Kobe Bryant question...

[Ouch]

I remember when he changed his number, but I don't know that I ever heard WHY he did it. Someone help me out...

He's geting his @$$ handed to him right now, which I love seeing.

[texag93]

Every time he changes numbers, the Lakers sell another million Koby jerseys.

[Bone Thug]

I may be wrong, but I think he wore #24 in High School.

Go Celtics

[Smart]

new start after his Colorado episode.....

[Javelin]

according to ESPN
"Bryant began his career at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore, Pa., wearing No. 24. But by 1996 -- the year he led the school to the state championship -- he had switched to No. 33, the number his father Joe "Jelly Bean" Bryant wore in high school.

In order for a player to change jersey numbers at will, he either has to change teams or have the team inform the league of the decision more than six months in advance. Players who stay with the same team must have worn the same number for four seasons or longer. Sources say the Lakers informed the league of Bryant's wish to change his number by this year's March 3 deadline.

Calls placed to Bryant's agent Rob Pelinka and the Lakers were not immediately returned.



Over the past few months, Kobe Bryant's popularity has been on the rise again. His jersey was the fourth-best seller this season, up one spot from last year's position, according to sales at the NBA Store in Manhattan and on NBA.com.

When Bryant came into the league, he couldn't take the No. 33 because it had been retired seven years earlier by the Lakers in honor of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Bryant arrived at the No. 8 for two reasons. It was the number he wore when he was a kid playing in Italy. It also tied into the number he wore at Adidas' ABCD Camp, 143. The numbers add up to 8.

Bryant's switch is the NBA's most significant jersey number change since the 1994-95 season, when Michael Jordan came out of retirement wearing the No. 45 for the final 22 games of the season. Jordan's No. 23 had been retired by the Bulls in his honor. For the next three seasons, Jordan went back to the No. 23."

[Cajun Blake]

I may be wrong, but I think he wore #24 in High School.

Go Celtics

+1 and props Corn Slinger

DARN Javelin, you beat me to it ( i was typing wen you posted)

in HS , KB wore #24 during his Fr, SO, and Jr years

during his Sr yr., he wore #33 which was his fathers # when he played in HS.

When he was traded from Charlotte to LAL, #33 was already retired (Kareem) so he decided on #8 since he wore #8 as a kid in Italy.

I too am glad he's getting his arse handed to him tonight

KB was selfish when he was drafted out of HS and he still exhibits selfishness today

In the 1996 draft, KB (then 17 yrs old) let it be known he would NOT play for anyone but the LA Lakers. Charlotte drafted him at #13 and had to trade his rights to LAL, otherwise he would have sat out and their selection would have been wasted.

He pretty much pulled an Elway

cb <*)))>{

[rtread]

I think he had to change because that Colorado gal had his number.....

[Shane]

4 point game now w/over a minute left! Holy cow!

[rtread]

WAY TO GO
BAAAAASTON!!

LACKERS DOWN 0-2!

[Encinal]

it's because it's 23 +1

[boss bowman]

NBA basketball has sucked since these guys retired, I was reading and article explaining how fare their telivision rating had fallen, and that rained out nascar events would still out rate NBA playoff games. Nascar regularly outrates NBA games by 200% today. Last years finals were the lowest television ratings since the early 1970's http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_television_ratings

[Smart]

NBA basketball has sucked since these guys retired, I was reading and article explaining how fare their telivision rating had fallen, and that rained out nascar events would still out rate NBA playoff games. [/url]

I seem to remember a decade of a certain #23 that was pretty **** impressive with great ratings

[Ground Checkin' Heavies]

I seem to remember a decade of a certain #23 that was pretty **** impressive with great ratings

I too remember this point in time

[Sage Buffalo]

The 80's were the best NBA years. Those Lakers, Celtics and Bulls teams were unbelievable.

The Jordan years were great for him but his teams couldn't beat those teams until those guys retired.

The past several years has been great ball again in the Western conference.

Last nights officiating was horrific and those refs should be fined. You can't have a 4-1 foul ratio in the Finals. That comeback was crazy!