Barcelona honors Kobe Bryant with the New Jersey Lagers logo

The Spanish football club Barcelona pays tribute to NBA legend Kobe Bryant with his second uniform launched Tuesday.

The five-time European champion said that his New Jersey will replace the usual Nike Swoosh logo «with the» Kobe Sheath «the sword in the Schede Logo that the Kobe Bryant brand identifies.»

Barcelona said that the club had a special relationship with Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in southern California in 2020. He appeared alongside club members and first team players during his visits to Barcelona and when the club visited the United States.

«The shorts are black with Persian violet details and a structured Snakeskin overview, a reference to Kobe’s Black Mamba Alter Ego,» said Barcelona.

The change, made in collaboration with Nike, will last for three seasons.

«All in all, it is part of a brand cooperation between the NBA legend and FC Barcelona that was born from a shared culture of sporting excellence that characterized Bryant and is also part of the DNA of FC Barcelona,» the club said.

«This agreement is intended to keep that idea of brotherhood alive and at the same time creating a connection between Kobe fans and FC Barcelona to make the global impact of the American inheritance even greater among the sporting community and fans.»