The Reason (and a Fascinating Theory) Why Kobe Bryant Switched His Lakers Jersey Number From No. 8 to No. 24

A look back into Kobe Bryant’s mid-career jersey swap, and an interesting take on it from fellow Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett.

Both of Kobe Bryant’s jersey numbers have hung in the Crypto.com Arena rafters since his retirement ceremony in 2017. | Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

Every year on Aug. 24 around the world, hoops fans gather to honor the late, great Kobe Bryant.

Kobe Bryant Day was first recognized by the city of Los Angeles in 2016, shortly after his retirement from basketball, to honor Bryant’s career on the date that resembles his two jersey numbers with the Lakers—8/24. Bryant rocked No. 8 from 1997 to 2006 and switched to No. 24 for the 2006–07 season and beyond.

But why did Bryant change his jersey number? Let’s take a look back at some Black Mamba history, including an interesting take on Bryant’s mid-career jersey swap from Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett:

Why Kobe Bryant switched jersey numbers from No. 8 to No. 24

After he was selected with the No. 13 pick by the Hornets in 1996 and traded to the Lakers on draft night, Bryant chose to wear jersey No. 8.

The reason was simple: No. 8 was the number he wore growing up in Italy. Eight also happened to be the result of adding up the digits in 143 (1+4+3=8), the jersey number he wore while winning MVP at the Adidas ABCD Camp in 1995.

NEXT: Kobe Bryant’s Legendary No-Flinch Moment Deserves the Internet’s Respect Again

Bryant donned No. 8 from his rookie season through the 2005-06 campaign—the first decade of his 20-year career. Over that span, he won three championships, scored nearly 17,000 points and was named an All-Star seven times. He built a legacy in a Lakers No. 8 uniform.

In 2004, the Lakers traded Bryant’s longtime star teammate Shaquille O’Neal to the Heat. Bryant later said that move prompted him to want his own fresh start with a new jersey number. It was a new era, indeed, and also served as a refresh of his public image. The timing of the jersey change aligned with the rape accusations against Bryant in August 2004, charges that were dropped a month later and settled out of court.

Bryant actually wanted to change his jersey number right away, but he missed the NBA’s deadline, so he made his debut in the new digits by scoring 23 points in the Lakers’ 118–112 win over Seattle on Nov. 3, 2006.

He chose No. 24, the same number he wore as a youngster at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pa.

“It's kind of a clean slate,” Bryant said in 2017 [via ESPN]. “I started new. Just start completely fresh, focus on the number that meant a lot to me.”

Bryant autographs a No. 24 Lakers jersey ahead of his debut in the new number on Nov. 3, 2006. | Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images

Bryant wore No. 24 for the final 10 seasons of his career, a stretch that included two championships (2009, 2010), one MVP (2007-08) and 10 All-Star nods.

“When I first came in at No. 8, is really trying to 'plant your flag' sort of thing," Bryant told ESPN. "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. You're going after them. It's nonstop energy and aggressiveness and stuff.

“Then 24 is a growth from that. Physical attributes aren't there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater. Marriage, kids. Start having a broader perspective being one of the older guys on the team now, as opposed to being the youngest. Things evolve. It's not to say one is better than the other or one's a better way to be. It's just growth.”

Less than a year after he played his final NBA game in 2016, the Lakers officially retired both the No. 8 and No. 24 jerseys. He became the first—and remains the only—player in NBA history to have multiple numbers retired by the same franchise.

Bryant was named to the All-NBA Defensive team 12 times over his 20-year career. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

Kevin Garnett’s theory on why Kobe Bryant switched jersey numbers

The reasons listed above are all straight from the Black Mamba’s mouth. But a fellow Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, Kevin Garnett, has a different take on why Bryant made the switch.

On an episode of KG Certified in 2023, Garnett reflected on Bryant’s career and pitched his own theory that involved Michael Jordan.

“People don't even know what the No. 24 stand for; people don't even understand it that that was a sign to everybody that he was a step above 23 [Michael Jordan]. ... And that was a shot at Mike, straight up like ... I'm better than you,” Garnett said. “He really stood on it. If you look at every goal, or every record Jordan has had, Kobe chased it. ... It was all about catching MJ and disappearing MJ and surpassing MJ. That's all 24 is about.”

Although Bryant never said these words himself, it’s not too far-fetched of an idea. Bryant and Jordan were and are often brought up in the same sentence as two of the best players of all time, and certainly the two most lethal on-the-floor killers in NBA history. Garnett also knew Bryant closely, as both players were drafted right out of high school in the mid-1990s and competed for years in the postseason. KG’s Celtics defeated the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals, and Bryant got revenge two years later in the ’10 Finals.

Jordan and Bryant had a close relationship during and after their playing careers. When Bryant tragically died in a helicopter crash in January 2020, Jordan issued a statement:

“I loved Kobe,” Jordan wrote. “He was like a little brother to me.”

Kobe Bryant won five championships with the Lakers in 2000, ’01, ’02, ’09 and ’10. | John W. McDonough/Sports Illustrated

---

PODCAST 🎧: Listen to SI’s NBA podcast, Open Floor, below or on Apple and Spotify. Watch the show on SI’s YouTube channel.