NBA Updates PH – Fans of the late Lakers star Kobe Bryant remember two days in late August as very important.
Kobe Bryant was born on August 23. The next day, August 24, is Kobe Bryant Day in Los Angeles and Orange County. The Hall of Famer wore No. 8 and No. 24 shirts for 20 years in the NBA.
After the popular player and his daughter Gianna died in a chopper crash on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California, along with eight other people, those two days were sad and happy at the same time.
Kobe Bryant’s life and work are remembered by many. On Wednesday, Bryant was a hot topic on social media when it would have been his 45th birthday, and people posted memories of him.
“Happy birthday, baby. I love you always & forever. ❤️,” his wife, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on Instagram. She also posted pictures of her and her husband kissing, cuddling, and holding hands.
Jeanie Buss was one of the many people who replied to Bryant’s post. “A timeless and inspiring love story ❤️❤️❤️❤️,” the Lakers owner wrote.
On Tuesday night, a fan threw a No. 24 Lakers shirt onstage during Drake’s show at Crypto.com Arena. Drake then paid tribute to Kobe Bryant. “I’m going to hold this up because we have to show Kobe love once. The hip-hop star told the crowd in L.A., “Make some noise for Kobe.” The crowd was more than happy to do so.
Nike decided to return its famous shoe line with Kobe Bryant’s name on Wednesday morning. It did this by dropping the Kobe 8 Protro Halos on its SNKRS app and in some stores. A Nike news release says that Vanessa Bryant came up with the Halo idea and the triple-white colorway. Every year, on Kobe’s birthday, Nike releases a new shoe in the line.
Bryant’s estate let his deal with Nike end in 2021. At the time, Bryant’s wife, Vanessa, told ESPN that it had become too hard for regular fans, not just collectors, to buy her husband’s stuff. In March 2022, she said the relationship with Nike would continue.
This year’s Halos, the first Kobe shoes to come out since then, sold out on SNKRS almost as soon as they went on sale. Bryant told fans that this would happen.
“Nike wanted this debut Halo Collection to be limited and collectible,” she wrote on Instagram, “but the good news is Nike is working towards more units for future Kobe releases!”
This Thursday evening, the Ferris wheel located at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier will be utilized once again to honor Kobe Bryant. The ride’s lights will be colored purple and gold, displaying both of Bryant’s jersey numbers. The light show will take place from roughly 7:30 p.m. until midnight. The park will shut down at 5 p.m. for a private gathering, meaning the general public will have to witness the memorial from a distance or via the Internet.
The Dodgers are on the road this week, but when they get back, they will honor the Black Mamba. As part of a special ticket deal for the September 1 game against the Atlanta Braves, the team will give away special Dodgers shirts with No. 8 on the front and No. 24 on the back in honor of Bryant.
