Kobe Bryant Day

Kobe Bryant was drafted in 1996, straight out of high school, by the Charlotte Hornets and was immediately traded to the Lakers. Bryant became a young superstar in his first season, only hinting at the peak Kobe Bryant still to be seen in years to come.

Kobe Bryant and the Lakers went on to win five championships and make the playoffs fifteen times. In 2016. Kobe Bryant retired after concluding his twentieth season with the Los Angeles Lakers. The same year the city of Los Angeles declared 8/24 (in accordance to his two jersey numbers worn with the Lakers) Kobe Bryant Day to celebrate the man and all the good he brought to the city.

The day is actually the day after Kobe’s birthday 8/23. Kobe Day was meant to be a joyous day to remember Kobe Bryant and his great accolades, however in the year 2020, the day comes with a bittersweet emotion.

On January 26th, 2020, the world was left in disbelief as the morning news reported on a tragic helicopter crash which was revealed to have taken the life of Kobe and Gigi Bryant along with seven other people. As the year progressed, we eventually made it to August 24th, Kobe Bryant Day. The day was filled with many celebrities and non celebrities sharing their favorite Kobe moments or memories.

His wife had made a heartfelt post the day before on his birthday, remembering their daughter and Kobe himself. There was a small gathering outside of the Staples Center where Los Angeles City Council member, Herb Wesson Jr. announced that a portion of Figueroa street between Olympic Blvd and MLK Jr. will be renamed to Kobe Bryant Blvd. The street will run past Staples Center, the home of Kobe’s career. The Los Angeles Lakers celebrated the day by wearing special Jerseys with a number two on its chest in memory of Gigi Bryant and Kobe Bryant’s signature on the tag.

Several other Los Angeles sport teams also paid their respect to the city legend. The celebration of Kobe didn’t end in Los Angeles; Orange county also declared August 24th Kobe Bryant day. Kobe Bryant day has turned from a day of remembering a man’s career to a day in which we celebrate the life and accolades of Kobe Bryant.