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Celebrate Kobe Bryant Day!pixabay.com
Kobe Bryant is one of the greatest basketball players that ever graced the NBA. His scoring prowess, ability to read the game and "Mamba Mentality" made him an unstoppable force during his illustrious 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. When Kobe's life was tragically cut short last year, August 24 was officially recognized as Kobe Bryant Day in honor of his global influence and contribution to the development of basketball. The date was selected in reference to his jersey numbers during his career: 8 and 24.
As we remember the great memories and lessons Kobe left us, here are some items that make for cool reminders of the Lakers legend.
First on our list is a Kobe Bryant jersey. When Kobe started his NBA career straight out of high school, he was selected 13th during the NBA draft. During this time, he wore the #8 jersey which was also his number when he won his first three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. If you are a huge fan of young Kobe, then this is the perfect merch for you.
In the 2006-2007 NBA season, Kobe changed his jersey number to 24 which is his jersey number during his time at Lower Merion High School. His 2008-2009 jersey is a nice reminder of Kobe's 4th championship win with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Hardwood Classic jersey pays tribute to the great teams that played during the NBA's early years. This style originated from the Minneapolis Laker's 1962 season that was used until 1972. Mitchell & Ness accurately followed the original design for this Kobe Bryant version.
Kobe was 37 years old when he retired from the NBA. During his final game, they were up against the Utah Jazz which was a great defensive team back in 2016. Kobe did not disappoint in his last game, dropping 60 (23 in the 4th quarter) to end his career on a high note.
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Fanatics Authentic 10.5" x 13" Third All-Time Scoring Sublimated Plaquenbastore.com
Throughout his career, Kobe was a lethal scorer. By the end of his career, Kobe was the NBA's 3rd all-time leading scorer passing Michael Jordan in December 2014. Currently, Kobe is 4th on the NBA's all-time scoring list after LeBron James who surpassed Kobe's record in January 2020.
Kobe Bryant's career featured several records and milestones. This plaque shows a quick summary of his career from being a 5-time NBA champion to his 33,643 total career points.
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Fanatics Authentic Framed 16" x 20" All-Star Game Commemorative Collagenbastore.com
For NBA players, being chosen to be part of the All-Star lineup shows that you truly are one of the NBA's elite players. Kobe was an All-Star player 18 times and holds the record for most MVP awards for the All-Star game at four (tied with Bob Pettit).
Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant Fanatics Authentic Framed 15" x 17" Final Game Collagenbastore.com
On April 13, 2016, Kobe Bryant played his final NBA game wherein the last two minutes showed Kobe almost singlehandedly bringing the team to victory. Here's a collage of Kobe's last game being guarded by Utah Jazz star Gordon Hayward
This MVP Kobe Bryant street sign makes for a great addition to any Kobe Bryant merchandise collection. It is made of steel so you don't have to worry about its durability.
The second-highest scoring game of all time was made by Kobe Bryant. Scoring 81 points and the win, it certainly was a magical game for everyone who witnessed it. Fun Fact: this was the only game when Kobe's grandmother was in attendance. No wonder he was pumped!
Before the Lakers' Dynasty was set in stone, the 1999 team featured a young Kobe Bryant ready to take on the world with Shaquille O'Neal who was so dominant that the NBA had to implement a new rule to try and make things fair for other teams. While the 1999 team did not win the NBA Championship, they surely made the Los Angeles Lakers the new favorite to win it all.
Here's a reminder of how athletic young Kobe was. He won in the 1997 Slam Dunk Contest after making some of the most impressive moves on his way to the rim. One of those dunks is this one launched from behind the rim.
During the Lakers road to the 2010 NBA Finals, they first had to go through Steve Nash's Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals. Entering the game with a 3-2 lead, Kobe and the rest of the team closed off the Suns with a final score of 111-103 with Kobe leading the way with a game high of 37 points.
Kobe just kept getting better and better as he played in the NBA. His game evolved from just relying on his athleticism to get to the rim to becoming an efficient mid-range shooter. His ability to crossover defenders and his quick footwork also became a concern for all teams when guarding the Lakers legend.
No Kobe collection would be complete without a Kobe Bryant in-game shot. This one has his signature tongue out, which he usually does whenever he's trying to taunt opponents into committing defense. If the defender falls for it, you'll see Kobe pump-fake, spin or dribble his way to another basket.
Rounding up the list is this Kobe Lakers jersey which represents the final honor Kobe was supposed to receive before his unfortunate demise. Kobe was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as part of Class of 2020 together with Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. We might have missed his acceptance speech, but his legacy and contributions to the game of basketball continue to live on.
