WATCH: Kim Mulkey receives special gift from Nike, Kobe Bryant's family
LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey couldn’t contain her excitement as she unboxed a package sent to her by Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Once she saw what was inside — a pair of the new Nike Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita Sweet 16’ shoes — she couldn’t believe it.
“I received a special package at the office today,” Mulkey later wrote on Twitter. “Thank you, Vanessa Bryant, for sending a pair of the Mambacita Sweet 16’s. What a special way to honor the legacy that Kobe and Gigi built!”
Nike describes the shoes as honoring “the legacy that Kobe and Gianna ‘Gigi’ Bryant built. One that propelled all generations to continue their quest to be better, for themselves and for the game that unites us all. To the fans that have embodied the Mamba Mentality from the beginning and the young hoopers that have pushed Gigi’s love for the game forward, this one’s for you.”
The left shoe has “Kobe” written on the back while the right has “Gigi.” The father and daughter died in a helicopter crash on Jan. 26, 2020. The Sweet Sixteen name comes from the fact that Gigi Bryant would have turned 16 this month. The shoes became available for purchase on May 1, her birthday. All profits from the sale of the Kobe 6 Protro ‘Mambacita Sweet 16’ will be donated to the Mamba & Mambacita Sports Foundation.
Kim Mulkey thanked Vanessa Bryant for the shoes honoring Kobe and Gigi in the video, putting her hand over her heart.
Mulkey is coming off of her first season as coach of the Tigers, having led them to a 26-6 finish and NCAA Tournament appearance. She previously spent 22 seasons as the head coach at Baylor, where she led the Bears to three national titles and 11 Big 12 championships. She, like Kobe Bryant, is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame.