NBA Finals 2020: Los Angeles Lakers to don 'Black Mamba' jerseys for Game 5

With a chance to wrap up the 2020 NBA Finals and clinch their 17th championship, the Los Angeles Lakers will wear the 'Black Mamba' jerseys for Game 5 on Saturday (at 12:00 p.m. AEDT). 

The uniforms were designed by the late Kobe Bryant when they were introduced, during the 2017-18 season, as the first addition to the City Edition collection.

Once the 2020 postseason tipped-off in August, the Lakers honoured Bryant and his daughter Gianna, both of whom passed away in a tragic helicopter crash in January, by wearing them on Kobe Bryant Day (August 24th, a day after Kobe Bryant's birthday) for Game 2 of their first-round series against the Portland Trail Blazers. In addition to the original design, the jerseys include a #2 patch, Gianna's jersey number, above the Nike swoosh in a white heart.

Per the Associated Press' Tim Reynolds, the franchise had originally planned to wear the jerseys for Game 7 and still indent to do so if a Game 7 is required. 

In the four postseason games so far, when they have donned these uniforms, the purple-and-gold holds an unbeaten 4-0 record. 

"Never want to lose in these jerseys," Anthony Davis said moments after draining the game-winning 3-pointer against the Denver Nuggets in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals. 

"It's always special to be able to represent someone that meant so much, not only to the game but obviously, to the Lakers organization for 20 plus years," LeBron James said postgame after the Lakers defeated the Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. 

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