Tributes are flowing for Kobe Bryant as Lakers fans and NBA fans across the globe celebrate and remember Kobe on his birthday and Mamba Day.
Bryant’s birthday is August 23 and he would have turned 45 this year.
The following day is August 24, which is Kobe Day because the date (8/24) matches the No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys the Lakers legend wore during his 20-year NBA career.
It is 48-hour period that brings sadness but also brings celebration of a basketball player that gave us so much.
Plenty of NBA franchises and media in the basketball world have posted about Kobe in the last couple of days.
Some of the highlights are below.
Starting with the Lakers announcing that a Kobe statue will be unveiled outside of Crypto.com arena on February 8th of next year which is so special as it also incorporates Gigi Bryant’s No.2 jersey she wore for Mamba Academy.
Kobe’s legacy immortalized.
2•8•24 pic.twitter.com/WHQBXZJ2gD
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 24, 2023
Kobe Bryant’s daughter Natalia wishes her father a happy 45th birthday on IG 💜💛 pic.twitter.com/JZiEFEfbpR
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 23, 2023
The time Kobe didn’t flinch 😤
Classic Mamba 🐍 pic.twitter.com/bkM3JhM645
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 24, 2023
Vanessa Bryant wishes Kobe a happy 45th birthday on her IG ❤️ pic.twitter.com/u2jeneVImQ
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 23, 2023
Happy birthday brother ❤️ pic.twitter.com/iwTjDKpwnX
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 23, 2023
“Legends never Die 🙏🏾💯 Just Another year to celebrate the Legacy you left for all of us to appreciate 🤞🏾”
Dwight Howard’s message to the late Kobe Bryant 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/nekRnHCKry
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 24, 2023
When Team USA sang “Happy Birthday” to Kobe 🐍
Special moment ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/sitaWj2WA8
— ESPN (@espn) August 23, 2023
Remembering Kobe 💜💛 8.23.78 pic.twitter.com/bRZgrOzOok
— NBA (@NBA) August 23, 2023
“We all think about Kobe to this day, and everything he meant to the league and to all of us.”
Steve Kerr on 8/24 aka Mamba Day 🐍
(via @ByTimReynolds)pic.twitter.com/MnWJsdb4Dr
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 24, 2023
Welcome to the world, and welcome to the Lakers family.
The Lakers teamed up with @UCLAMCH to gift special care packages to newborns born this week in honor of Kobe Day 💜 pic.twitter.com/tCr4qG5DKi— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 25, 2023
Trevor Ariza: *Sends photo of Kobe Bryant shooting over 3 defenders*
Kobe Bryant: “Means someone should have an easy putback if I miss! Lol”
Ariza shared this text exchange with the late, great Kobe Bryant 😂🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/f1AyiQRwAE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 23, 2023
Join us in celebrating the icon, legend, and Black Mamba. Happy birthday, Kobe 💜 pic.twitter.com/mB0v5w9u76
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) August 23, 2023
24 seconds of greatness.
Happy Birthday, Kobe 🖤🐍pic.twitter.com/j9kQb6LHal
— NBA TV (@NBATV) August 23, 2023
“Watching (Kobe Bryant) play inspired me. It was a dream come true to get to the league and play against him.”
8.24 #MambaDay pic.twitter.com/b4nvsOZOD8
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) August 25, 2023
LeBron James poses in front of Kobe Bryant’s retired numbers at the Lakers facility for #KobeDay 💜💛
(via @KingJames/ IG) pic.twitter.com/pYf88dNoMg
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) August 24, 2023
Jordan Clarkson on Kobe and his influence on the game 🐍 ♾️#FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/4lsOkg0dkO
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 23, 2023
Kobe Bryant would have turned 45 today. 🥺 pic.twitter.com/r51SNnvmit
— Hoops (@HoopMixOnly) August 23, 2023
Drake paid tribute to Bryant during a concert at Crypto.com Arena on Tuesday night. “Imma hold this up ’cause we got to show love to Kobe one time. Y’all make some noise for Kobe,” he told the crowd.
Someone threw a Kobe Bryant jersey on stage and Drake paused the show to honor the late basketball legend 🙏 pic.twitter.com/6iEJFduM1p
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 23, 2023
Santa Monica Pier will honor Mamba on August 24th for Kobe Bryant Day.
The Ferris wheel light display is from 7:30 PM until midnight on 8/24. pic.twitter.com/FJ57u4YNCO
— Kobe Highlights & Motivation (@kobehighlight) August 22, 2023
Happy #KobeDay 🐍 pic.twitter.com/g3Iiskool1
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 24, 2023
Today, we celebrate Kobe Bryant Day in the City of Los Angeles.
The memory of Kobe will always remain in our hearts forever. #MambaForever💜💛
8/24♾️ pic.twitter.com/bJ82oxxOV2
— Mayor Karen Bass (@MayorOfLA) August 24, 2023
The first Kobe sneakers released since 2021, sold out in minutes but Bryant’s wife Vanessa says that new shoes will come out every year on Kobe’s birthday.
He may be gone but his legend lives on forever.
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do.” – Kobe Bryant.
READ MORE: Dwight Howard Explains Key Differences Between Kobe and LeBron
