Los Angeles Lakers fans were ecstatic this weekend when the franchise clenched its 17th championship against the Miami Heat. One of those ecstatic fans was Snoop Dogg. Making good on his promise, the California icon set out on Monday night (Oct. 12) to get a new tattoo honoring the team and their win.
Snoop enlisted famed tattoo artist Mr. Cartoon for the new ink, which included the team logo, championship trophy and a tribute to the late, great Kobe Bryant. The Lakers’ win on Sunday (Oct. 11) marked their first championship in 10 years after Bryant led them to victory in 2010. To honor the basketball star, Snoop got Bryant’s initials tattooed near his wrist.
“As you see, tatt is done, KB on the bottom [for] Kobe Bryant,” Snoop said in an Instagram video of the new ink. “Larry O’Brien championship trophy with ‘The Lakers’ going through the ball; gates of Heaven up top — and it don’t stop.”
“Laker nation. Thank y’all Lakers and thank you Mr. Cartoon,” he added in the clip. “We the West and we the best!”
Snoop dedicated the Lakers’ victory to Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, in another video posted on Monday.
“Purple and gold. This for Kobe and Gigi,” he said.
Tributes for Bryant poured in from Lakers teammates, fans and more on Sunday, including a heartfelt message from his wife, Vanessa. On Instagram, she congratulated the team and Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka.
“Kobe was right RP ‘stay the course – block out the noise’ – [Kobe Bryant],’” she wrote. “Wish Kobe and Gianna were here to see this.”
Speaking with reporters after the win, Lakers’ Anthony Davis remembered the NBA star, saying, “Kobe — I know he’s looking down on us super proud. We miss him and this is definitely for him.”
GM Pelinka added, “I think Kobe and Gianna have guided this team the entire year… [Their] legacy will last forever. It will impact lives around the world in positive ways and this Lakers championship in 2020 is partly to build on that legacy and honor them. The moment couldn’t be any more special to do that for them.”
See Snoop’s new Bryant and Lakers-honoring tattoo below.