In the aftermath of Kobe Bryant's tragic death, teams around the NBA paid tribute to the basketball legend by taking 8-second and 24-second violations to start games, a nod to Bryant's retired Nos. 8 and 24 with the Lakers.
Now some players have decided to take the gesture a step further by changing their individual jersey numbers. Others will continue to wear either No. 8 or No. 24 as a way to remember Bryant and bring his "Mamba Mentality" to the court each night.
MORE: Your version of Kobe doesn't need to match anyone else's
Here is a list of players who have chosen to honor Kobe Bryant with a midseason jersey switch, along with those who will keep their numbers or have not yet decided.
NBA players with new jersey numbers to honor Kobe Bryant
Alec Burks, Warriors
Golden State Warriors guard Alec Burks has worn jersey No. 8, but will switch to No. 20 to honor the tragic death of Kobe Bryant who wore No. 8 and No. 24, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 29, 2020
Quinn Cook, Lakers
Lakers guard Quinn Cook is changing his number from No. 2 to No. 28 to honor Gianna Bryant, combining Gigi's No. 2 and Kobe's No. 8, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2020
Spencer Dinwiddie, Nets
Honor your people.
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 28, 2020
Number 26, Spencer Dinwiddie. pic.twitter.com/Y3oZREw602
We often search for meaning in numbers. And yes you guys have caught a lot of the obvious reasons...
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) January 28, 2020
There’s one more tho, a person that I often speak about but hold private and most close to my heart.
Elijah + Spencer = 20 + 6
Honor your ppl, love you son 🤙🏾 https://t.co/pVT630bk0F
Maurice Harkless, Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers forward Moe Harkless has changed his No. 8 jersey to No. 11 in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/taupfTlQSc
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2020
Markieff Morris, Pistons
Pistons’ Markieff Morris will change from No. 8 to No. 88 in honor of Kobe Bryant, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA.
— James Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) January 29, 2020
Jahlil Okafor, Pelicans
More tributes to Kobe Bryant's jersey number(s): Denver's Mason Plumlee from No. 24 to No. 7 -- New Orleans' Jahlil Okafor from No. 8 to No. 9, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2020
Miye Oni, Jazz
Sources: Utah Jazz rookie Miye Oni -- a Los Angeles native -- is changing his uniform number from No. 24 to No. 81 in honor of the late Kobe Bryant, representing Bryant's historic 81-point game in 2006 and LA area code 818.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 30, 2020
Mason Plumlee, Nuggets
More tributes to Kobe Bryant's jersey number(s): Denver's Mason Plumlee from No. 24 to No. 7 -- New Orleans' Jahlil Okafor from No. 8 to No. 9, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 29, 2020
Terrence Ross, Magic
.@TerrenceRoss will be changing his jersey number from 8 back to 31, beginning with Orlando’s game on Saturday, February 1 against Miami at Amway Center. pic.twitter.com/YwP2MeYu20
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) January 28, 2020
Zhaire Smith, 76ers
The Sixers guard told ESPN he will wear the No. 5 moving forward.
NBA players wearing No. 8
- Trevor Ariza, Trail Blazers
- Bismack Biyombo, Hornets
- Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kings
- Danilo Gallinari, Thunder
- Rui Hachimura, Wizards — Will continue to wear No. 8.
- Justin Holiday, Pacers
- Frank Kaminsky, Suns
- Zach LaVine, Bulls — Will continue to wear No. 8.
- Patty Mills, Spurs
- Emmanuel Mudiay, Jazz
- Jarred Vanderbilt, Nuggets
- Kemba Walker, Celtics — Considering changing his jersey number but has not decided.
Hawks guard Trae Young wore No. 8 against the Wizards before switching back to his usual No. 11.
That one was for you...
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 27, 2020
Rest Easy Kobe🐍 pic.twitter.com/mXW86TKXsP
NBA players wearing No. 24
- Khem Birch, Magic
- Dillon Brooks, Grizzlies
- Pat Connaughton, Bucks
- Bruno Fernando, Hawks
- Buddy Hield, Kings
- Alize Johnson, Pacers — Will continue to wear No. 24 "as a tribute of the great respect I will always have for [Bryant]."
- Lauri Markkanen, Bulls — Will continue to wear No. 24 because "now it has a deeper meaning."
- Garrison Mathews, Wizards
Sixers center Joel Embiid wore No. 24 against the Warriors instead of his usual No. 21.
Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. wore No. 24 against the Pelicans before switching back to No. 22 for the second half.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban released a statement saying that No. 24 "will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick."
Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban issued the following statement on the passing of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. pic.twitter.com/Ua41YrvTMZ
— Mavs PR (@MavsPR) January 27, 2020
