Lakers' LeBron James reveals new Kobe Bryant tribute tattoo
LeBron James revealed his new tattoo in memory of Kobe Bryant on Instagram on Friday. The tattoo is mostly black, with the main image that of a snake -- a Black Mamba -- entwined around the number 24 and the number 8, with a black rose on the upper left and lower right. Underneath, the caption in script is "Mamba 4 Life." Bryant, who wore both numbers during his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was known as the Black Mamba. The photo on James' Instagram that precedes the photo of the tattoo is from a Team USA practice. It is a black and white photo of James leaning into Bryant. On Wednesday, tattoo artist Vanessa Aurelia shared video on Instagram showing her work on James' left thigh and teammate Antony Davis right thigh. The Lakers are hosting the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at Staples Center and will celebrate and grieve Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven others who were killed in a helicopter on Sunday in Calabasas, California. Friday will mark the Lakers' first game at Staples since Bryant's death, and James and Davis are expected to make their first public remarks on the death of the Lakers legend.
Blazers' Carmelo Anthony 'not ready' to play after death of Kobe Bryant, to sit out vs. Lakers
Portlan Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony, a close friend of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, will not play in Friday's game against Los Angeles for what the team is officially calling personal reasons. Friday's game (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) will be the first for the Lakers since Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, on Sunday. "I respect [Anthony's decision to sit out]. I know him and Kobe had a great relationship," Blazers guard Damian Lillard told USA Today Sports. "It's something he was not ready to face and deal with. We all respect his decision." Hundreds of thousands of people have been paying their respects at the L.A. Live campus outside Staples Center in the days since Bryant's death. Flowers, candles, jerseys, stuffed animals, balloons, letters and other tokens line the street outside the arena where Bryant starred during his 20-season career with the Lakers.