TEAM WILL WEAR BLACK MAMBA UNIFORMS
EL SEGUNDO, CA – The Los Angeles Lakers will wear their Black Mamba uniforms, co-designed by Lakers Legend Kobe Bryant, on Feb. 8, 2024, at home versus the Denver Nuggets following the unveil of Bryant’s statue at Star Plaza outside of Crypto.com Arena earlier that day.
Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA Champion, will be the seventh Laker to be commemorated with a statue, joining Elgin Baylor, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jerry West and Chick Hearn.
The Black Mamba uniforms feature a snakeskin-like black print and drop shadows on the jersey numbers, a nod to a detail from the Lakers uniforms from Bryant’s rookie season in 1996-97. The unforms also include an “LA 24” on the belt and the Nos. 8 and 24 under the flap of each leg of the shorts.
Fans are encouraged to watch the unveiling of the Bryant statue live on Spectrum SportsNet with coverage starting at 3 p.m. PT on Feb. 8, 2024. Public access to Star Plaza will be restricted Feb. 8 due to event staging and load out. Pedestrian access on Chick Hearn Court is expected to open Friday, Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. for fans interested in viewing the statue on Star Plaza. Chick Hearn Court will remain closed to all vehicle access through Saturday, Feb. 10.
Originally debuted during the 2017-18 season as the team’s first City Edition uniform, the Black Mamba jerseys were inspired by Bryant and his 20-year career with the purple and gold. The Lakers first wore the Black Mamba uniforms on Jan. 26, 2018, and donned the jerseys once again during the 2020 NBA Playoffs, leading to the 17th NBA Championship in franchise history.
The unveiling of the Kobe Bryant statue will air live on Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum SportsNet+ on Feb. 8 with event coverage starting at 3 p.m. PT. Following the event, the full ceremony will be available for viewing on Lakers.com.
Public access to the statue will be limited Feb. 8 due to the unveiling ceremony and event load out. All guests and fans entering the statue ceremony must present their specific ceremony ticket for in-person access. Game tickets do not allow access to the ceremony event. Unfortunately, due to logistical conditions, there is a strict limit for onsite availability and we cannot accommodate additional requests for attendance.
Fans can visit the Kobe statue on Star Plaza outside Crypto.com Arena beginning the morning of Friday, Feb. 9, when Chick Hearn Court is expected to open to pedestrian traffic at 10 a.m. PT. Chick Hearn Court will remain closed to all vehicle access through Saturday, Feb. 10.
Once unveiled, the statue will serve as a permanent reminder of Kobe’s great Lakers legacy, where fans from around the world can honor him and remember his incredible basketball journey.
