Snoop Dogg Gave Laker Legend Kobe Bryant a Pontiac as a Retirement Present
Alex Reale
· 3 min read
It’s a tale as old as time: one millionaire gives another millionaire a tricked-out,
classic car
as a retirement gift. The two millionaires in this story are Snoop Dogg, the legendary rapper, entrepreneur, and icon of West Coast hip hop, and the late, great Kobe Bryant, whose legacy in professional basketball is perhaps unmatched.Snoop Dogg, a Long Beach native and long-time Lakers fan, can be frequently spotted sitting courtside at the Staples Center. He often wears a customized jersey with Bryant’s old number (8) on it. This token of friendship and admiration was apparently just the warm-up act.
The classic car featured a unique mural
In the summer of 2016, Bryant posted a photo on Twitter of a yellow and purple car, with the caption “Unbelievable retirement gift from my man Snoop today #KB20.”
The car’s roof is a blaring purple, and in the photo, the doors are open and the trunk is lifted. If you zoom in on the trunk’s hood you’ll see a collection of what looks like cartoon characters adorning it. Look closer and you’ll find Laker stars from different eras, en route to score a layup or dunk.
In the lower left, you can even spot the legendary Laker announcer Chick Hearn, who once referred to Snoop Dogg to his co-host Stu Lantz as “Snoopy Snoop Dogg.” The central figure is Snoop himself, wearing a Laker jersey and brandishing a championship trophy.
And embossed behind all these floating characters is the phrase “SHOWTIME”—a nod to the famed era between 1979 and 1991 when LA played a fast, exciting game that influenced the entire NBA.
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Features of the Pontiac Parisienne
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Leaving interesting artwork aside, this car is a beauty. Sleek and shiny, with a wide grille and customized seats, it has the stylings of its era. This Pontiac Parisienne is a third-generation version of the original car, which was sold in Canada from the ‘50s to the ‘80s, and briefly in the U.S. for a three-year stretch in the mid-80s.
It’s a full-size, rear-wheel drive, and it essentially matches a Chevrolet under the hood—with a pragmatic interior paired with an eye-catching exterior.
After the 1986 model year, GM retired the car, and Pontiac Parisiennes became increasingly rare and expensive. This vehicle was a fitting gift for a retiring legend: technically past its prime, but ready for another adventure.
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