Kobe Bryant is in the middle of his well-deserved retirement tour, and he’ll be playing his final games in certain cities throughout the season’s second half. Opposing teams are making sure that Kobe goes out in style by awarding him with gifts, while cheering for him even though he’s playing for the opponent.
Kobe still has a lot of “lasts” to go, however. Since he’s the leading vote-getter, Kobe seems like a lock to play in what will be his last NBA All-Star Game on Valentine’s Day in Toronto. He also still has yet to make his final appearances in several cities in which he put on memorable playoff performances, like Sacramento, Portland and Phoenix.
Still, the most memorable game of all will come April 13, when Kobe will play in his final home game for the Lakers at the Staples Center against the Jazz. It will undoubtedly be an emotional moment for Kobe and Lakers’ fans alike, but it would also appear to be the last time any Laker wears No. 24. It’s a no-brainer that the team will retire Mamba’s number alongside the rest of the Lakers’ legends.
But what about Kobe’s old number 8, which he wore when he helped lead the Lakers to a three-peat from 2000 to 2002? You could make an argument that Kobe played his best basketball while wearing the No. 8 jersey, but you could also probably make a case for No. 24.
When asked at a season ticket holder event which of Kobe’s numbers would be retired at the Staples Center, Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak had an idea that might settle the debate.
“I don’t know the answer. Obviously it’s going to be 8, 24 or it could be both,” he said.
Retiring both numbers may be unorthodox, but it seems like the right call. Why choose one when you can just do them both?
There is a small list of players — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Julius Erving — who have their jerseys retired by multiple teams. But there hasn’t yet been a player with multiple numbers retired by the same team. If it’s ever going to happen, there is perhaps no better candidate than Kobe Bryant.
(Via Los Angeles Times)
