Aug. 23 marks Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant’s birthday as he would have turned 47-years-old on Saturday. His passing still does not feel real, but the legacy he left behind remains intact to this day.
As a basketball player and competitor, Bryant was a one-of-one talent and truly emptied the tank through his 20-year career in Los Angeles. The Lakers organization values championships and a player’s legacy is measured by titles. That box was checked as he brought five titles to L.A., including a three-peat through the early 2000s.
Bryant’s birthday is before his own day as Aug. 24 is celebrated annually as Mamba Day. As a precursor to Sunday, members of the Lakers family took the time to commemorate a legend as Vanessa Bryant, LeBron James, Pau Gasol, Magic Johnson, Caron Butler and Robert Horry were among those to take to social media to celebrate Kobe’s birthday:
Vanessa’s birthday post for Kobe
#HappyBirthdayKobe pic.twitter.com/HewnbRocpT
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 23, 2025
LeBron also posted this on his IG story: pic.twitter.com/24cNTcKQn9
— Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) August 23, 2025
Happy Birthday, hermano. I miss you and love you always
pic.twitter.com/KNZTFrfH34
— Pau Gasol (@paugasol) August 23, 2025
Remembering husband, girl dad, entrepreneur, friend, five-time champion, and one of the greatest to ever lace them up, Kobe Bryant on his birthday
pic.twitter.com/oTUfmMionU
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) August 23, 2025
We miss you Kobe.
Rest in peace & power.pic.twitter.com/oDHc7dGAk4
— Caron Butler (@realtuffjuice) August 23, 2025
It is always heartwarming to see current and former Lakers show love to one another. No one will know what Bryant’s life after basketball would have amounted to, but he achieved a lot in a short amount of time like becoming a best-selling author, a basketball analyst and even becoming a coach as he coached his daughter Gianna Bryant’s AAU team.
Bryant was also an avid supporter of the Lakers, so it’s unfortunate that he does not get to witness Luka Doncic in the purple and gold in the coming years.
Bryant’s birthday and Mamba Day are not the only way his legacy lives on as he currently has two numbers retired and multiple statues in front of Crypto.com Arena. Regardless, Bryant will continue to be celebrated in L.A. and across the world on his birthday every year.
Kobe Bryant movie in works at Warner Bros.
There are some iconic movies depicting professional athletes and Kobe Bryant appears to be next in line to get his own film as Warner Bros. Pictures has reportedly picked up a script about the superstar getting drafted by the Lakers at age 17.
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