Hold on. Trying to do this through the ghost of Bill Shakespeare is overly complicated. Let’s just have Kobe Bryant simplify things.
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Ever since Bryant announced he would retire after the 2015-16 season, Lakers fans have been debating whether the 8 or 24 jersey should hang at Staples Center with the likes of Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson. Bryant is officially done with the NBA until he comes back to play for the Wizards, so we need a clear answer. Bryant’s thoughts? Doesn’t matter.
“[Whichever number is chosen] it’ll be pretty hard for someone else to wear the other one,” Bryant told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
This is 100 percent accurate. Do you really want to be the guy with Kobe’s entire legacy standing on your chest? No one is touching 8 or 24 regardless of which one goes up.
If you still feel the need to pick a number, it is truly a matter of taste.
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A photo posted by SB Nation NBA (@sbnationnba) on Apr 12, 2016 at 7:09am PDT
With 8-bit Kobe, you get an advantage in titles, athleticism, an 81-point game and a glorious afro-goatee combo. However, this version also includes sexual assault allegations from 2003, the infamous beef with Shaquille O’Neal and a horrible final performance as No. 8 in Game 7 of the first round of the 2006 NBA playoffs against the Suns.
By taking 24-hour Kobe, you get his lone MVP award (still silly looking back), both of his NBA Finals MVP awards, clear alpha-male status as leader of the Lakers with Shaq gone and a bunch of fadeaway jumpers. The thing is you have to take the most recent Kobe and essentially remember Bryant becoming a caricature of himself.
Whatever you decide, just know you’re not going to see another Laker pulling out the 8 or 24 unless it’s to ask for Bryant’s autograph.
