NBA legend Kobe Bryant lived up to the ‘Black Mamba’ nickname, but another basketball great was originally supposed to own it.
For two decades, Bryant was one of the faces of the NBA during this time with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, his legendary nickname has been revealed as an initial ploy by Nike to widen another GOAT’s brand.
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An untold story was revealed on ESPN recently about the ‘Black Mamba’ nickname that Bryant owned for so many years during his extraordinary career.
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The Black Mamba brand, mindset and legacy has been tied to Kobe Bryant for decades, but the origin of the name didn't start with him 🐍
Here's the untold story of how the Black Mamba was initially meant for another NBA superstar. pic.twitter.com/PU81F8VBdq
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2026
Before Bryant became the ‘Black Mamba’ for his massive on-court success, including 18 NBA All-Star Game appearances, Michael Jordan was slated to be introduced as the player repping the nickname,
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However, the six-time NBA champion is considering deathly afraid of snakes and didn’t like the fit with Nike. Jordan Brand has become massive with the former Chicago Bulls’ influence creating a cultural shift in the shoe game.
Bryant embraced the nickname though and took it to another level with his insane work ethic and ability to score at will against the best players in the NBA.
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The retired jersey of Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol is displayed next the jersey of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
The NBA great even took inspiration from ‘Kill Bill’ to help make sure his mentality was always right when he stepped on the floor. That’s how ESPN stated that Bryant was able to embrace the ‘Black Mamba’ name.
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