After 31 points the other night Kobe Bryant joked, “Maybe I’ll get a black mask.” Tonight he’s wearing one. Mike Trudell of Lakers.com snapped the first picture before the game, after the Black Mamba chose the black mask from the three new ones he had made in Detroit by the maker of Rip Hamilton‘s masks. According to Lakers trainer Gary Vitti, the black one was simply the most comfortable option.

Kobe's Black Mask

Kobe's Black Mask

They even started making these at the Nike Vault in L.A. the other day:

Kobe's Black Mask