Mamba Day Tributes Sweep Los Angeles on Kobe Bryant Day

Los Angeles, CA – August 24, 2025 Today is the ninth annual Kobe Bryant Day. We remember the Lakers legend and honor his jersey numbers, 8 and 24. Fans, family, and former teammates in Southern California and worldwide honored Bryant’s lasting legacy, both on and off the court.

Citywide Memorials and Commemorations

The City of Los Angeles and Orange County lit up public spaces to honor Bryant’s impact. Murals of Kobe and his daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) brightened downtown streets. Twin bronze statues stood outside Crypto.com Arena—one of Kobe alone and another of him embracing Gigi. Fans gathered there to leave flowers, basketballs, and notes.

Nike wrapped up its annual “Mamba Week” today. They launched a limited-edition sneaker line inspired by Bryant’s hard work and competitive spirit. Pop-up events in Los Angeles showcased interactive exhibits. These highlighted career moments and charity work by the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation.

Family and Teammate Tributes

Yesterday was Kobe’s 47th birthday. Vanessa Bryant shared a personal tribute on Instagram. She posted a throwback photo from a European trip and wrote, “We love and miss you and Gigi so much.” Happy birthday, baby,” accompanied by a red heart emoji. Natalia Bryant celebrated the day with a sweet Instagram post. She wrote, “Happy Birthday Daddy ❤️,” and shared a fun photo with her dad.

NBA legends also joined the remembrance. LeBron James, a close friend and former Lakers teammate of Kobe Bryant, shared highlights of their Olympic wins and Mamba Mentality moments. He captioned the post, “Happy Birthday, Kobe Bryant 🥹🐍,” and celebrated their strong bond on and off the court. Magic Johnson shared similar feelings in a heartfelt social media post. He called Bryant “one of the greatest to ever lace them up.” Johnson also remembered him as a caring father and a successful entrepreneur.

Literary Honors and Lasting Impact

On August 19, Vanessa Bryant’s new book, Mamba & Mambacita Forever, was released. It features more than 100 murals of Kobe and Gigi from all over the world. The release was planned for Kobe Bryant Day. This shows the family’s effort to honor his inspiring legacy for future generations.

Purple-and-gold banners wave in the streets as fans wear “24” jerseys. Kobe Bryant Day 2025 celebrates a basketball legend whose impact goes beyond the game. Today’s tributes in art, literature, and community honor the enduring “Mamba Mentality.” This mindset unites and inspires fans all over the world.