Davis Schneider retires Kobe Bryant’s iconic bar after taking over Game 5

The Toronto Blue Jays are one win away from baseball immortality, and Davis Schneider he made sure everyone knew the job wasn’t done yet. The 26-year-old outfielder set the tone for Game 5 with a leadoff home run that fueled the Blue Jays’ 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the club a 3-2 World Series the lead returned to Toronto.

It wasn’t just the swing that went viral – it was what followed. In his postgame comments, the left fielder dropped a line that connected sports and generations.

The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) account and shared a quote from the 26-year-old it resonated Bryant’s famous words from the 2009 NBA Finals Los Angeles Lakers took a 2-0 lead over the Orlando Magic.

“The job isn’t done, like Kobe Bryant always said.”

That quote from the Lakers legend quickly spread on social media, embodying the late star’s “Mamba mentality.” A reflection of the outfielder’s quote more than 16 years later underscored the Blue Jays’ focus as they came one win away from their first title in 32 years. The message reflected the team’s calm confidence — the celebration could wait.

Schneider’s solo charge to lead off the game also ignited one of the most memorable sequences in recent World Series history, as Wladimir Guerrero Jr. followed with a blast on the very next pitch. Back-to-back hits by ace Blake Snell stunned the Dodger Stadium crowd early and pushed the Jays closer to finishing the storied streak.

The moment also captured what this postseason is all about is intended for Blue Jays— a combination of resilience, belief and time. After falling behind in a heartbreaking 18-inning loss in Game 3, they displayed the same unwavering focus that carried them through October. The outfielder’s quote summed up that energy perfectly, a mix of confidence and restraint that reflects how champions think before the final out is recorded.

Bryant finished the job in five games against the Magic in 2009. Now, Schneider and his teammates will try to mirror that finish when they return home to Canada, aiming to finish the job and bring home the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time in more than 30 years.

The quote “The job’s not done” isn’t just a remark from Schneider after the game — it’s the mindset of a team that refuses to rest until the trophy is theirs.