You don’t have to be a basketball fan to know the rule – take a shot, yell “Kobe!” It’s instinct. A global phenomenon that started as a joke but became a tribute. Now, years after his passing, the tradition isn’t just alive; it’s thriving. A recent viral video of students in a classroom caught the attention of Vanessa Bryant herself, proving once again that Mamba’s legacy isn’t going anywhere
Everyone has done it at some point! Whether you’re shooting a three-pointer in a packed gym or tossing a crumpled piece of paper into a trash can, there’s only one name you yell: “Kobe!”
In a moment that perfectly captured the spirit of the Mamba, a teacher stood before his students, basketball in hand. With a nod, he chanted ‘Kobe!’ and the entire classroom followed. The video spread like wildfire, a testament to how Bryant’s legacy is still alive. What made it even more significant was the reaction from Vanessa Bryant, who commented on the clip, “ [hand heart emojis]”, signaling her appreciation for the ongoing legacy of her late husband.
Dave Chappelle played a huge role in making “Kobe!” a cultural staple. He brought this into the mainstream, making it a cultural staple. Chappelle’s influence undeniably set a lasting trend. Let us see how it originated.
“Kobe!” – The origins of the universal language of every shot
The tradition of yelling “Kobe!” while taking a shot actually started outside of basketball. Back in 2003, Dave Chappelle unknowingly sparked a movement after a skit called “Everyday Athletes”. In the skit, various people shouted an athlete’s name before partaking in an action said athlete was made famous in this case Kobe’s unrelenting accuracy. The first person in the skit shouts “Kobe!” before making a free throw.
Dave Chappelle featured the act again in the fourth episode of the second season of Chappelle’s Show, which aired on February 11th, 2004, in a skit called “The Love Contract”. The end of the skit shows Dave Chappelle yelling “Kobe!” before throwing an object into a trashcan. That one simple moment turned into an unspoken rule, every time you take a shot, you call on the Mamba.
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts in the first quarter against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on April 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
According to Know Your Meme, by the late 2000s, online forums were buzzing with stories of people yelling ‘Kobe!’ every time they took a shot. It didn’t matter if it was a basketball, a balled-up napkin, or even a sock aimed at the laundry bin. If you were shooting your shot, you had to say it. Though we might not know exactly the kind of man Kobe was, his death still left a hole.
After Kobe Bryant’s tragic passing in 2020, the tradition took on an even deeper meaning. Fans across the world flooded social media with clips of themselves yelling his name as a way to honor him. Kobe Bryant may be gone, but every time someone yells his name and takes a shot, the Mamba lives on.
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