Natalia Bryant, Kobe’s daughter, throws out the ceremonial first pitch as the Los Angeles Dodgers host Lakers Night in honor of the late NBA great.This year’s Dodgers ‘Lakers Night’ celebration featured a special tribute to Kobe Bryant.On Friday, the National League’s top two clubs squared off.The most recent sports coverage from around the world can be found on DailyMail.com.Updated: Wednesday, September 2, 2023 at 03:54 EDT By Tyrell Feaster For Dailymail.Com and Ap
Natalia Bryant, the eldest daughter of Los Angeles Dodgers star Kobe Bryant, threw out the game’s first pitch on Friday night.
‘Lakers Night’ was being held at Dodger Stadium, honoring the 17-time NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers.This year, LA decided to put the spotlight on Bryant by giving away black jerseys with Dodgers and No. 8 on the front and Bryant and No. 24 on the back to fans who bought a special ticket package. The basketball great and his daughter Gianna were among nine persons who perished in a California helicopter tragedy in 2020.
In 2000, the five-time NBA champion and lifelong Los Angeles Lakers player threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Dodger Stadium. In the intervening two decades, USC sophomore Natalia tossed the ball from her position in front of the pitcher’s mound.The ball took one hop before landing in the glove of star catcher Mookie Betts.
Betts, who was wearing his father’s No. 24 jersey over his own, was embraced by a beaming Natalia.Bryant’s mother, Vanessa, and sisters, Bianka, 6, and Capri, 4, also came along. They were all decked out in Dodgers gear. Queen Mamba, a reference to Kobe’s alias, was printed on the back of Vanessa’s.
Rob Pelinka, general manager of the Lakers, was also present.With her mom and sisters by her side, Bianka said, “It’s time for Dodger baseball!” before the game. The Dodgers wore Lakers jerseys while on the field, and Braves supporters chanted “Kobe! Kobe!” as the teams lined up along first and third base.A number of Dodgers, including Betts and Jason Heyward, wore Kobe Bryant-inspired gear in his respect before the game.Being his daughter is one of the biggest joys of my life, and I want to carry on his legacy by embodying and appreciating the numerous things he has taught me, Natalia stated earlier this year.Natalia was seen sporting a ‘Slim’ necklace in the Instagram post announcing her Friday visit. Last year, she shed light on its significance.A necklace emblazoned with the word “Slim” She revealed, “That was my childhood nickname.” Just eency-teency, that’s all.
I was always told I was too skinny for my jerseys. Since I didn’t start fitting into the jerseys until I was much older, my father never stopped calling me “Slim.”After the Dodgers donated $100,000 to the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation, a charity that helps underprivileged athletes through funding and sports programming, the family retreated into the owners’ box to watch the game.Bryant was supposed to be honored with a drone show after the game.
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