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Kobe Bryant to Be Honored by Nike on April 13 with 'Mamba Day'

Mike Chiari@mikechiariX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistApril 7, 2016

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kobe Bryant (24) leaves the court during the second half for the final time of the NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Wednesday, March 23, 2016, in Phoenix. The Suns won 119-107 in Bryant's last game in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York/Associated Press

The 2015-16 NBA season has been a celebration of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant's legendary career, and the future Hall of Famer will go out with a bang on April 13, when Nike honors him with "Mamba Day."  

According to ESPN's Darren Rovell, "Mamba Day" will occur on the same day as Kobe's final NBA game against the Utah Jazz, and it will feature 200 athletes paying tribute to the Black Mamba by wearing black and gold Nike shoes.

Bryant's final NBA season has been a difficult one, as the Lakers are just 16-62, which puts them last in the Western Conference by four games.

While the five-time NBA champion is L.A.'s leading scorer with 16.8 points per game, he is shooting just 35 percent from the field and has been hampered by bumps and bruises at the age of 37.

April 13 promises to be an emotional night for Kobe and many others across the NBA, but the 18-time All-Star isn't sure what to expect when he takes the court for the final time, per ESPN.com's Baxter Holmes"When the time comes, you never know. [I] might be sitting here with tears flowing out of my eyes. I doubt it, but it could happen. I don't know. We'll see."

Although Bryant is retiring as part of the worst team in Lakers history, he will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest champions in NBA history.

"Mamba Day" will be a reminder of all of the incredible things Kobe accomplished over the course of his career, and it promises to be a fitting send-off to one of the all-time greats.

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