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From Lakers’ Jersey to Devin Booker’s Tattoo, 5 of the Best Tributes to Kobe Bryant Since His Departure

Published 01/25/2021, 11:00 AM EST

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Tomorrow marks the first death anniversary of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant. Since then, it has been one of the toughest years, not just for the NBA but for all of his fans across the globe. Many people have paid homage to Kobe since then, and here are five of the best tributes for the Mamba.

Lakers win the title for Kobe Bryant

Following his passing away, there was a lot of pressure on the Los Angeles Lakers to win it for Kobe. They lost their first game in the Staples Center after his death, but they stayed strong throughout the season, especially the playoffs, to bring home the Larry O’Brien trophy for Kobe. This was the greatest way they could have paid homage to him, and they did it in style.

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Lakers reintroduce the Black Mamba jerseys

Midway through the 2017-18 season, the Lakers released a Kobe inspired jersey, which instantly became a fan favorite. They brought it back for the 2020 Playoffs along with commemorative patches for both Kobe and Gigi. The Lakers played five games in that jersey and lost just once, almost proving that they were undefeatable in those jerseys.

Snoop Dogg’s tribute for Kobe Bryant at ESPYs

Snoop Dogg, like Kobe, is a fellow LA icon. During the 2020 ESPYs, the rapper presented a beautiful tribute to Kobe as he sang an emotional song that would bring any fan to tears. He also got a ‘KB’ tattoo dedicated to the five-time NBA champion.

Devin Booker pays homage to Kobe: Tattoo tribute from the protege

Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker has been touted as Kobe’s successor in the league for his scoring prowess. Back in 2016, Kobe told him to “Be legendary,” which he also signed on Booker’s shoes. So in March 2020, Booker got this phrase tattooed on his arm, as a tribute to his idol.

NBA renames All-Star MVP award to All-Star Game Kobe Bryant MVP award

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There have been many tributes from teams and players, but this is one of the biggest ones. Adam Silver, the NBA commissioner, renamed the NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player in memory of Bryant, who is a joint record-holder when it comes to most All-Star MVPs. It was a touch of class from them, and LA native Kawhi Leonard became the first winner of this award.

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There have been a lot of memorable tributes for Bryant so far, and there will be many more.

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Written by:

Aaron Mathew

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Aaron Mathew is a sports analyst at EssentiallySports. A graduate in Mass Media from Xavier’s College, Aaron has been a part of EssentiallySports since May 2020 where he covers both NBA and NCAA basketball news, and has also covered NBA 2K. In the past, Aaron has worked at the Sports Desk of Mumbai Mirror.
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