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The second annual Mamba League Invitational, honoring late LA Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, concluded over the weekend. Afterward, the tournament's championship trophy went viral on social media, with NBA fans raving about its unique design.
This year's Mamba League Invitational took place on Friday and Saturday at L.A. Live. The Aug. 23 and 24 dates marked Bryant's birthday and "Kobe Bryant Day," an annual event celebrating the five-time NBA champion's legacy.
The two-day Nike basketball tournament featured the nation's top high school girls’ and boys’ players showcasing their skills. Among the biggest standouts were ESPN's No. 1-ranked class of 2025 girls' prospect, Aaliyah Chavez, and ESPN's No. 5-ranked class of 2025 boys' prospect, Caleb Wilson. The duo reportedly took home the tournament's MVP honors.
However, the Mamba League Invitational's championship trophy also garnered significant fan attention.
On Monday, an image of the gold statuette, presented by Bryant's wife, Vanessa Bryant, made the rounds on X/Twitter. It features a black mamba snake twisting around Bryant's iconic Nike logo, referencing the 18-time All-Star's famous "Black Mamba" nickname.
Most fans lavished high praise on the trophy's design.
"Bro, this s**t is f**king fire as f**k," @GeeBaby_1997 said.
"Trophy goes hard," @WarriorsMuse wrote.
"PERFECTION," @LakersLead said.
"That's beautiful, man," @onetimecards wrote.
Meanwhile, others suggested the NBA adopt similar trophy designs for its premier awards.
"Need this for the NBA All-Star trophy," @LostTribeSports said.
"This should be the MVP award," @NewMediaSports_ wrote.
Comparing Kobe Bryant-inspired NBA All-Star Game MVP trophy to Mamba League Invitational championship trophy
The NBA also has a prominent Kobe Bryant-inspired award. Following the Lakers legend's unexpected 2020 death, NBA commissioner Adam Silver renamed the league's All-Star Game MVP trophy after him.
However, the "Kobe Bryant Trophy's" design is far more subtle than the Mamba League Invitational's championship trophy. Rather than featuring a black mamba, the NBA's clear trophy pays homage to Bryant's illustrious career with fine details.
Its eight-sided base with 24 stars represents Bryant's renowned Lakers jersey numbers (No. 8 and 24). Meanwhile, the trophy's two, seven, nine and 11-inch levels designate the years Bryant won his record-tying four All-Star Game MVPs (2002, 2007, 2009, 2011).
However, based on fans' reactions, it appears they prefer the Mamba League Invitational championship trophy's more attention-grabbing design.
