The reason behind Kobe Bryant's jersey number change.
Kobe Bryant is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA. Most fans and analysts agree Kobe is a top 10 player thanks to his incredible career, which led to him becoming a Hall of Famer.
The thing about Kobe is he essentially had two Hall of Fame careers. One when he wore the No. 8 and one when he wore the No. 24.
Kobe's career in both numbers was so iconic that the Los Angeles Lakers retired both of his numbers.
Kobe dazzled crowds with his amazing play as a youngster wearing the No. 8. He played the perfect role alongside Shaquille O'Neal as he won three NBA titles from 2000 to 2002.
When Kobe wore the No. 24, he played a more grounded game, picking his spots on the floor and hitting his defender with a bunch of moves, including the turnaround fadeaway, which he learned personally from Michael Jordan.
Yes, No. 24 Kobe was at the peak of his powers. He won his only regular season MVP wearing the No. 24 (2007-08), and he won two Finals MVPs when he led the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.
Now that you know some highlights of Kobe's career while wearing the No. 8 and the No. 24, there's only one question remaining... Why did Kobe change from No. 8 to No. 24?
The Reason Why Kobe Change From No. 8 To No. 24
Kobe Bryant came into the league wearing No. 8. The reason behind Kobe's choice of number was that when he attended an Adidas basketball camp, his number was 143. He added the three numbers in 143 (1+4+3), and that equaled No. 8.
“When I first came in at 8, is really trying to 'plant your flag' sort of thing,” Kobe said. “I got to prove that I belong here in this league. I've got to prove that I'm one of the best in this league. You're going after them. It's nonstop energy and aggressiveness and stuff.”
Kobe wore No. 8 from 1996-97 to 2005-06. Then, he shocked everyone before the 2006-07 season by changing his number to 24, which confused many fans on why he chose this number. Of course, Kobe had a few good reasons on why he chose the No. 24.
First, Kobe originally wore No. 24 when he first played high school basketball at Lower Merion High School. When the Lakers traded to get him on Draft night, George McCloud was wearing No. 24 for LA.
Kobe eventually switched to 33 at Lower Merion High School, but Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's No. 33 had already been retired. This is what led Kobe to choose his No. 8.
Another reason why Kobe chose the No. 24 is because he was ready for a “new beginning.” Shaquille O'Neal left LA a few years earlier, and after his legal troubles in Eagle, Colorado, Kobe wanted to start fresh and get back to his basketball roots.
“Then 24 is a growth from that,” Kobe explained. “Physical attributes aren't there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater. Marriage, kids. Start having a broader perspective, being one of the older guys on the team now, as opposed to being the youngest. Things evolve.”
Kobe scored 16,777 while wearing No. 8. He scored 16,866 while wearing No. 24. As explained earlier, Kobe essentially had two Hall of Fame careers while wearing two different numbers.
So, what are your opinions? Do you believe No. 8 Kobe Bryant was the better version of the Hall of Famer? Or do you think No. 24 Kobe was the more complete basketball player?
Either way, you can't go wrong with picking either version of The Black Mamba.
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