[knicksfan7Participant]

I was talking to my friend who is a die-hard Lakers fan, and I asked him this question. When Kobe Bryant retires should both #8 and #24 be retired by the Lakers? He said he wasn’t sure. I think both #’s should be retired. #8 represents Kobe the individual who did amazing things as an individual player, and #24 represents Kobe the team player who made others around him better which got him his 4th ring. I want to hear what you guys have to say.

[llperez]

i have no idea. He played his first 10 seasons with #8 and will probably play his last 10 with #24. I guess it would be his call or maybe both if the team wanted to.

[knicksfan7Participant]

to think about I must say. He has had an all around great career with both numbers.

[tli232]

If Kobe wins at least one more title, I’d have no problem with retiring both; but, to my knowledge, no team has retired both numbers for a player.

[llperez]

has there been any cases before where a guy played extensively with two different numbers for one team?

[tli232]

I seriously don’t think so. I mean, in the NBA, great players only change numbers if they go to a new team, or an even greater player joins the team with his previous number…unless you’re Kobe, of course. lol. I think there might be cases where a guy plays for extended periods of time with different numbers, but I don’t think there’s a player of Kobe’s significance to do so.

[Cusemen727Participant]

I dont think they should retire both, whatever number he ends his career in, which im guessing is going to be 24 should be the one thats retired.

[NYK2010Participant]

Doubtful he plays 20 seasons total, you think he has 6 more years left in him.
Retiring 2 numbers doesn’t make much sense they probly just retire #8 since he played longer with that number.

[llperez]

he has said he will play till the league kicks him out. Besides, i just meant approximately 10 not exactly 10. He’ll be 37 after 6 more seasons, that’s certainly possible.

[knicksfan7Participant]

Really what’s the big deal if both #’s are retired. It’s not like the Lakers are running out of #’s. I think both should be retired because of how great his career is. If MJ wore 45 during the 2nd 3peat I think the Bulls would retire both 23 and 45.

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