Natalia Bryant helms Lakers’ preseason hype video featuring star-studded cameos
natalia-bryant-directs-lakers-preseason-hype-video
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Lakers tapped Natalia Bryant as creative director for their new preseason hype video, “Forever Iconic: Purple and Gold Always,” released ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
The three-minute clip assembles a high-profile lineup that includes Los Angeles Dodgers slugger Shohei Ohtani, Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson, actor and longtime fan Brenda Song, and celebrity jacket designer Jeff Hamilton.
Among the memorable moments, Song reenacts a viral LeBron James sideline meme, shouting, “It’s our ball, ain’t it?” Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic is shown yelling “Kobe” while tossing a towel into a trash can with a step-back motion. Johnson closes the montage holding a Larry O’Brien Trophy and declaring, “It’s Showtime, baby.”
Bryant, the eldest daughter of the late Kobe Bryant, also inserted her father’s buzzer-beating shot against the Phoenix Suns from the 2006 playoffs.
On Instagram, the 22-year-old filmmaker wrote that participating in the project was “such an honor,” adding, “Lakers family forever.”
Bryant graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts in May and appeared in an August Nike commercial alongside New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson to promote the Kobe 3 Protro.
The Lakers open the regular season on Oct. 21 against the Golden State Warriors.
Source: ESPN
