Nike is continuing to honor the legacy of Kobe and Gigi Bryant through their many initiatives and programs.
This includes their flagship summer basketball program, LA Don't Play, and their two-day Mamba League Invitational, which just wrapped up its third successful annual tournament. Led by notable sports figures, LA Don't Play is a Los Angeles-based basketball program that provides growth, leadership and access to local resources. Per the company, the program focuses on more than just physical skillsets, instead incorporating mental game mastery, yoga for injury prevention and mindfulness to help young players develop a winning mindset.
Nike's commitment to ushering in the next era of basketball is also reflected through its annual Mamba League Invitational tournament, which took place from August 23 to August 24. The two-day tourney is where Mamba Mentality takes the stage, with locked-in talent, big energy and the next era of hoopers going all out.
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Nike/Mamba League Invitational
"LA Don’t Play isn’t just another youth basketball program; it’s a blueprint for what true community investment looks like," Ian Shepherd, Head of Marketing, Nike LA, told SN. "At a time when access to high-level training and resources is shrinking, Nike is partnering with local leaders to give LA’s top boys and girls the kind of mentorship, mental health support, and pro-level development tools that are usually out of reach—while uniting players from across the city and the Inland Empire to compete at a pro-level intensity and learn from some of the game’s most respected mentors. This is about more than making great athletes—it’s about shaping confident
leaders and carrying LA’s basketball legacy into the future."
SJ Madison, Shooting Guard, Class of 2026, Redondo Union High School, adds, "This program makes me proud to represent my city. It’s given me the chance to compete against the best and learn from people who’ve lived the game at the highest level.
Nike/Mamba League Invitational
Bella Harmon, Point Guard, Class of 2026, St. Joseph High School (Lakewood), expanded upon her experience, telling us, "LA Don’t Play is not just a brand. It’s a mindset. What I have gained over the last few months are unique abilities from mental toughness, to court vision and overall skills I will carry with me for years to come both on and off the court. As I move on in my basketball journey, I will forever be grateful for the time and resources provided by the amazing program."
This summer, LA Don't Play brought together 13 of LA’s top high
school players—boys and girls—from across neighborhoods in Greater Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. At a time when basketball’s accessibility is shrinking and resources are unevenly distributed, the program works with community partners to level the playing field—offering rising talent access to mentorship, mental health resources and other tools typically reserved for the pros.
At its core, the program is about bringing LA together—collaborating with local organizations that have long been shaping basketball culture. By creating a shared platform for athletes, mentors, and community leaders, LA Don’t Play helps the next generation reach their potential while strengthening connections across the city’s neighborhoods, cultures, and partners in the lead-up to LA 2028.
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