(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
The southern California sports center where the late Kobe Bryant was involved drew a disapproving response from another ex-NBA star about its decision to change its name.
Months after the tragic helicopter accident that took the lives of nine people, including Bryant and Gianna, on their commute to the Thousand Oaks facility, the academy moved to retire the “Mamba” label to honor the superstar.
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Chad Faulkner, CEO of the Sports Academy, founded Sports Academy in 2016 and later partnered with Bryant on the venture in 2018.
The Sports Academy announced on their website on Tuesday that they are removing “Mamba” from their name and launching a new website and logo rebranding.
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The Mamba name was adopted by the Sports Academy, given Bryant’s on-court nickname of “The Black Mamba.”