Jack Flaherty turns heads in Kobe Bryant jersey at Dodgers game honoring NBA legend's 46th birthday
Jack Flaherty arrived for the Dodgers vs. Rays fixture at Dodger Stadium in Kobe Bryant's LA Lakers uniform with No. 8 on it in honor of the late legend's 46th birth anniversary.
The entire Chavez Ravine and all of LA are celebrating Black Mamba's birthday with great enthusiasm and Flaherty joined in their spirits. Flaherty is not scheduled to pitch in Friday's game.
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were part of a horrific helicopter crash that took place on January 26, 2020, on a hillside outside Los Angeles. The father-daughter duo was on their way to attend a youth basketball game at the Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park. All eight other passengers on board died.
Ever since, sports franchises all around the world have celebrated Bryant's birthday with a lot of enthusiasm, especially those in the US and particularly in LA, because that's where Black Mamba earned five NBA titles.
Dodgers to giveaway special custom Black Mamba moniker jerseys on August 25
The celebration of Kobe Bryant's 46th birth anniversary will continue on Sunday, with the LA Dodgers set to honor the Lakers great with a special giveaway of Black Mamba-themed jerseys scheduled for Sunday.
The custom jerseys will feature the Lakers logo on the back collar and left sleeve, while No. 8 and No. 24 will be sported on the front and backside of the jersey, respectively. These are the two numbers Bryant wore during his Hall of Fame career. Moreover, his initials, "KB," will feature on the right sleeve of the jersey encircled inside the heart.
Last year, only special-ticketed fans received the jerseys, but this year they will be distributed to all 40,000 prospective stadium attendees. However, this year, fans can arrive early and get their hands on this special-themed jersey to inspire the Black Mamba spirit within.
Kobe Bryant played 20 years in the NBA, all with the LA Lakers, who traded for him after he was drafted 13th overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 1996 draft. Apart from five NBA titles, his Hall of Fame includes 18 NBA All-Star (1998, 2000–2016) selections, an NBA MVP in 2008 and two Finals MVPs in the 2009 and 2010 championship runs.