Nike releases touching tribute to Kobe Bryant on the day of his memorial service

Nike unveiled a powerful tribute to Kobe Bryant yesterday, highlighting his career achievements as audio snippets played in the background.

As the memorial service for Kobe and his daughter Gianna took place, Nike released the ad that featured a black page and words and years written across it, followed by the word ‘Forever,’ which aligned with audio clips playing in the background. There were no images seen in the ad.

READ MORE: WATCH: Vanessa Bryant speaks about Gigi and Kobe Bryant at Celebration of Life: ‘God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other’

Mamba Forever.

(sound on) pic.twitter.com/B2LUIcpRCc

— Nike (@Nike) February 24, 2020

The video drew attention to Bryant’s many achievements over his 20-year professional basketball career with the Lakers, time playing for Lower Merion High School in Pennsylvania, his five championships, his career-high 81 points, his work ethic and more.

The video ends with “Mamba Forever.”

Bryant, Gianna, and seven others were killed in a helicopter accident on Sunday, Jan. 26. Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, and Gianna’s mom filed a wrongful death lawsuit yesterday against the owner of the helicopter company, saying the pilot was careless and negligent for flying in foggy and unsafe conditions, according to ESPN.

Following Bryant’s death, Nike sold out of his sneakers and other gear. On its website, it shows nothing available, however, Nike posted a statement on its site entitled: “In Memory, Kobe Bryant,” according to CNN.

“Kobe was one of the greatest athletes of his generation and has had an immeasurable impact on the world of sport and the community of basketball,” the statement read. “He was a beloved member of the Nike family. We will miss him greatly. Mamba forever.”

Bryant signed his first deal with Nike in 2003, the year LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony also signed with the sneaker giant and the same year Michael Jordan retired, CNN reported.

READ MORE: Michael Jordan delivers tearful tribute to ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant

During Monday’s memorial service, Vanessa Bryant spoke publicly for the first time and delivered a 20-minute heartfelt eulogy for both Gigi and Kobe.

“God knew they couldn’t be on this earth without each other,” Bryant said. “He had to bring them home to heaven together.”

The post Nike releases touching tribute to Kobe Bryant on the day of his memorial service appeared first on TheGrio.

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WNBA Commissioner Says Kobe Bryant Was Only Player to See Her Since She Got the Job

Before his tragic untimely death, Kobe Bryant was the only NBA player to reach out to the new WNBA commissioner, according to Yahoo Finance.

Cathy Engelbert was hired as the WNBA commissioner last year and she said Bryant was the only current or former NBA player to schedule a meeting to chat with her. The meeting was scheduled to be for an hour and it ended up becoming a two-hour conversation.

“Kobe was a huge advocate for the WNBA, and for women and girls in sports. Girls drop out of sports at an alarming rate by the age of 13,” said Engelbert, noting that Gianna and her teammates were all 13. “Kobe also championed those who hoped to be a part of the league in the future by working with college teams like the University of Connecticut and University of Oregon. His impact was much broader than I certainly thought,” she told Yahoo.

Engelbert also told People that the WNBA has plans to honor Bryant’s daughter, Gianna and her Mamba Sports Academy teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, who also died in the fatal helicopter crash with Bryant, in the upcoming months. “Our next big tentpole for the WNBA is our draft in April, so we’ll clearly be honoring those three young 13-year-old basketball players, the future of our game.”

“I’ve been telling people that he’s the only NBA player that reached out and came to see me at the WNBA offices since I started as the commissioner six months ago,” she told PEOPLE. “The first thing he said to me was, ‘Cathy, I spent four hours every day on girls sports and I love it.’”

“We talked for two hours about his commitment to the WNBA, the women, the players and obviously his commitment to his team that he was coaching,” Engelbert continued. “[It’s] just really a loss and a loss of a big advocate.”

The 2020 season, which kicks off in May, will be the league’s 24th season and Engelbert and her team are thinking of a variety of ways to honor the victims. Plans are underway to plan a tribute ahead of Father’s Day.

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WNBA Commissioner Says Kobe Bryant Was Only Player to See Her Since She Got the Job

Before his tragic untimely death, Kobe Bryant was the only NBA player to reach out to the new WNBA commissioner, according to Yahoo Finance.

Cathy Engelbert was hired as the WNBA commissioner last year and she said Bryant was the only current or former NBA player to schedule a meeting to chat with her. The meeting was scheduled to be for an hour and it ended up becoming a two-hour conversation.

“Kobe was a huge advocate for the WNBA, and for women and girls in sports. Girls drop out of sports at an alarming rate by the age of 13,” said Engelbert, noting that Gianna and her teammates were all 13. “Kobe also championed those who hoped to be a part of the league in the future by working with college teams like the University of Connecticut and University of Oregon. His impact was much broader than I certainly thought,” she told Yahoo.

Engelbert also told People that the WNBA has plans to honor Bryant’s daughter, Gianna and her Mamba Sports Academy teammates Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, who also died in the fatal helicopter crash with Bryant, in the upcoming months. “Our next big tentpole for the WNBA is our draft in April, so we’ll clearly be honoring those three young 13-year-old basketball players, the future of our game.”

“I’ve been telling people that he’s the only NBA player that reached out and came to see me at the WNBA offices since I started as the commissioner six months ago,” she told PEOPLE. “The first thing he said to me was, ‘Cathy, I spent four hours every day on girls sports and I love it.’”

“We talked for two hours about his commitment to the WNBA, the women, the players and obviously his commitment to his team that he was coaching,” Engelbert continued. “[It’s] just really a loss and a loss of a big advocate.”

The 2020 season, which kicks off in May, will be the league’s 24th season and Engelbert and her team are thinking of a variety of ways to honor the victims. Plans are underway to plan a tribute ahead of Father’s Day.

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