Kobe Bryant’s Enduring Legacy: 7 Unforgettable Moments Still Inspiring the NBA and Fans Worldwide

Los Angeles is already turning August into a month-long celebration of Kobe Bryant’s legacy, and fans can’t get enough. Dodgers honor the Mamba on 8/8 On Friday night the Los Angeles Dodgers gave away 40,000 limited-edition Kobe Bryant bobbleheads—complete with his No. 24 Lakers jersey and a baseball bat—timed perfectly for 8/8, a nod to the first number he wore as a Laker. Vanessa Bryant and daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri were on the field at Chavez Ravine: Bianka delivered the ceremonial first pitch to Freddie Freeman, while six-year-old Capri amped up the crowd with the classic “It’s time for Dodgers baseball!” announcement. ‘Year of the Mamba’ footwear keeps selling out Nike’s rollout of retro “Protro” models continues to dominate sneaker blogs. Next up: the Nike Kobe 3 “Halo,” slated for an August drop and poised to headline the brand’s wider “Year of the Mamba” initiative that will run through 2025. Early images show crisp triple-white uppers that mirror last year’s Kobe 8 “Halo,” suggesting another instant sellout. Carmelo Anthony’s bombshell keeps Lakers Twitter buzzing Adding to the week’s viral moments, Carmelo Anthony revealed in an interview that Kobe once lobbied Lakers brass to acquire him in 2011—fueling fresh “What if?” debates across social media. The clip racked up millions of views within hours and reminded fans of Bryant’s relentless pursuit of a sixth ring. Kobe Bryant Day around the corner With August 24—officially “Kobe Bryant Day” in Los Angeles—fast approaching, city officials are planning mural walks, youth clinics and a candlelight vigil outside Crypto.com Arena, where three statues now honor the Hall of Famer and his daughter Gianna. Expect hashtag traffic for #824Day and #MambaMentality to spike as influencers share fitness challenges inspired by Kobe’s legendary 4 a.m. workouts. Why this matters for search Search trends for “Kobe Bryant bobblehead,” “Kobe 3 Halo release date” and “Kobe Bryant Day events” have surged over the past 24 hours. Retailers are scrambling to restock jerseys, while travel sites report a bump in late-August bookings to L.A. from basketball hotbeds like Manila and Shanghai. What’s next • August 21: Nike Kobe 3 “Halo” expected to hit SNKRS at 10 a.m. ET. • August 24: Free public ceremony on Chick Hearn Court begins at 8:24 p.m. PST. • September: ESPN is set to re-air its 2009 documentary “Kobe Doin’ Work,” timed with the start of Lakers training camp. Whether you’re snagging a bobblehead on eBay, entering the SNKRS raffle or planning to stream highlights of Kobe’s 81-point game, August 2025 offers more ways than ever to channel the Mamba Mentality—and the city of angels is making sure the legend lives on.