Kobe Bryant's Lakers career was so unprecedented they couldn't just retire one of his jerseys, it just wouldn't have been enough.
MORE: No. 8 or No. 24: Kobe Bryant finally reveals which Lakers jersey number is his favourite
Today at the Staples Center, the Lakers honored Bryant by retiring both his No. 8 jersey and his No. 24 jersey, worn during the second half of his career.
Bryant played 707 games, averaging 23.1 points per game with the No. 8 jersey. He also won three NBA titles with his first number. Bryant then switched to No. 24 for 639 games, winning two more NBA titles and averaging 26.3 points per game. He became the first player to have two numbers retired by the same team.
Watch the moment they went up:
.@kobebryant’s No. 8 & No. 24 forever in the rafters. #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/9Ai06NAWOk
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 19, 2017
"Before every game I made it a point to glance up there to remind me what I'm playing for," Bryant said regarding the idea of seeing his jersey in the rafters. "To now be a part of that wall means everything to me. I think legacy is really important."
Bryant, an 18-time NBA All-Star and 2008 league MVP, was also a nine-time All-Defensive selection. Surprisingly, he was only a two-time scoring champion, but he was an 11-time All-NBA First Team selection.
“It’s about those jerseys that were hanging up there before. Without them, I couldn’t be here today.”#Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/mXOJ559CVi
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 19, 2017
Former Lakers center Shaquille O'Neal was in attendance Monday night, getting the crowd pumped with his DJ skills. O'Neal and Bryant had their rough moments, but the towering center shared his admiration for Bryant.
.@kobebryant on "the dream." #Ko8e24 pic.twitter.com/KYVVm4zqdd
— NBA TV (@NBATV) December 19, 2017
"We'll be remembered as the most enigmatic, controversial, dominant one-two punch ever created," O'Neal said.