Kobe Bryant’s influence lives on beyond the basketball court. After his passing, nail artists created diverse designs to honor him and his daughter, Gianna. In this article, we highlight Kobe Bryant nail art as inspiration for anyone who wants to remember him in a personal way.
Kobe Bryant Nail Art
Kobe Bryant Tribute Nails
If you’re a Lakers fan, you might already know about Kobe Bryant Day, or Mamba Day. It started in 2016 when Los Angeles declared it a holiday. It’s the day after Kobe’s birthday, plus the date is symbolic of the two numbers that he wore as a player – 8 and 24.
But the summertime celebration had a different feel in August 2020. The famous player had died in January along with his teen daughter and others in a helicopter crash. This time nail artists pulled out all the stops to memorialize Kobe with beautiful and creative sets.
LDS Metallic Marble Ink - Gold
LAVIS Gel Polish Super Black - 0.5 oz
Kobe’s Logo
This logo was created for Kobe Bryant by a Nike designer. It’s also known as the “sheath logo” because it looks like a sword in a scabbard. The designer said he was inspired by samurai culture. The six-part shape stands for discipline and determination, something that Kobe had in spades.
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Chaun Legend Gel Polish - LG5224 You-phoric
Kobe and Gianna Basketball Nails
Here we see the Lakers colors and logo with Kobe’s player numbers plus Gianna’s.
Gianna Bryant was only thirteen when she passed, yet she was already taller than her mother and showing impressive energy and skill on the basketball court. Colleges were lining up to recruit her, with the UConn Huskies anticipating her arrival in a few years. After her death, they saved a seat for her at the next game with a number 2 jersey draped across the bench.
Kiara Sky Gel Pro - 098 All The Bright Moves
Kiara Sky Gel Pro - 081 Plum-thing Special
Kings Never Die
This crisp Kobe Bryant glow-in-the-dark nail art makes it crystal clear day or night that the wearer is a fan!
Let’s talk a little bit about the basketball star. Kobe Bean Bryant was born on August 23, 1978. His father named him after Japanese Kobe beef and his own player nickname, which was “Jellybean.” His dad was a basketball player in the NBA and his mother the sister of an NBA player, so you could say that sports were a big part of family life.
By the time Kobe was three years old, he was already playing basketball. Even as a child, he loved the Los Angeles Lakers. At high school in Philadelphia, he was recognized as the top American basketball player in his age group. So, it was a dream come true when he was picked by the Charlotte Hornets in the draft, then traded to the Lakers in 1996.
The year after joining the team, the rookie shooting guard won the Slam Dunk Contest and was named an All-Star. He and Shaquille O’Neal ensured the Lakers won three NBA championships in a row.
A decade after joining the Lakers, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points in a single game, the highest ever except for Wilt Chamberlain who scored 100. He gave himself the nickname of “Black Mamba” because he wanted his skills to be like that snake which could strike rapidly, repeatedly, and with maximum accuracy.
Another dream came true when he won gold medals during the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Sportscasters and news outlets all agreed that Kobe was the best player of his generation. He spent his 20-year career entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers. During that time, he was an All-Star 18 times, not to mention multiple other titles like most valuable player and scoring champion. Even after a tendon injury caused trouble, he still racked up the points, earning him a spot in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Beyoncé
At the memorial, Beyoncé sang a tribute to Kobe Bryant and his daughter while wearing this set with their names written in sparkling stones. Gianna was also known as “Gigi”.
We didn’t discover who the creator of this Kobe Bryant nail art was, but we admire the attention to detail. The color perfectly matches the Laker’s jersey. Beyoncé and the artist likely reminisced over Kobe’s career during the time it took to carefully place each stone.
Floral Tribute in Lakers’ Colors
The artist quoted Kobe Bryant as saying, “If you do not believe in yourself no one will do it for you.” That feels true about nail art, not just basketball. It feels scary to try new things and bad to fail at them, but every failure is a learning experience, and it makes the victory sweeter. We suspect a lot of nail artists stretched their skills to honor Kobe Bryant after his sudden passing.
Lakers Fan Nail Art
Did you know that the Los Angeles Lakers are the second most winning team in the history of the NBA? They’ve had seventeen championship wins since they were established in 1946. All those victories are due to excellent teamwork and the forty-one Basketball Hall of Famers who have played for them.
NBA Finals 2020
Here you can see Kobe’s and the Lakers’ logos on black nails with a matte finish. He had retired officially at the end of the 2015-2016 season and made a short animated film telling his “Dear Basketball” farewell. But even when he wasn’t on the court, his influence remained.
2020 was a tricky year but the Lakers still made it to the finals to face off with the Miami Heat. Somehow, they won four games to two. When Anthony Davis sank a last second basket to win one of the games, he shouted “Kobe!”
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Kobe Bryant Day Nails
A fan wanted this set of Lakers basketball nails for Kobe Bryant Day in 2023.
R.I.P. Kobe and Gianna
Let’s wrap up with a heartwarming look based on a photo of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gigi, dunking with the sun. Rest in power, and we wish peace to all those who love you.
Conclusion
We hope this tour of Kobe Bryant nail art helps you find inspiration. Visit our store to discover gorgeous new colors and essential supplies to make your nail ideas come true.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_Bryant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gianna_Bryant
https://turbologo.com/articles/the-kobe-bryant-logo-history-and-meaning
https://www.allure.com/gallery/kobe-bryant-nail-art-dedication-essay
https://www.essence.com/beauty/kobe-bryant-tribute-nail-designs