You know, aside from being from LA, there’s something else that really ties the Dodgers and the Lakers together—it’s their love for Kobe Bryant. Kobe truly embodied the spirit of Los Angeles, didn’t he? With his incredible 20-year career with the Lakers, he became a living legend in the city. Both the Los Angeles teams share a very special connection and every year, to honor this connection, the Dodgers organize a special Lakers Celebration Night. This year, they’ve got something extra special planned for the fans.

The Dodgers are known for amazing giveaways and the team recently announced on August 25, right after Mamba Day, that they’ll be giving away custom Kobe Bryant Dodgers jerseys. However here is the catch, only the first 40,000 fans will get their hands on these jerseys, so arriving early is definitely the way to go. And wait, there’s more! If you think this is all they have up their sleeves, you’re in for a treat.

What else do the Dodgers have in store?

This jersey features Kobe’s iconic numbers—8 on the front and 24 on the back. Done to honor both of the numbers he wore throughout his Hall of Fame career with the Lakers. It’s not just about the numbers, though; the jersey also showcases the Lakers’ logo on the back collar and left sleeve. And for an extra touch of sweetness, Bryant’s initials “KB” are enclosed in a heart on the right sleeve.

Alongside the iconic Kobe Bryant jersey giveaway, a day prior, there would be another giveaway of Showtime T-shirts. Hold up! Because the Dodgers have more in store for you, as their annual Lakers Night will also feature some incredible Lakers legends like Kurt Rambis, Mychal Thompson, Michael Cooper, Byron Scott, and A.C. Green on August 24. And as if that wasn’t exciting enough, Matthew Moreno from Dodger Blue reports that they will also be throwing out the first pitch.

The connection between the Dodgers and the Lakers truly runs deep, especially when it comes to honoring Kobe Bryant. Since his tragic passing, the Dodgers have done so many special things to pay tribute to him. For instance, how they celebrated him on his birthday.

The Kobe Bryant- Los Angeles Dodgers connection

Just 7 months after Kobe’s tragic passing away, the Dodgers gave him a tribute on what would have been his 42th birthday. The entire team wore Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers jersey during their game against the Colorado Rockies. Well, the Dodgers and Kobe’s connection goes way back. In 2017, the basketball champ recorded a video trying to persuade Shohei Ohtani to join the Dodgers when they were first in the running to sign him. Fast forward to 2023, and the Dodgers played that same video again to show Ohtani why he should consider joining them.

On the other hand, in April 2024, Vanessa Bryant, Black Mamba’s wife, made a special gesture to honor her late husband’s connection with the Dodgers. She gifted the team a pair of Nike Kobe 6 Protro sneakers in a player-exclusive colorway designed just for them. These ‘Dodgers edition sneakers feature a blue snakeskin-inspired upper with white detailing around the midsole and heel. Echoing the team’s colors. The design also includes red accents on the heel, Kobe’s jersey numbers, and signature.

Vanessa was also seen with her daughters—Natalia, Bianka, and Capri—at last year’s Lakers Celebration Night, where Natalia even threw out the first pitch. Will they be back again this year? Well, that has to be seen, but the upcoming game should be a blast for both Lakers and Dodgers fans, especially with the Dodgers facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays. What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite Lakers-Dodgers moment? Let us know in the comments below.