August 24 has been declared Kobe Bryant Day in Orange County, California, to commemorate the late NBA legend.
What We Know:
- Last week, Orange County’s Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to declare August 24 Kobe Bryant Day. Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Michelle Steel shared that August 24 was chosen as the date to honor the NBA legend because, throughout his NBA career, Bryant wore the numbers 8 and 24.
- Bryant, who lived in Newport Beach in Orange County with his wife and four daughters, died on January 26, in a tragic helicopter crash with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and seven others. “A treasured member of our Orange County community, Kobe Bryant was the basketball legend that inspired so many young men and women to pursue their dreams and never give up,” Steel said.
- The declaration calls Bryant a “basketball legend [who] inspired so many globally to pursue their dreams and taught us that hard work truly pays off,” and encourages the community to celebrate Bryant’s honor by “engaging in community building, helping young people in need, encouraging aspiring youth to follow their dreams, and living by Bryant’s words: ‘The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they could be great in whatever they want to do.'”
- In a separate move, Nike will launch “Mamba Week” beginning on August 23 to celebrate Bryant’s Hall of Fame career and his successful longtime impact on the athletic industry. August 23 is what would have been Bryant’s 42nd birthday. There will be a weeklong slate of programming and product launches, marking the first release of Bryant’s signature sneakers or jersey since his death.
- Bryant, an 18-time All-Star, won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers. At the start of his NBA career, Bryant wore jersey No. 8 but switched to No. 24 during the 2006 NBA season, the number he donned until his retirement in 2016. Both jerseys have been retired by the Lakers.
Due to the league’s ongoing restart because of the coronavirus pandemic, both Mamba Week and Orange County’s Kobe Bryant Day fall during the opening round of the NBA playoffs this year. Several players on all 16 playoff teams are expected to be wearing Bryant’s signature sneakers and other memorabilia to join in on the brand’s tribute to the late NBA star.
