Los Angeles Lakers governor Jeanie Buss and former Lakers forward Pau Gasol marked Mamba Day on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, by sharing separate social-media tributes to the late Kobe Bryant. The date, 8/24, echoes Bryant’s two jersey numbers and follows his Aug. 23 birthday, which would have been his 47th.
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, died in a helicopter crash in January 2020. Since then, the Lakers community has used the back-to-back August dates to honor his memory and promote the “Mamba mentality” that defined his career.
Jeanie Buss’ message
Early Sunday, Buss posted a brief statement on X (formerly Twitter):
Happy Mamba Day 2025! Each year it grows in meaning, becoming part of our calendar. Mamba mentality applies to all, not just athletes. Challenge yourself — if you are going to do something, do everything you can to prepare and execute. Do the work and go for the win.
Pau Gasol’s tribute
Gasol, who won championships with Bryant in 2009 and 2010, shared a graphic displaying “8.24” along with the caption:
8.24 Forever #MambaDay
Buss and Gasol both maintained close personal ties to Bryant. Buss has frequently credited him for helping her professional growth within the organization, while Gasol has remained an outspoken advocate for preserving Bryant’s legacy.
Rodman adds Bryant to GOAT debate
In a separate interview, Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman said Bryant belongs in discussions about the greatest player of all time. Although Rodman named Michael Jordan as his personal GOAT, he argued that Bryant is often overlooked:
We know who that is, Jordan all day long. Get mad at me all you want. Guess what? People forgot about that one guy. That one guy, that’s called Kobe Bryant. People forget about him. They talk about everybody else. They don’t talk about Kobe for some reason.
The dual celebrations of Bryant’s birthday and Mamba Day continue to reinforce his lasting influence on the Lakers franchise and the city of Los Angeles.
Source: LakersNation.com
