Fans of the late Kobe Bryant, a legend for the Los Angeles Lakers, attach a special significance to two days in late August.
August 23 is Bryant’s birthday. Because the date (8/24) aligns with the numbers 8 and 24 on the jerseys that the Hall of Famer wore during his 20-year NBA career, the day after tomorrow will be celebrated as Kobe Bryant Day in the county of Orange and the city of Los Angeles.
After the well-known athlete and his daughter Gianna were among the nine individuals who died in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, those two days remain bittersweet in Southern California and the rest of the world.
Many people honor Bryant’s life as well as his legacy. On Wednesday, the day that would have been Bryant’s 45th birthday, many took to social media to express their heartfelt tributes to him on the occasion of what would have been his birthday.
“Have a wonderful birthday, little one. “I love you always and forever.” Vanessa Bryant, his wife, posted on Instagram. In addition to that, she uploaded pictures of herself and her spouse kissing, hugging, and holding hands.
Jeanie Buss is just one of many people who left a remark on Bryant’s post. The Lakers owner called the novel “A timeless and inspiring love story.”
Throughout a concert on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, a fan reportedly threw a No. 24 Lakers jersey onstage, which prompted the rapper Drake to pay tribute to Bryant throughout the performance. “I’m going to keep this going because we’ve only got one chance to show Kobe some love. The hip-hop legend asked the audience in Los Angeles to “make some noise for Kobe,” and the audience was more than pleased to go along with his request.
Nike decided to relaunch its famous line of shoes bearing Bryant’s name on Wednesday morning. The company did so by removing the Kobe 8 Protro Halos from its SNKRS app and specific retail locations. Nike has stated that Vanessa Bryant was the one who created the Halo concept and the triple-white colorway. Additionally, the company has said that new sneakers in the series will be released on Kobe’s birthday each year.
In the beginning, Bryant’s estate allowed his contract with Nike to expire in 2021. At the time, Vanessa told NBA Online Betting PH that it had become too difficult for regular fans, as opposed to collectors, to acquire her husband’s products. In March of 2022, she announced that the partnership with Nike would be maintained.
Bryant warned fans that this year’s Halos would sell out on SNKRS practically immediately after they were published because they were the first Kobe sneakers to be released since then.
“Nike wanted this debut Halo Collection to be limited and collectible,” she wrote on Instagram. “But the good news is that Nike is working towards more units for future Kobe releases!”
On Thursday evening, Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will again pay tribute to Kobe using its Ferris wheel. Both of Bryant’s jersey numbers will be displayed in the ride’s light display, which will be in purple and gold respectively. The light show is scheduled to run from approximately 7:30 p.m. till midnight. However, the park will close at five o’clock for a private function, so members of the public will have to observe the memorial from a distance or online.
The Dodgers will pay homage to the Black Mamba upon their return from their current road trip, despite being currently away from home. As part of a limited-time promotion for a game on September 1 against the Atlanta Braves, the Los Angeles Dodgers will be giving away commemorative jerseys bearing the numbers 8 and 24 in Bryant’s honor. These jerseys will have the number 8 on the front and 24 on the back.
