Although Kobe Bryant has been asked many times, he still isn’t sure who would win a mystical game of one-on-one between the young Kobe in his No8 Lakers jersey and his older self, who wore No24.
“I kind of go back and forth,” Bryant said with a sly grin. “But 8 has something that 24 will never, ever, ever have, and that’s the ability to grow hair.”
The Lakers couldn’t choose, either. So they honored both eras of Kobe’s incredible career.
In an NBA first, the Lakers on Monday night retired both jersey numbers worn by Bryant, the leading scorer in franchise history.
Bryant attended the Lakers’ game against the Golden State Warriors for a halftime ceremony at Staples Center, which was packed with fans eager to bear witness once again to the beloved superstar scorer. Dozens of Bryant’s former teammates showed up, including Shaquille O’Neal and Derek Fisher, along with the Lakers’ usual cavalcade of celebrity fans.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kobe Bryant’s two jerseys will hang in the rafters at Staples Center. Photograph: Chris Carlson/AP
“I feel great,” Bryant said after entering Staples Center while pushing a stroller containing Bianka Bella Bryant, his infant daughter. “I’m very proud I get to come here with my family. It feels good as a father to have my family come in and share this.”
Bryant is the 10th player with a retired jersey for the 16-time NBA champion Lakers. His numbers were revealed high on the Staples Center wall, flanking the banner honoring Lakers broadcaster Chick Hearn.
“It’s not about the jerseys that are hanging up there for me,” Bryant told the cheering crowd. “It’s about the jerseys that were hanging up there before. They inspired me to play the game at a high level.”
Magic Johnson and Lakers owner Jeanie Buss gave brief tributes to Bryant at halftime, with Magic boldly declaring, “We’re here to celebrate the greatest who ever wore the purple and gold.”
Buss cleverly explained the reasoning behind the Lakers’ decision to hang two jersey numbers for Bryant: “If you separated each of the accomplishments under those numbers, each of those players would qualify for the Hall of Fame.”
“I thank you for staying loyal to the purple and gold and remaining a Laker for life when it might have been easier for you to leave,” Buss added.
Along with Bryant’s 33,643 points, the five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star selection also leads the Lakers in games played (1,346), 3-pointers (1,827), steals (1,944) and free throws (8,378). Bryant is the third-leading scorer in league history.
He also was the first player to spend at least 20 seasons with one franchise, and he is widely beloved in Southern California, where he still lives with his family.
“He’s everything in this city,” said Lakers coach Luke Walton, Bryant’s teammate on the last two title teams.
“To play his entire career for one organization, in modern sports, it really doesn’t happen very often anymore,” Walton added. “To go through two different championship runs, I think the Lakers are such a huge part of this city that people feel connected to him. ... They feel as if they were on that journey with him, with us, and I think that’s why there’s such a connection.”
The Lakers celebrated by closing down the street outside Staples Center and staging a street fair dubbed “Kobeland,” complete with a Ferris wheel and many other games and attractions. Thousands of fans crowded into the downtown streets several hours before the game just to appreciate the atmosphere.
The Lakers typically only retire the numbers of players enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Bryant isn’t eligible until 2021, but the Lakers decided not to wait for that formality – and for Kobe, they doubled up the honor.
Bryant switched jersey numbers halfway through his career, neatly dividing the eras of his 20 years with the Lakers. The No8 Bryant won three NBA titles, and the No. 24 Bryant won two more before retiring in 2016 with a stunning 60-point performance in his farewell game against Utah.
Bryant even scored almost the same number of points in No8 (16,777) as he did in No24 (16,866).
When pressed to pick his favorite era of his own career, Bryant reluctantly did it.
“If 8 is playing 24 after he just ruptured his Achilles, then it’s a problem for 24,” Bryant said. “If 24 is playing 8 when he tore his shoulder, it’s a problem for No8. so it depends. ... It’s really, really tough for me. I think 24 was more challenging, and I tend to gravitate to things that are harder to do, and physically for me, it was really hard to get up night in and night out. It was really a grind.”
2:08
From the archive, some of the biggest stars of the game give their thoughts and memories of watching and playing against Kobe.
Kobe Bryant was honored by the Los Angeles Lakers as they retired both his No 8 and No 24 jerseys on Monday night.
The ceremony took place at the Staples Center at halftime as the Lakers took on the Golden State Warriors.
In an NBA first, Los Angeles opted to retire both numbers because Bryant, who retired in 2016, spent his first 10 seasons wearing No 8 and his final 10 in No 24.
Bryant, 39, was joined by his wife Vanessa and their three daughters for the special ceremony.
Kobe Bryant was honored by the Los Angeles Lakers as they retired both his No 8 and No 24 jerseys on Monday night (pictured, at halftime)
Bryant's wife Vanessa (second left) and their three daughters (Natalia, right; Gianna, left; and Bianka, held) for the ceremony
Bryant's wife and daughters seemed very proud to take part in the ceremony
Bryant broke out into a grin as he was met by his wife and daughters - reaching down to pick up little Bianka
Bryant's youngest daughter, Bianka, turned one year old this month
In an NBA first, Los Angeles opted to retire both numbers because Bryant, who retired in 2016, spent his first 10 seasons wearing No 8 and his final 10 in No 24
Ahead of the game, the Lakers hosted a Kobeland street festival outside the arena featuring a Kobe-inspired Ferris wheel, interactive games, a shootout game and a live DJ
Bryant led the Lakers to five championships during his 20-season career, three while wearing No 8 and two while wearing No 24 (Pictured, the Ferris wheel at Kobeland)
During his career, Bryant won two NBA Finals MVP awards and one regular-season MVP, and he is third on the all-time NBA points list (Pictured, fans enjoy games at Kobeland ahead of the ceremony)
The ceremony, which took place later, began with Kobe's short film, 'Dear Basketball', which played on the arena Jumbotron (Pictured, Lakers fans attend Kobeland prior to the Lakers-Warriors game on Monday)
Stealing a bit of her father's limelight was adorable baby Bianka, the couple's youngest child, who turned one year old this month.
Bryant and his girls coordinated for the event, wearing matching black outfits.
Beaming by his side was wife Vanessa, who has been married to Bryant since 2001.
Vanessa stayed with Bryant even after he admitted adultery with a 19-year-old hotel employee, who accused him of rape. The case never went to trial because the alleged victim refused to testify in court.
Vanessa did briefly file for divorce from Bryant in 2011, but by January 2013 they announced that they had called the split off.
Bryant arrived at the awards pushing baby Bianka's stroller
Baby Bianka sat calmly on dad's lap throughout the ceremony
The Bryant family coordinated for the event in matching black outfits
The family couldn't stop smiling throughout the night
Ahead of the game, the Lakers hosted a Kobeland street festival outside the arena featuring a Kobe-inspired Ferris wheel, interactive games, a shootout game and a live DJ.
The ceremony, which took place later, began with Kobe's short film, 'Dear Basketball', which played on the arena Jumbotron. Bryant was then introduced by fellow Lakers jersey retiree Magic Johnson.
The Lakers president briefly touched on politics at the end of his speech as he told Bryant he needs to use his platform to help unite this country.
'The thing, Kobe, is this, brother: We need you right now. When I look into this audience, there [are] all races of people [who] come together, cheered you on for 20 years. And this country needs to come together,' Johnson said.
'And you were able to bring us all together - the city and Los Angeles - for 20 years. So I want to thank you for that.'
Both players criticized President Donald Trump for his remarks after Stephen Curry announced that he would not attend the White House if the Warriors were invited following their 2016 NBA Finals win.
After the introductions, Bryant's jerseys were revealed, one on each side of former Lakers announcer Chick Hearn's in the rafters of Staples Center.
'Thank you so much for tonight. But it's not about my jerseys that are hanging up there for me,' Bryant told the crowd.
'It's about the jerseys that were hanging up there before. Without them, I couldn't be here today. They inspired me to play the game at a higher level.'
According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Bryant's first jersey number (left and right) came from the number he wore at Adidas ABCD Camp, 143, whose digits add up to eight, as well as the number he wore in Italy
He switched to No 24 in the 2006-07 season, the number he had in high school at Lower Merion (Pictured, Bryant in February 2012)
Bryant posed with his wife (second from left) and three daughters at halftime after both his No 8 and No 24 Los Angeles Lakers jerseys are retired at Staples Center on Monday
Bryant led the Lakers to five championships during his 20-season career, three while wearing No 8 and two while wearing No 24. He's also the franchise leader in several categories, including points (33,643), games played (1,346), three-pointers made (1,827) and steals (1,944).
During his career, Bryant won two NBA Finals MVP awards and one regular-season MVP, and he is No 3 on the all-time NBA points list behind Karl Malone who played for the Utah Jazz and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who also has his jersey retired by the Lakers.
According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, Bryant's first jersey number came from the number he wore at Adidas ABCD Camp, 143, whose digits add up to eight, as well as the number he wore in Italy.
He switched to No 24 in the 2006-07 season, the number he had in high school at Lower Merion.
The Lakers star told the network that there was a different mentality in wearing the two numbers.
Bryant was introduced by fellow Lakers jersey retiree Magic Johnson (pictured, left, with Bryant), who touched on politics at the end of his speech as he told Bryant he needs to use his platform to help unite this country
Following the introductions, Bryant's jerseys were revealed, one on each side of former Lakers announcer Chick Hearn's in the rafters of Staples Center (pictured)
The Lakers star said that there was a different mentality in wearing the two numbers, with No 8 being the era in which he had to prove himself and No 24 an era of maturity (Pictured, Bryant, left, and Shaquille O'Neal shake hands at halftime)
'When I first came in at eight, is really trying to 'plant your flag' sort of thing,' Bryant 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.
'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.'
Despite the celebratory night for Laker fans, it was soon dampened in their heartbreaking 116-114 loss to the Warriors.
Kevin Durant scored 36 points and hit a tie-breaking 22-foot jumper with 7.3 seconds left in overtime for the Warriors' ninth consecutive victory.
