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When people think of Kobe Bryant jersey numbers, two iconic digits come to mind. Throughout his 20 years in the NBA, the LA Lakers legend wore multiple uniforms.
When Kobe first came into the league, he wore the number 8. Given how calculated of a person he was, this selection did have a meaning.
According to reports, Kobe picked first picked 8 because he wore the number 143 at an Adidas camp. Since he obviously couldn't wear it in the pros, he decided to add the three digits together. Following his retirement, he touched on what the time with this number meant to him:
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';});pollOptions.innerHTML = pollOptionsDom;pollCount.innerHTML = totalVotes + ' votes';if (totalVotes > 10) {pollCount.classList.remove("hidden");}}function trackBetsTodayPollImpression() {var intersectionObserverForArticlePoll = new IntersectionObserver(function(entries) {entries.forEach(function(entry) {var pollId = entry.target.getAttribute("data-poll-id");if (POLLS_BY_ID[pollId]['impression_tracked']) return;if (!entry.target || !entry.isIntersecting || entry.intersectionRatio < 0.5) return;setTimeout(function() {if (isInViewport(entry.target)) {POLLS_BY_ID[pollId]['impression_tracked'] = true;var isDesktop = "1";var gaPayload = {"question" : POLLS_BY_ID[pollId]['question'],"category": "Basketball","page_url": window.location.href,"option1": POLLS_BY_ID[pollId]['option1'],"option2": POLLS_BY_ID[pollId]['option2'],}if (isDesktop) {gaPayload["device"] = "Desktop";} else {gaPayload["device"] = "Mobile";}gtag("event", "BETS_TODAY_POLL_IMPRESSION", gaPayload);intersectionObserverForArticlePoll.unobserve(entry.target);}}, 1000);});},{threshold: 0.5});var pollElements = document.querySelectorAll('.bets-today-poll');pollElements.forEach(function(pollElement) {var isAnswered = pollElement.querySelector(".poll-option-answered");if (!isAnswered) {intersectionObserverForArticlePoll.observe(pollElement);}})}return {answerPollX: answerPollX,};}();
"When I first came in at 8, is really trying to 'plant your flag' sort of thing. 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."
Heading into the 2006-07 season, Kobe Bryant Jersey numbers switched to the iconic 24. He couldn't wear it at the start of his Lakers tenure because it wasn't available at the time.
Kobe went with the number 24 because it's one he wore during his high school career. He later switched to 23, but couldn't wear it in LA because the number was retired for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Later on, he felt that this jersey change was the start of a new beginning for him:
"Then 24 is a growth from that. 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 Bryant jersey numbers will live in history forever
Looking back, Kobe Bryant had great success while wearing both numbers. Number 8 completed a three-peat alongside Shaquille O'Neal, while number 24 led the LA Lakers to two titles as the true top dog.
When his playing days came to an end, many wondered which Kobe Bryant jersey numbers were going to be put in the rafters at Staples Center. Everyone soon came to find out that the answer was both.
Kobe was a force in the league with both digits, so the Lakers made an easy decision. In the end, both 8 and 24 were retired by the organization. Kobe is the only player in history to have two numbers retired by the same franchise.
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