SPORTS SHORTS 3: LAKERS HONOR BRYANT IN THEIR RING DESIGN
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 24 Dec 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers officially presented their championship rings for winning the NBA Finals in October on Tuesday night before their season opening game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant was honored in the ring design. Players’ names and numbers were engraved on the side of the ring and the motto “Leave A Legacy” encircled the number. Behind that number is where they glorified Bryant with a black mamba snake.
* * *
The Lakers’ championship rings are amazing and huge which include 17 purple amethyst stones with .95 carats in each that make up the “L” on the removable top — representing the 17 NBA titles that the franchise has won. There are .52 carats of yellow diamonds in every ring to represent the number of regular-season wins the team had won, as reported by ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
Lakers championship ring 2020.
* * *
Kobe Bryant was a shooting guard who spent all of his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers without transferring to another team. Bryant won five NBA championships, and was an 18-time All-Star, a 15-time All-NBA Team member, a 12-time All-Defensive Team member, the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP), and a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Bryant also led the NBA in scoring twice, and ranks No. 4 on the all-time regular season scoring and all-time playoff scoring lists. Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna died of helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
* * *
The Brooklyn Nets demolished the Golden State Warriors 125-99 in the first game of the 2020-21 season. Kevin Durant was sensational against his former team in his first official competitive game since June 2019, pouring in 22 points in 25 minutes. Kyrie Irving contributed 26 points in 25 minutes. Caris LeVert led the assault of the bench, shooting 20 points, grabbing nine rebounds and handing five assists. Stephen Curry achieved a double-double for the Warriors with 20 points and 10 assists.
* * *
Defending NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by the Los Angeles Clippers 116-109 on Tuesday's opening night. Paul George scored 26 of his 33 points in the second half topscoring for the Clippers while Kawhi Leonard added 26 points. Serge Ibaka poured in 15, Ivica Zubac and Lou Williams had 11 each and Patrick Beverley contributed 10.
* * *
LeBron James garnered 22 points, five assists and five rebounds while Anthony Davis had 18 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers. Former Clipper Montrezl Harrell added 17 points and 10 rebounds and Kyle Kuzma scored 15 points. Dennis Schroder collected 14 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists. It is the second consecutive year that the Clippers have defeated the Lakers in their season opener in a game of LA teams.
* * *
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tuesday announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2021, including first-time nominees Doug Collins, Michael Cooper, Howard Garfinkel, Lou Henson, Paul Pierce, Val Ackerman, Yolanda Griffith and Lauren Jackson. The Class of 2021 Enshrinement ceremony is scheduled to take place in Springfield, Massachusetts, in September 2021.
* * *
The Class of 2020 Enshrinement ceremony has been rescheduled and relocated due to COVID-19 for May 13-15, 2021 at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, Connecticut. The Class of 2020 includes: 18-time NBA All-Star and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, 15-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA Finals MVP Tim Duncan, 15-time NBA All-Star and nine-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Kevin Garnett, four-time National Coach of the Year Eddie Sutton, two-time NBA Champion coach Rudy Tomjanovich, 10-time WNBA All-Star and four-time Olympic gold medalist Tamika Catchings, three-time NCAA National Championship Coach of Baylor Kim Mulkey, five-time Division II National Coach of the Year Barbara Stevens and longtime FIBA executive Patrick Baumann.
* * *
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of the sport, honors players who have shown phenomenal basketball skills, all-time great coaches, referees, and other major contributors to the sport. It is named after Dr. James Naismith, who invented the game in 1891. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a contributor in 1959. Players must have been retired for at least three years before becoming eligible.
* * *
Referees and coaches must have either been retired for at least three years, or if they are still active, have officiated or coached for at least 25 years at high-school-level programs or higher. Those considered for induction as contributors may be inducted any time based on the evaluation of the Hall of Fame and its committees. Teams are also inducted at the committees' discretion.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
Fri, 26 Dec 2025THE RING 6: NIGHT OF THE SAMURAI OPEN WORKOUTS COMPLETE AS UNDISPUTED KING INOUE GETS READY FOR PICASSO CLASH IN RIYADH
Thu, 25 Dec 20253-Time, 2-Division World Champion & IBF No. 1, Mandatory Bantamweight World Title Challenger Miyo Yoshida long overdue for her 8th World title fight
Thu, 25 Dec 2025Game On! 1st Paower Pickleball Cup Ignites Action in San Fernando
By Marlon Bernardino, Thu, 25 Dec 2025Late Replacement Tellez Ready to Shock the World Against Amanda Serrano for WBA & WBO Featherweight Titles on January 3 in Puerto Rico
Wed, 24 Dec 2025The Pryce is right again!
Wed, 24 Dec 2025Postal Stamp Honoring Muhammad Ali will be present in January 15
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 24 Dec 2025O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SIGNS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP DEAL WITH MATCHROOM BOXING
Wed, 24 Dec 2025Isabela Chess University Wins Region 2 Chess League Title
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 24 Dec 2025Cristobal stops Beltran in the 6th round
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025VENUE/DATE CHANGE: Shinard Bunch Takes on John Paul Magalong on THURSDAY, JANUARY 15TH AT THE WAR MEMORIAL IN TRENTON
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Raquinel suffers 2nd setback in SA
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 23 Dec 2025Oakland Municipal Auditorium: Sacred Hall Where Filipino Boxing World Champions Were Crowned
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Tue, 23 Dec 2025IBA confirms Men’s World Boxing Championships results
Tue, 23 Dec 2025Jordan Launches Pro Boxing Scene Appointing Amer Abdallah as Advisor
Tue, 23 Dec 2025