The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted their annual Lakers Night at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday, welcoming team owner Jeanie Buss in addition to Austin Reaves and Max Christie. Fans who purchased a special ticket pack received a reversible jersey that had Clayton Kershaw on one side and Magic Johnson on the other.
The Dodgers additionally played a video that celebrated the career and life of Kobe Bryant. Lakers Night being held on Aug. 24 coincided with what’s essentially become known as Kobe Bryant Day throughout the globe.
Also referred to as Mamba Day, Aug. 24 is officially recognized in Los Angeles and Orange County. The date comes one day after Bryant was born — Tuesday would have been his 44th birthday — and it also represents the two jersey numbers he wore during an illustrious career with the Lakers.
Bryant has long been revered at Dodger Stadium, as many Dodgers fans also cheer for the Lakers. During Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers, fans twice broke out into a “Kobe” chant. Several Dodgers fans dressed in Bryant Lakers jerseys and other clothing bearing his name were shown on the video board throughout the night as well.
Prior to the game, Christie, who the Lakers selected with the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and Reaves threw out the ceremonial first pitch. “This is incredible,” Christie told DodgerBlue.com. “Just coming out here and seeing this big stadium and even driving in, it’s really, really cool to be here. I’m really excited.”
Christie watched some baseball when he was a child, but otherwise didn’t have much history with the sport. Reaves was there to help provide some advice, but also felt pressure because of coming from a background that included baseball.
“It’s a dream come true,” Reaves said of getting to throw out the first pitch. “But I’m going to have a lot of people back home mad at me if I don’t throw a strike.”
Reaves and Christie didn’t land their pitches to Dustin May and Will Smith in the strike zone, but made successful throws nonetheless.
Dodgers impacted by Kobe Bryant
The tragic helicopter accident in January 2020 that claimed Bryant’s life, his daughter Gianna, and seven additional passengers had a crippling effect on not only the Lakers community, but several Dodgers players as well.
“I think the hard part for everyone is he grew up in the living room with you,” Justin Turner said from his fifth annual Justin Turner Golf Classic that was held one day after the accident.
“Watching him play for so many years, my generation, when you think sports in L.A., Kobe is the top of the top. Just really feeling for his family — Vanessa and the girls. It’s difficult to even wrap your head around. As much as he’s done on the court, the things he was doing and getting involved in after his career, are remarkable.
“You don’t find superstars of his caliber continue to be that influential in a community and for the game of basketball, especially fo women’s basketball. He’s a guy I always looked up to. Every time I had a water bottle or piece of trash or picking up balls in the cage, you grab it and shoot it towards the trash can or ball basket and yell, ‘Kobe!’
“I’m just glad I got to grow up watching him and seeing everything he did and how amazing of a man he was. It’s pretty special.”
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