One win away from their next NBA title, the Lakers are channeling the man who led them to their last five.
Los Angeles had been slated to wear the black alternative uniforms in Games 2 and 7 of the NBA Finals, but are moving to the «Black Mamba» look for the potential championship-clinching Game 5. Bryant’s widow Vanessa showed her support for the uniform update, posting «Mamba and Mambacita jerseys approved for game 5» and «Let’s go @lakers» on her Instagram account. Channeling the ‘Mamba mentality’ Bryant adopted the «Black Mamba» identity midway through his career, a nod to the killer instinct and ferocious nature of the extremely venomous snake from sub-Saharan Africa. The current Lakers, led by superstar LeBron James, have since adopted Bryant’s legendary «Mamba mentality,» and dedicated the remainder of the 2019-20 season to the fallen icon following his death.
