<p>The Mamba Sports Academy is retiring "Mamba" from its name out of respect for the late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.</p>.<p>Academy chief executive Chad Faulkner announced the move on Tuesday, saying Bryant's legacy should live on "on its own."</p>.<p>Faulkner and Bryant had launched a joint athletic training and business venture in 2018, and the academy, located in Thousand Oaks west of Los Angeles, was part of it.</p>.<p>Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26 along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people as they were headed to the academy, where Bryant was going to coach Gianna in a youth basketball game.</p>.<p>"Our beliefs and thoughts are Kobe is one of one," Faulkner told The Undefeated on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"And with that as we carry on as the Sports Academy, it's more appropriate to put Kobe in another Hall of Fame, if you will, and to really respect a legacy that is really unrivaled, frankly, and let that live on its own."</p>.<p>Bryant won five NBA titles in a 20-year career all spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 18-time All-Star, who won one season MVP and two Finals MVP awards, dubbed himself the "Black Mamba" and spoke of the "Mamba mentality" in his pursuit of excellence.</p>.<p>His daughter Gianna, a budding basketball star, was affectionately known as "Mambacita" and Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, has renamed the family's charitable foundation supporting youth sports the Mamba & Mambacita Sports foundation.</p>
<p>The Mamba Sports Academy is retiring "Mamba" from its name out of respect for the late Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant.</p>.<p>Academy chief executive Chad Faulkner announced the move on Tuesday, saying Bryant's legacy should live on "on its own."</p>.<p>Faulkner and Bryant had launched a joint athletic training and business venture in 2018, and the academy, located in Thousand Oaks west of Los Angeles, was part of it.</p>.<p>Bryant died in a helicopter crash on January 26 along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven other people as they were headed to the academy, where Bryant was going to coach Gianna in a youth basketball game.</p>.<p>"Our beliefs and thoughts are Kobe is one of one," Faulkner told The Undefeated on Tuesday.</p>.<p>"And with that as we carry on as the Sports Academy, it's more appropriate to put Kobe in another Hall of Fame, if you will, and to really respect a legacy that is really unrivaled, frankly, and let that live on its own."</p>.<p>Bryant won five NBA titles in a 20-year career all spent with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 18-time All-Star, who won one season MVP and two Finals MVP awards, dubbed himself the "Black Mamba" and spoke of the "Mamba mentality" in his pursuit of excellence.</p>.<p>His daughter Gianna, a budding basketball star, was affectionately known as "Mambacita" and Bryant's widow, Vanessa Bryant, has renamed the family's charitable foundation supporting youth sports the Mamba & Mambacita Sports foundation.</p>