Kobe Bryant named cover star for special NBA 2K21 ‘Mamba Forever Edition’ video game

KOBE Bryant’s legacy as The Black Mamba will continue to live on in his own special edition of the popular NBA 2K video game series.

2K Games, the company who produces the game, announced on Thursday the Los Angeles Lakers legend will be the third and final cover athlete for its 2021 version with the “Mamba Forever” edition.

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Kobe Bryant will be honored with a special edition version of NBA 2K21, video game company 2K revealed Thursday[/caption]

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The Los Angeles Lakers legend will appear on the ‘Mamba Forever’ edition of the video game’s 2021 edition[/caption]

Bryant, who was tragically killed with eight others in a January helicopter crash, will grace two separate covers, 2K revealed in a 46-second clip shared on its YouTube account.

The current version, NBA 2K20, will feature artwork from his iconic 81-point performance at Staples Center in 2006, according to Bleacher Report.

The next-generation edition will show the basketball icon waving after scoring 60 points in his final NBA game in 2016.

The Mamba Forever edition will be available on both current and next-generation consoles.

Covers for current-gen systems will feature Bryant wearing his early No 8 jersey, while ones for next-gen consoles will have him wearing No 24, according to CNET.

The basketball legend wore 8 for the first half of his NBA career, while 24 was the number he chose to suit up with during the latter years of his 20-season career.

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Several fans created their own versions of the video game and shared them on social media ahead of Thursday’s reveal[/caption]

Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died on January 26 after their helicopter crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California.

Dozens of celebrities and more than 20,000 fans packed into Staples Center on February 24 to honor his legacy in an emotional celebration of life.

Nearly six months after his death, Bryant’s three daughters celebrated their first Father’s Day without the NBA legend.

Vanessa Bryant shared an Instagram photo of their eldest daughter Natalia, 17, holding a puppy the family adopted to commemorate the holiday.

She later shared a video declaring the puppy’s name was “Bobby” after asking her followers to decide on a name for the dog.

“Love seeing my girls smile. Meet Bobby. Aka Bobby ganoush, bobbyrooni, bobbooshka,” Vanessa captioned the post.

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Vanessa Bryant shared a photo of her oldest daughter holding the new puppy they adopted on the family’s first Father’s Day without Kobe[/caption]

Earlier that day, the widow posted an emotional tribute to her late husband with a family photo taken after the birth of their youngest daughter.

“Happy Father’s Day to the BEST daddy in the world. We miss you so much,” Vanessa wrote.
“We love you forever and always. Love, Nani, Gigi, BB, Koko and VB.”

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Vanessa posted a loving tribute to her late husband on Father’s Day[/caption]