Nets' Spencer Dinwiddie Changes Number to Honor Kobe Bryant in First Step Towards Informal Jersey Retirement
By Jackson Thompson
Very few athletes in sports history have had their jersey number retired league-wide, let alone two of their numbers. But the late Kobe Bryant might bear that honor sooner rather than later.
In the wake of Bryant's death on Sunday, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban announced that his franchise would be retiring the No. 24 in the Mamba's honor. Many have theorized this will eventually become a league-wide honor, and even if the NBA is struggling to come up with a proper large-scale tribute, it seems players are taking things into account on their own.
Sources: Multiple NBA players have begun informally retiring Kobe Bryant’s jersey number(s) as a tribute — with Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie among them, changing from No. 8 to No. 26.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 28, 2020
One prominent No. 8 has already switched things up, and it seems likely others will follow suit.
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
Bryant wore the No. 8 from 1996 to 2006, and then changed to No. 24 from 2006 to the end of his career in 2016.
Both numbers have been retired in the Los Angeles Lakers organization since 2017, but after the tragedy on Sunday, you'll find plenty of support for more permanent and wide-ranging motions.
PLEASE @NBA RETIRED 24! LEAGUE WIDE!!
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) January 26, 2020
Trae Young's one-day switch to No. 8 inspired us all, which would also be a fitting method of honoring Bryant's legacy.
If Bryant has either of his numbers retired by the NBA, he would join Jackie Robinson in the pantheon of athletes to have their number retired league-wide.