Both Kobe Bryant's No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys hang among other Laker legends in the rafters of the Staples Center in Los Angeles. As such, August 24 – 8/24 – is recognized as "Mamba Day," an ode to each one of the numbers Bryant wore during his illustrious career.
Due to the rare circumstances of the NBA's restart, the Lakers will be taking the floor for Game 4 of their first-round series with the Portland Trail Blazers on Mamba Day 2020 and plan to honour the late Bryant by wearing the special-edition "Black Mamba" uniforms that he designed years ago, according to NBA.com's LockerVision.
Originally introduced in the 2017-18 season, this City Edition uniform is a part of the "Lore Series", honouring Laker legends by allowing them to have an input on the design, which takes cues from the player's playing style, accomplishments and, in the case of Bryant, their nickname.
The uniforms stray away from the Lakers typical purple and gold color scheme, opting instead for a black base with a snakeskin print on the uniform. The iconic purple and gold can be found on the collar and shoulder of the jerseys, while the numbers and name plate are black based with a gold outline. The waistband of the shorts features a staggered No. 24, which is coloured in a manner that forms an interlocking "LA"
Following Kobe's tragic death in late January, the Lakers placed a "KB" patch on each of their uniforms to honour Bryant and his daughter, Gianna. Their uniforms in Game 4 will feature a white heart patch that features the No. 2 for Gianna.
The Lakers will honour Bryant as they take the floor for Game 4 against the Blazers on Monday, Aug. 24.
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