The Los Angeles Lakers may be sporting an old jersey with a very new meaning in the NBA playoffs.
If the Lakers beat the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, the team plans to wear their “Black Mamba” jerseys in honor of the late Kobe Bryant in subsequent rounds, according to Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times.
Sources: If the Lakers advance beyond the first round of the playoffs over Portland, they plan to wear the Black Mamba jersey in honor of Kobe Bryant in subsequent rounds. The shirt features a snakeskin print on the outside. Bryant, daughter Gianna and 7 others died in a helicopter crash in January.
– Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) 17 August 2020
Long before the coronavirus pandemic engulfed the NBA season, the deaths of Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven others was the story of the NBA season, so it’s only natural that the Lakers wanted to pay tribute to the legend in the playoffs.
The jersey in question is the team’s “Lore Series” look introduced in 2018. Designed by Bryant, the black jersey features a snakeskin pattern with yellow accents and 16 stars representing the team’s 16 leagues, according to Turner. The shirt quickly became a fan favorite.
Nike recently announced that it will release the jersey with both Bryant numbers, at a time when such a tribute has a completely different meaning for fans.
Nike will also release an 8/24 Lakers “Black Mamba” double jersey during “Mamba Week” to celebrate both chapters of Kobe Bryant’s career. pic.twitter.com/G2zq34Pqox
– Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) 13 August 2020
The Lakers’ first step in ensuring those jerseys reach the pitch will come in Game 1 against the Blazers, scheduled for Tuesday at 6:00 PM PT.
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