Mamba Sports Academy To Drop 'Mamba' From Name Out Of Respect For Kobe

The Mamba Sports Academy is retiring "Mamba" from its name, out of respect for the late Kobe Bryant.

On Tuesday (May 12), CEO Chad Faulkner announced that the organization, which Kobe led before he, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others were killed in a January helicopter crash, will now be called The Sports Academy.

"Our beliefs and thoughts are Kobe is one of one. 'Mamba' is one of one," Chad said in a statement, referring to the name "Mamba," which was a part of Kobe's nickname "The Black Mamba."

"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. We will continue to do the work we do," he shared.

Adding, "We were fortunate to learn from Kobe. We will carry on much of those learnings that we have in a respectful way."

The academy also told TMZ, the decision to remove "Mamba" from the name was a "mutual agreement made in accordance with the wishes of [Kobe's] estate."

Kobe, Gianna, and the six other passengers were on their way to see a basketball tournament at the academy when their helicopter crashed in Thousand Oaks, California, on the morning of January 26.

Photo: Getty Images