Sunday, August 23 and Monday, August 24 were somber days throughout the NBA community.
Sunday would have been the NBA legend's 42nd birthday, and on Monday (8/24 -- his two jersey numbers) Lakers stars were planning to wear jerseys inspired by the Black Mamba.
In addition, Orange County was set to celebrate Kobe Bryant Day, which was officially declared as such after a unanimous vote among county supervisors earlier in the month. It was to be a day of remembrance, of inspiration, of nostalgia, of sadness, and of so much more.
And while his would-be 42nd birthday is obviously a very upsetting event, the NBA Twittersphere was putting smiles on our faces as various users took time to remember all the good he brought to the world, not only in basketball, but also as a father and as a human being.
Vanessa Bryant provided her own tribute of Kobe Bryant, which you can see here.
Sports Leagues and Organizations
Several sports leagues and teams paid tribute to Kobe on Sunday, headlined by the NBA and the Lakers. Various members of the Lakers roster, including LeBron James and Anthony Davis, are included in a lengthy thread on the team's official Twitter page.
Remembering Kobe 💜💛
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) August 23, 2020
Watch Mason's introduction of Kobe Bryant at his final game at The Palace. pic.twitter.com/9VXUTmcNYk
Tributes from leagues and teams to Kobe were not limited to the world of basketball. The Dodgers' special tribute was narrated by broadcasting legend Vin Scully.
Remembering Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/J9SKfN9etN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
Remembering Kobe Bryant. pic.twitter.com/J9SKfN9etN
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 23, 2020
It’s a special day. pic.twitter.com/AMMVCnBeBa
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) August 23, 2020
NBA Stars and Other Athletes
Individual athletes provided a tribute to Kobe Bryant as well, including former teammates, NBA legends and those from other sports who were inspired by his greatness. Lakers big man Anthony Davis told Tania Ganguli of the Los Angeles Times that "not a day goes by that we don't remember him," while Rockets star James Harden offered a similar sentiment. Lakers legends Magic Johnson and Jerry West also commented on Bryant's impact, with the latter emphasizing that we should remember who we was as a person. Pau Gasol, a longtime teammate of Kobe's, spent a day with Vanessa Bryant and their respective families before the weekend began.
Here are more athletes who shared how Kobe affected their lives and expressed just how much they missed him.
Happy bday uncle Kobe ❤️ I love you , I miss you 💕 pic.twitter.com/eeCmWtpdzE
— Shareef O’Neal (@SSJreef) August 23, 2020
Music and Entertainment
Notable members of the music and acting community also paid tribute to Bryant, including Snoop Dogg, who collaborated with ESPN in a video.
Fashion and Sports Attire
The fashion and sports attire industry, which will be headlined by Nike's release of Kobe-inspired products throughout the week, was sure to honor his impact. Nike also released a short video, narrated by hip hop artist Kendrick Lamar.
Kobe taught us to be better. A better scorer, better mentor, better father, better champion. Today, on his birthday, we continue his endless pursuit of better.
— Nike Basketball (@nikebasketball) August 23, 2020
Explore #MambaMentality. https://t.co/H4exgG9itT 💜💛
Performance: @kendricklamar pic.twitter.com/1Qm36V9mM6
Happy 42nd Birthday to Kobe. You’re forever in our hearts. 💜💛 #MambaMentality pic.twitter.com/8LGMi588bX
— Foot Locker (@footlocker) August 23, 2020
Sportswriters and Media
Lastly, sportswriters who covered Kobe and/or witnessed his outstanding work ethic, determination and production shared heartfelt memories of the Hall of Famer.
This story will be updated as more athletes/teams remember the iconic Lakers legend.
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