Whenever Jalen Williams grabs his phone, he sees a collage of Kobe Bryant photos as his lock screen. The first tattoo the 22-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder forward ever got was a portrait of Bryant's face, steely-eyed and biting down on the collar of his uniform. It covers the outside of his right leg from his ankle to just below the knee. Williams is a dedicated fan, and his dedication is evident in his extensive collection of Mamba merchandise which includes sneakers, shirts, magazines, posters, action figures, and even blankets.
Williams dons the No. 8 Thunder jersey as he takes to the court, paying homage to Kobe Bryant. But he is not alone in his decision to wear one of Bryant's iconic numbers. Four years after Bryant's tragic death in a helicopter crash, his legacy is being carried on by the next generation of NBA players.
