hearing every bit of advice you ever gave me. #legendary #mambamentality

The entire Golden State team will be able to honor Bryant on Tuesday when they travel to Philadelphia for their first game since his death. Following Golden State’s five-game road trip, the Warriors will host Bryant’s team in their first game back in the Bay Area on February 8.