Watch: Naomi Osaka, Nick Kyrgios rock Kobe Bryant No. 8 jerseys for mixed doubles exhibition match
Even after his departure, Kobe Bryant's 'Mamba Mentality' lives on, with NBA fans worldwide repping Kobe Bryant jerseys, shoes and other merchandise to honor the NBA legend.
Among these fans are tennis players Naomi Osaka and Nick Kyrgios, who donned Bryant's infamous No. 8 Los Angeles Lakers jersey in a mixed doubles exhibition match ahead of the US Open.
Osaka and Kyrgios weren't the only ones who brought their mamba mentality. Their opponents, Taylor Fritz and Amanda Anisimova defeated the duo by securing a 6-2 win.
Kobe Bryant's No. 24 and No. 8 jerseys have turned into a cultural outfit, with celebrities and athletes alike wearing Bryant's Lakers jersey.
NBA star Kyrie Irving is another athlete paying homage to Kobe over the last few days, designing his new PE Anta shoe to honor his mentor with a Lakers-themed colorway.
Kobe Bryant trading card sells for $1.6 million at auction
Another piece of Kobe Bryant memorabilia making the rounds on social media is a trading card from the 2003-04 season.
The card contains Kobe Bryant's signature and a game-worn NBA Logoman patch from the 2003 NBA season where Bryant and the Lakers were fresh off from a three-peat success alongside Shaquille O'Neal.
In the 2003–2004 season, the Lakers were defeated by an underdog, defensive-minded Detroit Pistons team in the NBA Finals in five games.
The Lakers won 56 games, with Bryant averaging 24.0 points, 5.1 assists and 5.5 rebounds, earning an All-Star appearance, first-team All-NBA nod and first-team All-Defensive nod.
The card sold for $1.6 million at auction, Goldin announced on Saturday afternoon, a historic price for the Kobe Bryant collectible.
Another Kobe Bryant training card from the 1997 NBA season sold back in February, 2022 for $2 million and similar one for $1.75 million (March of 2021).
Kobe Bryant's legacy continues to be honored by fans worldwide, with his collectibles becoming more and more valuable every year.