Kobe Bryant became a legend in Los Angeles during his 20-year stint with the Lakers. Besides, he’s considered a local hero in Philadelphia, where he lived and played until the 1996 NBA draft.
The 5x NBA champion had a complex relationship with the Philadelphia 76ers fans, but things got better at the end of his career, receiving a lot of love from the City of Brotherly Love.
Now, the Sixers could have a terrific gesture with the late superstar, retiring the number he used during his high school years. In case you don’t know, Kobe went straight from high school to the league, skipping college in a time where that was unthinkable for many prospects.
Still, this is Kobe Bryant we’re talking about. One year after his tragic death, the Sixers could retire Bryant’s Lower Merion No. 33, according to 76ers former CEO Scott O’Neill. Speaking with Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson, O’Neill explained:
76ers retiring Kobe Bryant's Lower Merion No. 33 like Heat retired MJ's No. 23 'interesting idea' @ScottONeil tells @BallySports:
"That’s something that @dmorey & @DocRivers & Elton will weigh on for sure. That’s something that Chris Heck the President of 76ers will weigh on." pic.twitter.com/kLlets1qyr
— 👑 Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson (@ScoopB) September 21, 2021
“That’s something that Daryl Morey, Doc Rivers and Elton [Brand] will weigh on for sure. That’s something that Chris Heck, the President of 76ers will weigh on.”
That would be great to watch. Priorly, we saw the Miami Heat doing this with Michael Jordan, retiring his number 23 as a show of respect for MJ’s incredible career.
Kobe is considered a hero in Philadelphia and this would be an incredible gesture. The late icon left a huge mark on the league, not only inspiring Lakers fans but the rest of the association.
He became an idol for plenty of people around the league with his personality, competitiveness, and encouraging words. After he left this world in January 2020, everybody wanted to show their respect to Kobe. The Sixers wouldn’t be the exception, and doing this would mean a lot for Kobe’s fans and family.
