Kobe Bryant jersey displayed at Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture

The museum’s interim director Spencer Crew said of the display: ‘Kobe’s contributions on and off the court are remarkable. As a founding donor, he understood the significance of this museum to the nation and the world. 

‘After postponing the March installation due to COVID-19, we believe now is the perfect moment in history to honor his memory by placing his jersey on view.’

The latest: Kobe Bryant’s jersey from the Game 5 of the 2008 NBA Finals will be on display in the Sports Exhibition of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C., officials with the museum said Monday

The organization detailed the display in a series of tweets touting the late athlete’s achievements, philanthropy and lasting impact, less than nine months after his death January 26 in a helicopter crash with his daughter Gianna and seven others.

‘Kobe Bryant’s “Black Mamba” mentality propelled him to the upper echelon of sports and inspired millions of people around the world,’ officials from the organization said in a tweet. ‘Bryant played twenty seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers – winning five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and one league MVP award.’

The organization continued: ‘At NMAAHC, Kobe holds a very special place in our hearts. In the very critical stages of building our museum, Kobe and Vanessa Bryant became founding donors, giving us the boost that we needed to keep moving forward.’

NMAAHC said the uniform, which Bryant wore in the championship series against the Boston Celtics, ‘serves as a testament to the resiliency of African Americans & expands the on the impact of black popular culture in sports.’  

The organization detailed the display in a series of tweets touting the late athlete's achievements, philanthropy and lasting impact

The organization detailed the display in a series of tweets touting the late athlete’s achievements, philanthropy and lasting impact

The museum, which has been open since 2016, is located in Washington, D.C

The museum, which has been open since 2016, is located in Washington, D.C

Honored: Bryant, daughter Gianna 'GiGi' Bryant, 13, and seven others perished in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26. The father and daughter were depicted in a mural in LA

Honored: Bryant, daughter Gianna ‘GiGi’ Bryant, 13, and seven others perished in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26. The father and daughter were depicted in a mural in LA

Bryant, daughter Gianna ‘GiGi’ Bryant, 13, and seven others perished in the helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26.

Also killed in the crash were pilot Ara Zobayan, 50, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, and Christina Mauser, 38. The group was headed from Orange County to Kobe’s Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks.

Bryant and Gianna, who were 41 and 14 respectively at the time of the tragedy, are survived by immediate family members Vanessa Bryant, 38, Natalia, 17, Bianka, three, and Capri, one. 

Legacy: Fans outside the Staples Center celebrated Kobe and the team's NBA Finals win earlier this month

Legacy: Fans outside the Staples Center celebrated Kobe and the team’s NBA Finals win earlier this month

Close couple: Kobe and Vanessa were seen in November of 2019 in LA

Close couple: Kobe and Vanessa were seen in November of 2019 in LA 

Bryant was well-remembered and honored amid his team’s recent championship run led by Laker superstars LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

During the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat at Orlando, Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, the team donned Kobe’s Black Mamba ensembles for one of its games, after having dedicated its season to the memory of Bryant, who spent two decades on the roster before his retirement in 2016.

Bryant ended his NBA career in dominating fashion, scoring 60 points in the Lakers’ 101-96 victory against the Utah Jazz in his final contest on April 13, 2016.