Kobe Bryant’s Enduring Legacy and Nike’s Tribute.Kobe Bryant, a basketball player and an incredible ambassador for the game, has left a lasting legacy. As a tribute to the legendary Los Angeles Lakers player, Nike erected several billboards featuring Bryant in New York.

Nike’s collaboration with Kobe Bryant has been one of their longest-running success stories. The iconic billboards in the basketball mecca serve as a homage to Bryant’s Mamba mindset and his relentless efforts. These billboards showcase memorable moments from his career and personal life.

However, the response from users on X (previously Twitter) was mixed regarding Nike’s gesture. Some fans expressed their desire for Nike to invest the billboard money in producing more pairs of Kobe sneakers. Others lamented that Bryant didn’t receive this level of adoration during his playing days.

A few X admirers shared their thoughts on the matter. Meanwhile, Nike teased the release of the Black Mamba sneaker through Instagram stories, hinting at a surprise drop before Christmas. One of the stories featured the Mamba emblem and a photo of Bryant from the 2012 Summer Olympics, while the other displayed the date 12.21.

In another development, former NBA player Smush Parker revealed details about his relationship with Kobe Bryant during their time together with the Lakers. Parker disclosed that they never had a conversation and Bryant maintained a distance. Despite sharing a workspace, Parker struggled to engage with Bryant, even attempting to start a conversation about a football game. Bryant’s response insinuated that Parker needed more achievements before approaching him.

Parker also expressed feeling disrespected by the way Bryant treated him. Although the two years with the Lakers marked the pinnacle of Parker’s professional career, he felt a lack of connection with the Hall of Famer. During that time, Parker played all eighty-two games and averaged 11.3 points, 3.2 assists, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game.