Anthony Davis and the Los Angeles Lakers decided to wear their “Black Mamba” kits for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. The jerseys were partially designed by the late Kobe Bryant, and the team began wearing them in the first round of the playoffs to honor his legacy.
Wearing the Kobe-inspired uniform, Davis had one of the biggest games of his professional career. In 39 minutes of playing time, the Lakers star racked up 31 points on 11-of-23 shooting (2-of-4 from downtown), nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. His final bucket — a game-winning triple over the outstretched hand of Nikola Jokic — was the kind of shot that defines a career.
The Lakers were facing a 103-102 deficit with 2.1 seconds remaining on the game clock. The inbounds play that head coach Frank Vogel drew up was supposedly meant for LeBron James, but it went to Davis instead. Be it by skill or by fate, his shot sailed right through the net as the horn blew:
Following the 105-103 victory, Davis commented on what it means to wear the jerseys that Kobe Bryant helped design:
“We just play a little different,” Davis said, via Bill Oram of The Athletic. “Our swagger is a little different. Every time we put on those jerseys, obviously we’re representing him. Especially in those jerseys, it’s his jersey, one he created, and any time we put it on we want to win. … It’s a constant reminder that Kobe is with us and we kind of have the spirit in those jerseys.”
The Lakers legend hit several huge shots over the course of his career — a fact that Davis touched on during his interview with The Athletic:
“He’s hit countless shots like that to win games,” Davis said, “whether it’s in the playoffs, finals. But it was a special one for me. … To do something like that, and with the jersey we wore tonight, it just makes it even more special.”
The Lakers now have a 2-0 lead in the series, with Game 3 scheduled for Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. ET. Let's see if their momentum carries through.
Follow Us
Subscribe