Kobe Bryant confirmed that his suit tonight was indeed a subtle tribute to Dr. Jack Ramsay (pic via @Lakers): pic.twitter.com/4wnfI6WAR4
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) January 24, 2016
Kobe Bryant took his final NBA road trip to Portland as a player on Saturday night, as his Lakers were blown out by the Trail Blazers, 121-103. Kobe was not happy with his teammates after the loss, calling them out for smiling in the locker room afterward.
Before the game, though, the former NBA MVP appeared to be in a better mood, as he rocked a plaid suit to the game to honor the late Dr. Jack Ramsay.
For those unfamiliar, Ramsay was the Blazers coach for 10 seasons (from 1976-86) and led the team to their only NBA championship in 1977. Ramsay also had stints as a head coach in Philadelphia, Buffalo, and Indiana, amassing more than 860 wins in his 20-year coaching career — good enough for 13th on the all-time list.
Along with being a great coach, Ramsay was also recognized for his bold fashion choices, as he was known to rock plaid pants and sport coats back in the ’70s.
Happy Birthday to Dr. Jack Ramsay, who would have turned 90 today! pic.twitter.com/j41DmDNBaL
— Hot Sauce the Podcast🎙️ (@hotsaucepodcast) February 21, 2015
Dr. Jack Ramsay demonstrates why he also deserved a Ph.D. in fashion as he prowls the Buffalo Braves' sideline. pic.twitter.com/DcRezd3Lqa
— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) July 18, 2015
Ramsay died in 2014, and the team honored him with a perfect plaid patch on their uniforms. Now, Kobe has paid his respects with a fantastic Ramsay-inspired suit of his own.
Who knows, maybe between Kobe and Craig Sager, they can bring plaid back into the NBA for good.
