This could be the culmination of Kobe Bryant's career after the Los Angeles Lakers announced the retirement his jerseys on Dec. 18, 2017. At halftime of the Lakers game against the Golden State Warriors on Monday, Dec. 18, the franchise will celebrate the retirement of jerseys-- No. 8 and No. 24. Spending two decades of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe used jersey No. 8 for the first 10 years and jersey No. 24 for the remainder of his career.
Kobe Bryant thankful for the honor
Bryant, who retired after the 2015-16 season feels honored and grateful.
"As a kid growing up in Italy, I always dreamed of my jersey hanging in the Lakers rafters, but I certainly never imagined two of them," he said. According to ESPN, this is the second time they retired a players' jersey that has not been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. The league previously went ahead to retire Shaquille O'Neal's jersey in 2013. He was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Lakers owner Jeanie Buss on a press release said: "Kobe's jerseys are taking their rightful home next to the greatest Lakers of all time." She further added that they never once doubted that this day would come. The only one thing in question is when it would arrive. So how did Kobe Bryant celebrate the news?
According to the Silver Screen and Roll, Bryant spent the next day working out in a gym during the early hours. At six a.m., the former two-time Finals MVP is done and ready to roll.
Lakers' retired players' jerseys
The Los Angeles Lakers have retired nine player jerseys. These include Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Jamaal Wilkes (No.
52), Elgin Baylor (No. 22), Jerry West (No. 44), Magic Johnson (No. 32), James Worthy (No. 42,), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (No. 33), and Shaquille O'Neal (No. 24).
Lakers President Magic Johnson said, there's no doubt that Kobe Bryant's jersey retirement is well deserved. "Kobe was one of the greatest Lakers and NBA players of all-time and he's definitely on my Mount Rushmore.
I look forward to seeing BOTH of his jerseys be retired and celebrating this special day with Kobe and his family," he added. b will be the 10th Lakers player whose jersey will be retired and he is expected to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Kobe Bryant appeared on at least 18 All-Star team selections during his career, as well as 11 1st-Team All-NBA selections. He won five NBA championships and two Finals MVP awards. Bryant retired on April 13, 2016, playing his last game against the Utah Jazz and scoring a massive 60 points to seal his career points.
