He wanted to be better then Michael Jordan, who wore number 23. He wanted to 'one up' him as they say. Kobe's original numerical choice for his shirt was actually 24 but that number was already retired when he was drafted. Click to see full answer. Moreover, why did Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bean Bryant, often known mononymously as Kobe, is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA cha…
Why did Kobe Bryant change his jersey number?
Originally Answered: Why did Kobe Bryant change his jersey number from "8" to "24"? Because Kobe wanted to be better than Michael Jordan in everything he did. When it came to jumpshots and fadeaways, Kobe had already used michaels moves as his own. So to make him better he used number 24
Why does Kobe Bryant have two numbers?
The two numbers that Bryant wore throughout his career represent two different times in his life on and off the court. At the same time, they are both very much a part of how he was and the person he has become.
What number does Kobe Bryant wear?
Bryant had not just one, but two jersey numbers over the course of his career: No. 8 and No. 24. He is the only player in NBA history to have two numbers retired by the same team. Bryant began his NBA career in 1996 while wearing No. 8. The number was a nod to his time growing up in Italy, where, as a kid, he wore number 8 on the court.
Why Kobe Bryant is still better than LeBron James?
Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James are certainly the greatest players of all-time, which is why the argument for the greatest Draft Class of all-time involves them. The 1984, 1996, and 2003 Drafts compete to be the best, but 1996’s 18th pick overall, John Wallace, has a convincing argument for his own draft class.
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Who wears number 23 jersey?
23: Michael Jordan And LeBron James Made History Wearing That Jersey. The No. 23 jersey might be the most popular jersey in NBA history. It was the number that was worn by some of the greatest players ever, most famously by Michael Jordan and LeBron James.
Why did LeBron stop number 23?
23." During his seventh season in Cleveland, James declared that every NBA player wearing No. 23 should drop it out of respect for Jordan. "I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James said in 2009.
Why did Kobe change his number to 24?
The number change became a "clean slate" after Shaquille O'Neal was traded in 2004. With it came a new mindset from the future Hall of Famer. "Then 24 is a growth from that," he explained. "Physical attributes aren't there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater.
Why did Bryant pick 23?
Bryant said he had a Bonds jersey and mesh Giants hat, and he wore No. 25 until he got to high school. His high school team didn't have a jersey with 25 on it, so he switched to 23, the number he will wear with the Giants.
Why does Michael Jordan wear 23?
23 In The NBA: "My Brother Wore The 45, Which Was My Number. So I Chose Half Of What His Jersey Is, Which Is 22.5... I Would Rather Have 23."
Who wore 23 before MJ?
Lou HudsonBefore Michael Jordan came around, Lou Hudson owned No. 23. Sweet Lou, who was known for his perfectly consistent stroke and ability to rain in perimeter jumpers long before there was a three-point arc to aid his efforts, wore the number throughout his entire career.
Is Kobe 8 or 24 better?
He won All-Star MVP honors and scoring titles in both of his numbers. His lone MVP came as No. 24, but No. 8 has the edge in All-NBA selections (8-7).
What is Kobe phone number?
I'm taking all questions about Mamba Mentality. Leave them at the beep with your name and handle. I'm gonna see if you have what it takes." All you have to do is call 833-562-3824.
What number did Kobe wear the longest?
Inside Kobe's career wearing No. 24Wilt Chamberlain118Michael Jordan31James Harden23Elgin Baylor17Kobe Bryant wearing No. 24145 more rows•Aug 24, 2021
Which Kobe jersey is more popular?
royal blue1. 2003-04. Our final choice needs no introduction. While it was only worn for a few games during the 2003-04, the royal blue and script make it arguably the most popular throwback jersey in Lakers history.
Where is Kobe Bryant buried?
Pacific View Mortuary & Memorial Park, Newport Beach, CAKobe Bryant / Place of burialPacific View Memorial Park is a cemetery located in the Corona del Mar neighborhood of Newport Beach, in Orange County, California. It first opened in 1958, and is known as the final resting place of Academy Award winning actor John Wayne and basketball player Kobe Bryant. Wikipedia
Why did Shaq change his number?
When Shaq began playing basketball, he looked to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an idol. Kareem wore number 33 for the Lakers and Shaq looked to follow in his footsteps. There was just one problem: his high school didn't have a #33 jersey. Shaq improvised, and chose number 32 instead.
What number did Kobe Bryant wear?
An Explanation of Every Jersey Number Worn by Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant wore two different numbers in high school, two different numbers in the NBA, and a totally different number than he had ever worn before in the Olympics. When Kobe played for Lower Merion High he wore both jersey numbers 24 and 33. In an April 2006 article, Darren Rovell ...
Why didn't Kobe take number 33?
As noted by Rovell, Kobe couldn’t take number 33 because the Lakers had already retired it in honor of Kareem. That’s the one bad thing about being drafted or traded to one of the greatest franchises in NBA history.
What number did Kobe choose for his rookie year?
Nonetheless, Kobe had to choose another number for his NBA debut. He decided to go with number 8 (If you’re wondering, George McCloud wore number 24 for the Lakers Kobe’s rookie year). Rovell explains the logic behind Kobe choosing number 8: “Bryant arrived at the No. 8 for two reasons.
How many championship rings did Kobe Bryant win?
So far during the number 24 era, Kobe has won an NBA MVP award, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and two championship rings. During the number 8 era, he won three championship rings but had to share ...
What number did Kobe wear in the 2008 Olympics?
More recently, in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Kobe wore number 10 for the U.S.A. squad. As mentioned in my post Michael Jordan by the Numbers, FIBA rules dictate that players can only wear jersey numbers 4-15, so keep in mind Kobe had to choose a number in that range.
Why did Kobe wear number 8?
As TheLakersNation.com points out, Kobe wore number 8 as a kid in Italy because his favorite player Mike D’Antoni, the current coach of the New York Knicks, sported that number as a star in the Italian Professional League. Kobe ended up wearing number 8 for ten seasons before making the switch to number 24 for the start of the 2006-2007 season.
What number did Michael Jordan wear?
As you probably know, Michael Jordan wore number 23 as a member of the Bulls and number 9 as a member of the USA Olympic team. Kobe had already “1 upped” the legend by wearing number 24 (23 + 1) on the Lakers and was “1 upping” him again by wearing number 10 (9+1) on the Olympic squad. However, this was most likely not the case.
Why did Kobe Bryant switch jersey numbers?
But he ended up doing so because, in 2004, the Lakers changed direction by trading Shaquille O'Neal to the Heat.
What number did Kobe Bryant wear?
Bryant began his NBA career in 1996 while wearing No. 8. The number was a nod to his time growing up in Italy, where, as a kid, he wore number 8 on the court. The number was also a reference to the number he wore at Adidas ABCD Camp, where he wore the number 143 (the digits add up to 8).
When did Kobe Bryant change his number?
The criminal charges against Kobe Bryant were dropped, and he settled a civil lawsuit in 2004. In an attempt to start fresh, Bryant began wearing a new number: No. 24. He said he intended to switch numbers right after 2004, but the deadline had passed, so he didn't make the switch until the 2006-07 season. "It's kind of a clean slate," he said.
When did Kobe Bryant die?
In the wake of Kobe Bryant's tragic death on Jan. 26 2020 , many fans and celebs have been paying homage to the basketball legend by memorializing him at the LA Lakers' home at the STAPLES Center, and by wearing and displaying his iconic Lakers jersey.
Does Kobe Bryant prefer one jersey over the other?
Kobe Bryant didn't prefer one jersey over the other. Kobe Bryant also clarified to ESPN that he didn't see one of his eras as superior. "It's not to say one is better than the other or one's a better way to be," he said. "It's just growth.".
When did Kobe Bryant switch to 24?
But Bryant made the request to switch to No. 24 in 2005, shortly after the Lakers traded Shaquille O'Neal in a blockbuster deal to the Miami Heat. Kobe was ready for a fresh start, but due to deadlines, he'd have to wait until the 2006-07 season to get his new digits. "It's kind of a clean slate," Bryant said.
Which teams have the number 23 on their jersey?
To date, only two teams have done so: the Chicago Bulls and the Miami Heat, who have Jordan's 23 hanging on the wall of their arena (Pat Riley retired it in Jordan's honor for his contributions to the game), which helped force James' original jersey number switch.
What is Artest's jersey number?
Artest would return back to the Lakers in 2015 after stints in China and Italy, donning the No. 37 once again. LeBron James has worn No. 6 as his practice jersey since joining the Lakers.
What number does Lebron James wear?
LeBron James intends to change his Los Angeles Lakers jersey number to No. 6 next season, a change the team officially announced on Monday.. James, who has worn No. 6 as a member of Team USA and wears the same digit on his practice jersey, had worn No. 23 during his first three seasons with the Lakers.
How much is Metta Sandiford Artest worth?
Artest, who spent six seasons with the Lakers, was signed as a free agent to a five-year deal worth about $33 million.
Who wore the number 25 on his jersey?
Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich has his No. 25 hanging in the Staples Center rafters, but that wasn't the number on his jersey when he debuted with the Lakers in 1965. When the 6-foot-1 guard joined the Lakers as a rookie, the No. 25 he wore at UCLA was taken by center Leroy Ellis, so he settled for No. 11.
Who wore number 6?
That is something Jones is used to; he also wore No. 6 for six seasons with the Miami Heat, only to see James eventually wear it there as well. Kobe Bryant, from No. 8 to No. 24. Kobe Bryant won five NBA championships in his career: three wearing No. 8, two wearing No. 24. Getty Images.