Nike eert Gigi Bryant met een nieuw 'Mambacita'-shirt

Nike has released a special jersey to honor the enduring legacy of Gianna "Gigi" Bryant, celebrating her passionate and competitive spirit. The "Mambacita" jersey is intended as an inspiration for others to adopt her approach to the game and life which means to play with joy, curiosity, and conviction. The release aims to ensure her impact on the sport continues to be felt for years to come.

Nike "Mambacita" Gigi Bryant Jersey

The design of the jersey is a direct and poignant tribute, mirroring the black and white uniform of Gigi's youth basketball team. The front features the "MAMBA" wordmark alongside the Mamba brand logo and her number "2," all in clean white lettering. The black body of the jersey is contrasted by white side panels and v-neck trim, which also features Kobe Bryant's signature "Sheath" logo at its center. The back of the jersey is personalized with "GIGI" arched above her number "2." Situated above her name is the "Mambacita" heart and wings logo, a touching symbol of her memory and lasting influence.

While the connection to her team uniform is a powerful and fitting tribute, the design's overall simplicity has led to some discussion. Given Nike's description of her "joyful and curious gameplay," one could argue there was a missed opportunity for a more bespoke design that creatively channeled those unique aspects of her personality. Ultimately, the classic design keeps the focus on her name and the core message but leaves fans to wonder what a more artistically expressive tribute might have looked like considering the high price of the Jersey as it is available to buy for a whopping $138 in the official NBA Store.