Kobe Bryant Day (also called Mamba Day[a]) is a day that is celebrated on August 24 in
Los Angeles and
Orange County[2] commemorating the life of basketball player
Kobe Bryant.[3] The date was chosen as the holiday because of Bryant's numbers on his jerseys (8 and 24),[4] as well as it being the day after his birthday, August 23.[5] On July 27, 2021,
California Congresswoman
Michelle Steel introduced a resolution that would recognize the day nationally.[6][7][8]
History
Kobe Bryant in 2005 and 2015, with the jersey numbers 8 and 24, used for the date 8/24.
In 2016, following Bryant's retirement from basketball, the City of
Los Angeles declared August 24 as Kobe Bryant Day,[9] recognizing his philanthropy with the Kobe and Vanessa Bryant Family Foundation, which "dedicated to improving the lives of youth and families in need and encouraging young people to stay active through sports".[10][11] He was further acknowledged for United Way of Greater Los Angeles’s annual HomeWalk, while also working with Make-A-Wish, NBA Cares, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America and After-School All-Stars.[12]
On January 26, 2020, Kobe and his daughter Gianna, along with other seven passengers, died in
a helicopter crash in
Calabasas, California. After seven months, on August 12, 2020, the
Orange County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare August 24 as Kobe Bryant Day.[13][14][15][16] It was proposed by Board of Supervisors Chairwoman
Michelle Steel.[17]
On August 23, the day before,
Nike, Inc. launched "Mamba Week", which included product launches and programming honoring Bryant.[18] Some of the products included sneakers[19][20] and black jerseys with the two numbers.[21][22] Nike also donated $1 million to the Mamba and Mambacita Foundation.[23] The event was criticized for being limited and for being sold out in minutes.[24][25]