Report: Kentucky Selected as First School in Nike/Kobe Bryant 'Mamba' Program

According to a report from Kentucky Sports Radio, the Kentucky Basketball program has been selected by Vanessa Bryant, the wife of the late Kobe Bryant, to be the first school to partner with Nike and the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation in the “Mamba Program”.

The Mamba Program will allow the Wildcats to wear Kentucky-exclusive themed Kobe sneakers and apparel this season. In the future, special uniforms featuring the Mamba logo are a possibility.

Executive director of the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, Kat Conlon, explained that Kobe Bryant and John Calipari had a “special relationship”. That relationship has carried posthumously with the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in memory of Kobe and Gianna “GiGi” Bryant.

Last October, Kentucky hosted Natalia Bryant, Kobe’s oldest daughter, and the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation for the Mamba Skills Academy, a free basketball camp for underprivileged youth held at Memorial Coliseum. Players and coaches from the men’s and women’s basketball teams helped operate the camp.

On May 1st this year, Gigi Bryant’s birthday, Vanessa Bryant gifted the staff and the team “Mambacita” Kobe 4s which are made to honor Gigi on her birthday.