Sports Academy Dropping 'Mamba' From Name To Honor Kobe

THOUSAND OAKS (CBSLA) - The Mamba Sports Academy led by Kobe Bryant is set to drop the "Mamba" from its name in honor of the late Lakers icon.

Launched in 2018, the Thousand Oaks-based training venture started by Bryant and CEO Chad Faulkner will revert back to Sports Academy.

The company posted a statement on Instagram stating, "Today, with respect for an unparalleled legacy, the Academy will retire the 'Mamba' in the Mamba Sports Academy name - to raise it to the rafters, where it belongs."

Mamba referred to Bryant's nickname "The Black Mamba", which the Lakers all-time leading scorer coined himself.

Bryant, 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others were killed Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash en route to the academy.

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• Kobe Bryant