NBA players are taking it upon themselves to honor Kobe Bryant in the wake of his sudden death. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, multiple players have started to “informally retire” the numbers worn by the Los Angeles Lakers’ legend.

Bryant wore No. 8 for the first 10 years of his career. He switched to No. 24 during the 2006-2007 season, wearing it until he retired in 2016. The Lakers retired both numbers in 2017.

Spencer Dinwiddie became the first player to make the change. The Brooklyn Nets guard announced on Twitter that he would give up No. 8 for a No. 26 jersey.

Dinwiddie and the Nets played a game against the New York Knicks Sunday, just hours after the news of Bryant’s death broke.

“He was everything to my generation,” Dinwiddie told reporters. “There’s a whole generation of L.A. kids, global obviously, but that was our childhood. The lesson of hard work and, as cliche as it may sound, the Mamba mentality, that’s part of the reason I am who I am today.”

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban had previously announced that the team will honor Bryant by retiring the No. 24.

“We are shocked and saddened by the devastating news of the passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna,” Cuban said in a statement after a helicopter crash killed Bryant, his daughter and seven other people. “Kobe was an ambassador for our game, a decorated legend and a global icon. Above all, he was a loving and dedicated father.

“Kobe’s legacy transcends basketball, and our organization has decided that the number 24 will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick.”

According to Basketball-Reference, 21 NBA players currently wear No. 8. Twelve players wear No. 24.

A Kobe Bryant jersey at a makeshift memorial
A Kobe Bryant jersey at a makeshift memorial AFP / FREDERIC J. BROWN
RELATED STORIES
Twitter