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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Maple Mamba is no more.
Canadian-bred Knicks rookie RJ Barrett, who was given that nickname during his lone year at Duke, said Tuesday he no longer wants to be referred to by the moniker out of respect for Kobe Bryant, who was known throughout his career as the Black Mamba.
“I don’t want to get called that anymore. Somebody great like that, to lose him in that way, is really sad,” Barrett, who is sidelined with a sprained ankle, said before Tuesday’s game against the Hornets. “Even to this day you just think about it and it keeps replaying in my mind.