It was 10am on a Sunday, and I, of course, was still in bed. In my floating consciousness, I felt hands on my shoulder—someone was shaking me vigorously. This immediately sent me into alert mode because being shaken awake had been a rarity since my secondary school days. I’d usually groan and ignore the person, but on that day, I felt sober. My eyes shot open to find my sister hovering over me, which was odd because she wasn’t someone to wake me up without a reason. When she spoke, her voice sounded almost puzzled as she said, “Kobe Bryant just died.”

Christian Petersen, Getty Images

My sister doesn’t watch basketball, let alone play it. I could give her two pictures—one of Michael Jordan, another of Kobe Bryant—and five times out of ten, she’d probably point to MJ and say, “That’s Kobe Bryant.” She’s clueless when it comes to sports, but she knew his name. She knew how important he was, and she knew the impact his death would have—not just on me but on the world.

“Without studying, preparation, and practice, you’re leaving the outcome to fate. I don’t do fate.” — Kobe Bryant

Perhaps it’s the idea of this man, who seemed to conquer every challenge he ever faced through sheer will, perishing helplessly in a fiery blaze. Or maybe it’s the heartbreaking loss of his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, alongside him and seven other passengers. Maybe it’s the cruel irony of both—a larger-than-life figure who spent his life obsessing over dictating his own destiny, reduced to a mere mortal, powerless during his final moments, unable to protect the daughter he cherished above anything else.

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Whatever the reason, his death was devastating to basketball fans worldwide—so much so that it seems they’ve subconsciously created a religion built around him. Fans now hunt for significant sporting dates that coincide with the jersey numbers he wore for the Lakers, 8 and 24. Twenty-fourth of August has become the unofficial, official Kobe Day. Yet, in the recently concluded Paris Olympics, the gold medal basketball game between France and the USA fell on 8/10/24—a date that incorporates not only his Lakers numbers but also the 10 he wore as an Olympian.

Wait, so which is the real Kobe Day? Fans see his jersey numbers lining up on the calendar and convince themselves of a greater cosmic design. After all, what are the odds of the gold medal game happening on Kobe Day? They need to win gold for Kobe. Kobe will make sure Team USA wins. This is Kobe speaking to us. Ironically, the same men who mock women for following astrology now find themselves doing the same thing through Kobe numerology. This is precisely how fans have inadvertently formed a sports-centric faith around the Black Mamba, without even realising it.

MAMBA WOULD LITERALLY TAKE YOUR HEAD OFF TO WIN THE GAME

Los Angeles Lakers, Facebook

For those unfamiliar, Bryant bestowed himself the nickname Black Mamba in the mid-2000s to create an alter ego that helped him separate his personal life and tap into an unrelenting focus on the court. Rumours suggest he drew inspiration from a documentary about the black mamba snake, admired for its fearlessness, precision, and deadly strike—qualities that mirrored his fierce approach to basketball. You still hear tales today of his unmatched work ethic, passed down by his peers and contemporaries:

Kobe played a bench warmer to 100 multiple times when he was in high school. In his worst game, he still won 100–12.

Mamba used to learn Spanish and French so he could trash-talk European players in their native languages and psych them out.

In 2015, Kobe injured his right shoulder in a game but continued playing single-handedly with his left hand.

During the 2008 Olympics, Kobe would come in at 8 a.m. with ice on his knees, sweat-drenched through his workout gear. Meanwhile, players like LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were still yawning and asking, “Where in the hell is he coming from?”

These stories now linger in the archives of YouTube, are given new life on Instagram and repackaged for new audiences on TikTok. Because of Kobe’s untimely death, these stories are on the path to becoming myths—but who’s to say they won’t eventually transform into legends?

CODE OF CONDUCT

Every religion needs a scripture; some kind of moral or ethical code to live by. Kobe fans, of course, have the “Mamba Mentality,” a philosophy created by Bryant himself that preaches discipline, perseverance, and curiosity. Bryant even published a book titled The Mamba Mentality: How I Play, offering a detailed guide to his mindset and practices. The book, like a scripture, contains personal reflections, wisdom, and lessons, and is treated like a source of truth for those seeking to emulate Bryant's success. Other elite athletes like Naomi Osaka and Anthony Davis have adopted this mindset, appearing almost as apostles to Bryant’s teachings. But this framework transcends sports itself—the idea that, through rigorous application of the Mamba Mentality, one can achieve a form of immortality through lasting impact and legacy is malleable and can be applied to various areas of life.

Freddy Kearney, UNSPLASH

The idea of religious themes in sports isn’t something new. In the book Understanding Sport as a Religious Phenomenon, Eric Bain-Selbo and Gregory Sapp posit that the human need that drives religious participation—a sense of belonging, identity, and emotional experiences—are the same needs that compel people to engage deeply in sports. Think of mass gatherings, chants, and superstitions that reflect traditional religious expressions. Are you seeing the parallel?

THE PRODIGAL SON

Kobe Bryant wasn’t perfect. In 2003, a 19-year-old hotel employee accused him of sexual assault. While Bryant maintained that the encounter was consensual, the accuser disagreed, leading to a civil lawsuit that was eventually settled outside of court. It was a horrific situation that left the victim scarred and Bryant’s reputation obliterated.

Redemption is a powerful narrative often found in religious texts, and Bryant’s life reflects this narrative of repentance and public forgiveness. Following his legal issue, he issued a public apology to the victim and began repairing his personal life with his wife and children. In the years that followed, his family weathered the storm, and Bryant matured. He became deeply involved in charitable work, particularly in youth sports, education, and initiatives that supported disadvantaged communities. On the court, he became a mentor for young athletes, positioning himself as a role model who inspired many with his work ethic and dedication. After his retirement, he became a primary advocate for women’s basketball, emphasising the need for greater support for female athletes—who historically received less attention and funding compared to men’s sports. As a proud “girl dad” of three daughters, Bryant dedicated time to coaching his daughter Gianna’s youth basketball team.

For many fans, the last image they have of him is of a tender, loving father who passionately shared his love of basketball with his daughter—a far cry from his younger days when stories of his intensity and playing style screamed macho, red-blooded energy. While we cannot speak for the victims or assume their forgiveness, in the public eye, this journey quietly marked the closing chapter of Bryant’s life story of redemption.

KOBE!

A decade ago, kids would yell “Kobe!” as they shot crumpled paper into trash bins. Whether kids nowadays still yell his name before taking a shot or have replaced it with “Curry” remains uncertain. The future generation’s understanding of Bryant’s legacy and its lasting impact is yet to unfold. Will the next wave of athletes born after Bryant’s death practice the Mamba Mentality as a guiding philosophy? Will they look to him and start praying before important games? I don’t know, but it’s fascinating to observe.

Los Angeles Lakers, Facebook

For now, what seems certain is the unifying power of Bryant’s legacy among his devoted fans. Across different backgrounds, cultures, and political ideologies, there is a shared identity and common ground to be had. This social cohesion spans oceans and borders, satisfying the human need for connection, inspiration, and belonging. After all, this has long been the role religion has served for societies, centuries before the deification of Kobe Bryant.

It’s hard to find commonality between brands. It makes sense to have a rapper paired with a bottle of Hennessy (Drake’s “Demons”, Nas’ “The Genesis”) or have an artist give their spin on the decanter (Jean-Michel Othoniel, Julien Colombier)… but how do you justify the collab a Hennessy project with an athlete? What’s the spin when it comes to Hennessy with NBA legend, LeBron James?

For one, you highlight their shared dedication to excellence and pushing cultural boundaries. James has a list of achievements as long as his arm (given his 2.06m height, that’s a pretty long list)—the winner of four NBA championships; garnered four NBA MVPs; surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s leading scorer and others. Among its accolades, Hennessy is the world’s best-selling cognac, with nearly 40 per cent reach of the global market; has one of the largest reserves of aged eaux-de-vie; is the “MH” in the LVMH luxury conglomerate. In the field of excellence, the two brands (yes, King James is a brand) have a lot in common.

As a long-time fan of the cognac, James has visited the Hennessy House to witness the production and bottling processes. “[…] I was blown away by the level of care and craftsmanship behind each bottle.” James says. “This collection reflects our shared dedication and is something we’re excited to bring to fans everywhere.”

To celebrate his recent Olympic stint, James added his personal touch to the Hennessy Margarita called the “Henny-Rita” to showcase the complementary nature of the cognac.

On the packaging, there are James’ vibrant purple and orange hues with an illustrative portrait of the NBA GOAT and James’ trademark crown symbol is incorporated with Hennessy’s bras armé token. The packaging motifs are repeated on the bottles’ stylised labels and cap seals.

In 2021, Hennessy became the NBA’s first global spirits partner; in 2024, the Maison partnered with a basketballer, let alone, an athlete. King James can add that recognition to his decorated list.

The Hennessy Limited Editions (VS and VSOP) by LeBron James are out now.

Sneakerhead or not, this sneaker drop is one for the books. Since the first Foamposite collaboration in 2021, this iteration is set to be a little different.

Comme des Garçons has consistently put its signature spin on iconic Nike silhouettes—Air Max 97, Air Peg 2K5, Air Max Sunder, (and allegedly Air Max TL 2.5 soon, following its preview at its HOMME PLUS Fall/Winter 2024 show during Paris Fashion Week). Now, the Comme des Garçons x Nike Air Foamposite One 'Cat Eye' only heightens the wave.

DSM

The basketball model uses the same specialised mold of its debut to create a full foamposite construction, where the body sports a rippled texture that supposedly takes after Japanese Zen gardens. Instead of a singular primary colourway however, the fresh mix of black and grey this time makes the wave patterns ever more pronounced. Kinda like a slick oil spill if you ask me.

DSM

The lace and sole remains a clean jet black, allowing the not one but two tabs to pop. Located on the tongue and heel, the tabs are striped with gold, silver, and bronze in tribute to—you guessed it—the upcoming summer Olympics. Probably a wiser choice than a motif of five-hued rings.

Athlete and trainer Claire Prince fronts the campaign by photographer Anthony Geathers, shot in NYC. And to no one's surprise, it's in black and white.

DSM

How to buy the Comme des Garçons x Nike Air Foamposite One 'Cat Eye'

The pair is available in US men’s sizes 5-13 and US women’s sizes 6.5-14.5; retailing at SGD445 in store and online at Dover Street Market. Otherwise, at all your trusty resellers. You know the drill.

DSM

Comme des Garçons x Nike Air Foamposite One 'Cat Eye' drops 19th July exclusively at Dover Street Market Singapore and on the DSMS E-SHOP.

Dwyane Wade attends Wayne & Cynthia Boich's Art Basel party on December 08, 2023 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for 4WRD)

Dwyane Wade—the NBA luminary with 13 All-Star appearances and three championship victories knows about baller pieces. He was recently spotted in Miami, donning Aequa & Co.'s Thick Curb Chain, which paired well with his refined, silky floral prints for a relaxed and confident vibe. A relative newcomer in the world of Aequa & Co. caught the eye of Wade, as well as the attention of the fine jewellery world.

In the midst of age-old luxury establishments, Aequa & Co. is a breath of fresh air. As an avant-garde trailblazer, it broke barriers to introduce a more inclusive era in men's fine jewellery. Departing from the conventional, Aequa & Co.'s artisans (who hailed from esteemed maisons like Cartier and BVLGARI) are pioneering a daring renaissance. Mixing each creation with raw innovation and artistic freedom, you get an exhilarating departure from the safe confines of traditional labels. It's a contemporary collection resonating with potency, adaptability and genuine opulence.

Style is Made of These

Crafted exclusively from premium, ethically sourced materials—ranging from 14K to 18K solid gold, natural diamonds, pearls, and gemstones—Aequa & Co. caters to the discerning tastes of the modern man. It yields sophistication and yet won't break the bank. Aequa & Co. can circumvent the hefty price tags by overseeing the entire production in-house and bypassing intermediaries and exorbitant markups.

Whether you dress up or down, your Aequa piece seamlessly adapts to every setting. Their offering is a subtle yet distinctive statement that complements any ensemble effortlessly. From morning meetings to evening soirees, its subtle elegance punctuates your style, elevating every moment with an understated touch of sophistication.

And now you know: in the pursuit of that lap of luxury, it's readily accessible; just a mere step away from looking like Dwyane Wade or just looking like a million bucks.

Aequa & Co.

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