As the only player in NBA history to have both of his numbers retired, Kobe Bryant’s greatness stretched through both halves of his NBA career. But for Celtics legend Kevin Garnett, Kobe’s best time on the court was wearing 24. During an episode of ‘KG Certified,’ he explained why Kobe in his younger days had nothing on Kobe in his 24 era.
“24 was smarter. Nobody liked 8,” said Garnett. “8 was his own demon. 8 was the most challenged, people had a problem with him. His shot selection, they thought he was selfish. Then he went through something, came out of it, like reborn or something. That second Kob was a whole different Kob.”
Kobe came into the league with No. 8 and it’s the number he wore when he became a star for the Lakers. In his younger days, Bryant was still considered a sidekick to Shaquille O’Neal, but he was still a killer from day one with a relentless drive and a ridiculous talent for getting buckets. As he was coming into his own as a player, Bryant had to battle hard against fierce narratives about his game, his character, and his ability to win a title outside the shadow of O’Neal. In 2006, his final season as No. 8, Bryant would close out that chapter of his career with a bang by scoring 81 points against the Raptors. As No. 8, Bryant was at his most explosive and it’s also when he was the most scrutinized as a player. Regardless of your assessment, it was good enough for the Lakers to retire the number and his most iconic “8” moment has already been enshrined with a statue in downtown Los Angeles.
Why Did Kobe Change His Number?
Kobe shocked the world when he announced his number change ahead of the 2006-07 season. After so many years, and a lot of memories in 8, nobody expected him to switch as he entered the prime of his career. Kobe himself would go on to explain the switch, telling reporters at the time that it marked a different point of his career: “When I first came in at 8, is really trying to ‘plant your flag’ sort of thing,” Kobe 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,” Kobe explained.
In Kobe’s mind, he had outgrown his original jersey number. While 8 served him great for years, he began the NBA as a teenager and his thinking changed a lot over the years. By the time he was entering his 11th season (28 years old), Bryant was almost a completely different player from his days with Shaq and he wanted to reflect that with a brand new look. Fortunately for Bryant, he had almost just as much success in 24 as he did wearing 8 and it only added to his iconic career. In the second half of his Lakers run, he was in his peak mental form and won his first MVP in 2008 before leading the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010. Today, Kobe’s legacy lives on through both 8 and 24, which is why the Lakers retired both numbers back in December of 2017.
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