This week will see the two organizations that Kobe Bryant was most closely associated with during his life honor his legacy: The Los Angeles Lakers, and Nike. Dubbed “Mamba Week” — after Bryant’s self-given “Black Mamba” nickname — by the sneaker giant, this week will see Bryant remembered in a few ways.
On Sunday, Aug. 23, which would have been the late Lakers’ star’s 42nd birthday, Nike will release several new colorways of his Kobe Protro signature sneakers, the first new Mamba merch since his passing.
On the next day (8/24), which has been known as “Mamba Day” in the past — and officially recognized as “Kobe Bryant Day” by both Los Angeles and Orange County due to the date representing the two retired jersey numbers Bryant wore during his legendary career with the Lakers — the Lakers will wear the “Black Mamba” version of their alternate jerseys for Game 3 of their first-round NBA playoff series against the Portland Trail Blazers.