The Los Angeles Lakers will retire both of Kobe Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys in a ceremony to be held on December 18 before their showdown against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center. According to TMZ Sports, the Lakers wrote a letter to season-ticket holders that the Dec. 18 game would feature a “special event.” The Lakers would not confirm if the special event is Bryant’s jersey retirement ceremony. Ramona Shelburne of ESPN said the Lakers will retire both No. 8 and No. 24.
Bryant wore the No. 8 jersey from his rookie year in 1996-97 through 2005-06.
He then switched to No. 24 until his retirement at the end of the 2015-16 season. The 39-year-old Bryant spent his 20-year NBA career with the Lakers.
Bryant will join the legends
Bryant’s jersey will join the jerseys of nine other players hanging in the Staples Center rafters. Before Bryant, the Lakers retired Wilt Chamberlain’s No. 13, Elgin Baylor’s No. 22, Gail Goodrich’s No. 25, Magic Johnson’s No. 32, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 33, Shaquille O'Neal’s 34, James Worthy’s No. 42, Jerry West’s No. 44 and Jamaal Wilkes’s No. 52. The Lakers also placed the name of longtime team broadcaster Chick Hearn in the rafters of Staples Center.
Kobe won five titles with Lakers
During his illustrious career, Bryant won five NBA titles and won the MVP trophy during the 2007-08 season.
He was selected to the All-Star Game 18 times and won two NBA Finals MVP trophies. He also topped the NBA in scoring twice and retired with 33,643 career points, third on the all-time list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. He made it to the All-NBA First Team 11 times and twice to the All-NBA Second Team and All-NBA Third Team.
Aside from his scoring, Bryant was also known for his defense as he made it to the NBA All-Defensive First Team nine times and to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times.
Lakers traded for Hornets’ draft right to get Bryant
The Charlotte Hornets took Bryant as the 13th overall pick 1996 NBA Draft. However, the day before the draft, the Lakers traded center Vlade Divac to the Hornets for their draft rights.
Five minutes before the pick was made, the Lakers told the Hornets to pick Bryant, who was never on Charlotte’s radar. In his rookie year, Bryant averaged 7.6 points in 71 games, with six starts, primarily as a backup to Eddie Jones. In his final year with the Lakers, Bryant started 66 games, averaging 17.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game.
