One of the most wholesome moments of the 2025 season happened on Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers honored the legacy of the late, great Mamba by giving away a Kobe Bryant bobblehead to the first 40,000 fans in attendance for their game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
The bobblehead shows Bryant in full Lakers uniform, donning the No. 24, as he holds a bat, ready to take a swing. The giveaway came on August 8, a symbolic gesture, considering Bryant famously wore the No. 8 before switching to 24 in his later seasons with the Lakers.
The Dodgers are giving away a Kobe Bryant bobblehead tonight 🏀 pic.twitter.com/Cy5VklSsoz
— MLB (@MLB) August 9, 2025
The loss of Bryant, along with his daughter, Gianna, and seven others in a horrible helicopter crash, is still a moment that many are still trying to come to grips with. In the years since, the Dodgers have made a point to honor Bryant, who was among the team's biggest celebrity fans.
Beyond the bobblehead, the Dodgers also hosted Bryant's family at Dodger Stadium on Friday. It was an emotional scene as the Bryants took the field, once again embracing the love and support they have received from the Los Angeles community.
Before the game, Bianka Bryant threw out the first pitch, with Dodgers' first baseman Freddie Freeman being on the receiving end.
Bianka Bryant threw out the first pitch on Kobe Bryant bobblehead night 💙 pic.twitter.com/8zUSlaeFjk
— ESPN (@espn) August 9, 2025
Bryant's legacy remains intertwined with the Dodgers' current roster. In 2017, when Shohei Ohtani was ready to make the transition to Major League Baseball, Bryant recorded a video as part of a recruiting pitch to get him to sign with the Dodgers. The Dodgers didn't use the video at the time, but it was part of their successful efforts to sign Ohtani before the 2024 season. The message Bryant had for Ohtani was simple: the Dodgers were the team to be in Los Angeles.
"There's no better place in the world to win than Los Angeles, and there's no better team in baseball to win with than the Dodgers."
Mamba forever.
Thank you, Vanessa, Natalia, Bianka and Capri for helping us celebrate Kobe Bryant Bobblehead Night. 💙 pic.twitter.com/pad8AMNCOk
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 9, 2025
The Dodgers have taken the first two games of their weekend series against the Blue Jays and have a chance at a sweep on Sunday afternoon.
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