
USA Today via Reuters
Credit: USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Credit: USA TODAY Sports
A hardcore LA Dodgers fan or a Lakers’, either way, you’d remember Kobe Bryant cheering for the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series. Yes, LA lost the title to the Boston Red Sox back then. Vanessa Bryant, however, made sure that Black Mamba’s presence is felt now that the team has won the World Series, defeating the New York Yankees 4-1.
Sharing a video of Kobe with the caption “Job Finished,” Vanessa reminded us all of the Black Mamba’s legendary mentality. The “Job’s not finished” was one of Kobe’s most memorable lines from the 2009 NBA Finals. And this season, the Dodgers leaned into that very mindset, channeling Kobe’s relentless focus all the way to the championship.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts even spoke about how the team drew strength from Kobe’s approach. “To pull from what Kobe did, what he said… there’s work to be done,” Roberts had said. “He was more than just talented—he was a killer. And our guys get that.”
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The franchise had also donated $100,000 to Bryant’s Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation and gave out the Kobe Bryant jerseys ahead of their game against the Tampa Bay Rays on his birthday this year.
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via Getty
LOS ANGELES, CA. JAN. 04, 2015. Lakers’ #24 Kobe Bryant all smiles after an assist from teammate Carlos Boozer in a game vs the Pacers’ in the 1st half of the game at Staple Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 04, 2015. LA Lakers play the Indiana Pacers in a regular NBA season game. (Photo by Lawrence K. Ho/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Now in a dramatic finish, the Dodgers claimed their MLB title with a 7-6 victory in Game 5. Seeing Vanessa’s tribute to Kobe cheering on the Dodgers from 2018 added a cinematic feel to it all. It’s as if Kobe’s Mamba Mentality pushed them over the finish line, making this Dodgers win that much more meaningful.
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Kobe Bryant’s wife shares Kobe Bryant merchandise snap, celebrating Dodgers win
If you remember Black Mamba’s appearance in 2018 MLB World Series, you’d remember him donning Manny Machado’s number 8 jersey in support of the MLB. And yes, Machado, being a Kobe fan, had dedicated his number to the Lakers icon.
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But now, the entire Dodgers team can have an outfit celebrating not just their win but Kobe’s legacy. Vanessa shared a snap of a hoodie from Nike with “Job Finished” imprinted on the front. Meanwhile, the back of the hoodie has “8 in 24” written over it.
What’s your perspective on:
Did Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality truly propel the Dodgers to their World Series victory?
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Clearly, the front of the hoodie can represent the recent win for Dodgers while the back represents the two jersey numbers that Kobe Bryant donned through his NBA career. Now it’s to be seen if we can spot the Dodgers donning the hoodie as a tribute to the Mamba Mentality they adopted through this postseason.
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Debate
Did Kobe Bryant's Mamba Mentality truly propel the Dodgers to their World Series victory?