Kobe Bryant dedicated his 20-year career to the Los Angeles Lakers and left the organization with endless memories. Through the five championships, early postseason exits and missing the playoffs, Bryant’s effort and mentality were never in question.
His untimely passing in 2020, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, left the whole world stunned. After dropping 60 points in his final game, many expected him to succeed off the court as a businessman and influence on the youth.
The Black Mamba would win an Oscar in 2018, wrote children’s books that became Bestsellers and coached Gianna’s travel basketball at Mamba Sports Academy. His life after the NBA was just getting started and tragically got cut short.
But, he and Gianna’s legacy proves to live on with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, and now another gesture was made by Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown, dedicating a basketball court to the both of them, via Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe:
On the eve of his 27th birthday, #Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown dedicated a basketball court dedicated to Kobe and Gigi Bryant at the Roxbury Boys & Girls Club. Brown called the honor of presenting the court “the best present I could have ever received.” pic.twitter.com/qBSd7PjgsM
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) October 23, 2023
With the 2023-24 regular season underway, this gesture serves as a remembrance of the everlasting impact Kobe and Gigi had on everyone and on the game of basketball. Despite all the historic battles that Kobe had against the Celtics, it is refreshing to see Brown put that rivalry to the side to acknowledge him.
The court is painted in the iconic Purple and Gold with both Kobe and Gianna’s names at center court. But, the most breathtaking part is the mural painted on the wall behind the court detailing life-like portraits of the two and in the middle is a heartwarming depiction of Kobe with Gianna in his arms after winning a championship.
Bryant and his family mean a lot to the city of Los Angeles and everyone around the world. Sadly, both of their lives were taken too soon, but these gestures like Brown’s will help cement their legacies forever.
Markieff Morris: Lakers were ‘locked in’ for bubble run to win championship for Bryant
The 2020 season was a chaotic year, especially for the Lakers as they were the No. 1 seed in the conference while having to deal with the loss of both Giana and Kobe as well as a global pandemic. However, Markieff Morris said that the team was ‘locked in’ to win a championship to honor Kobe, and they were able to do exactly that.
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