One win away from their 17th NBA championship, the Los Angeles Lakers are pulling out the Kobe Bryant-designed “Black Mamba” jerseys for Game 5 vs. the Miami Heat on Friday night.
Up 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, the Lakers had planned to reserve the special apparel for Game 7, but The Finals would end Friday night with a Los Angeles win.
The Lakers have decided to wear the Mamba jerseys on Friday night. Originally were scheduled to wear them in Game 2 and Game 7.
They'll still wear them in Game 7 if it happens. Not in Game 6, if that happens; Heat would be in black for that game.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) October 7, 2020
Black with gold trim, the jerseys were worn by the Lakers in their 124-114 Game 2 win over the Heat. Overall, the Lakers are 4-0 this playoffs when wearing the “Black Mamba” jerseys.
> The Finals, Game 5: Friday at 9 ET on ABC
Friday. pic.twitter.com/6FO659Lm0Y
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) October 7, 2020
The “Black Mamba” jerseys were introduced during the 2018 season, and wearing them this year was seen as a special way to honor the memory of Bryant, the career-long Laker and future Hall of Famer who died in a January helicopter crash.
“We never want to lose in these jerseys,” Lakers forward Anthony Davis told Tim Reynolds, discussing the special meaning they hold for players thinking about Kobe during the playoffs..
The Lakers have worn their gold jerseys in Games 1 and 4 and white in Game 3.
