Kobe Bryant has announced his retirement, and with his floundering Lakers nowhere near the playoff chase, the focus is fully on enjoying the legend’s final games. Already there is talk about the Lakers retiring his jersey. The honor is an obvious one, but which jersey should be retired? Bryant wore No. 8 from 1996 to 2006, before he switched to No. 24.
Ex-Laker Rick Fox suggested retiring both, and while that’d be kind of cool, it’s also a cop-out. The Lakers should take a stand, and retire No. 8, and these are the reasons why.
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3 > 2
The Black Mamba won three titles wearing the No. 8 jersey, and two as No. 24. Simple math dictates that three is greater than two, and he was therefore more successful in the former jersey. It’s just that simple.
No. 8 Kobe Is His Lasting Legacy, And Will Be Most Remembered
Sure, No. 8 Kobe won his titles with Shaq at center, and therefore can’t claim ownership of them like Michael Jordan could with all his Bulls teams. But the version of Kobe that rocked No. 8 was easily the most electrifying player in the league. In 2005-06, the final year Kobe wore No. 8, he averaged 35.4 points. That is no typo. Bryant is the closest the NBA has come to another Michael Jordan since he retired, and the 2005-06 version was Kobe at his most ruthless and unstoppable.
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81
2005-06 was also the year Kobe had his most memorable game. Despite five rings, endless dunks, and phenomenal postseason heroics, Bryant’s legacy will be about his 81-point game vs. Toronto on Jan. 22, 2006. Kobe hoisted 46 shots (OMG!) and connected at a 60 percent clip, while nailing 7-of-13 from beyond the arc. He was totally unconscious, and it was possibly the most startling performance in NBA history.
On top of that, Kobe gave the world a prequel to his 81-point game in December, when he blowtorched the Mavericks for 62 points…in three quarters. Bryant, rocking that iconic No. 8, scored 50 or more points six times that season, and scored 40 or more 27 times. This is the Kobe everyone will recollect.
Slam Dunk Champ
No one can doubt the art with which Kobe learned to play. As he aged, he became a maestro of shot-making, taking all manner of fadeaways and turnarounds, while also becoming a post player with moves that could make top big men blush. But you can’t beat the raw athleticism of young Kobe, specifically in 1997 when he became the NBA’s dunk king.
Kobe vs. Shaq
Kobe and Shaq had the best basketball rivalry ever, and it all came when he was wearing the ocho. Everyone knew that Shaq was the alpha dog of those championship Lakers teams – except Kobe. It made their dynamic the most entertaining in the sport, and their beef that much more shocking.
It also gave us….this.
The answer’s easy. Retire No. 8.
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