NBA Finals notebook: Mamba jerseys back, Heat facing must-win

AP Basketball Writer

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. – The Mamba jerseys are coming back for a closeout opportunity.

The Los Angeles Lakers will wear the black jerseys with a snakeskin look – all designed by Kobe Bryant and now worn by the team in his honor – for Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Friday night.

The original schedule, released before the finals, called for the Lakers to wear purple jerseys in Game 5. The black jerseys were to be worn in Games 2 and 7; if this series goes seven, the Mamba jerseys are slated to return.

“Until you get your hands on them, you don’t get to see the detail in them. It’s super-duper detailed,” the Lakers’ LeBron James said. “It has that snake Mamba print on it. It…