8. ‘Mamba’ Inspired Alternates (2017-2018)
The Lakers rolled out these alternates in 2017-2018 in honor of one of the greatest Lakers of all time, Kobe Bryant. Styled after Bryant’s self-imposed nickname ‘The Black Mamba’, these jerseys perfectly echo the Mamba Mentality that has been a core ideal during Bryant’s tenure with the team.
These alternates are definitely reminiscent of the Hollywood Nights versions that were introduced back in 2013, but instead forgo the use of purple in place of gold and black, which provides much better contrast, and a jersey that really pops on the court.
But other than that, the ‘Mamba’ jerseys don’t really break from the standard Laker jersey formula as the logo, numbers, and lettering are all basically the same, which is a good thing, as the whole ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mantra has worked out well when it comes to Laker jersey designs for the most part.
But most importantly, the reason these jerseys earn the number eight spot is that they provide a fresh look to a classic uniform, and remind us all of one of the best to ever wear the purple and gold.