Kobe Bryant’s monumental jersey number change from no.8 to no.24 was a direct dig at Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan, according to NBA legend Kevin Garnett.
The late Bryant is considered one of the greatest players in NBA history; a unique talent whose restless, fierce work ethic was driven by a will to win. Bryant was hell-bent on leaving his mark on the league and he certainly accomplished that across his 20-year career spent entirely with the Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant’s own legend grew in the shadow of comparisons to Jordan, with the duo’s success overlapping after the Lakers star arrived in the 1996 NBA Draft. Bryant was an immense fan of the six-time NBA champion, although he said: “I don't want to be the next Jordan, I just want to be Kobe Bryant.”
Millions around the United States and abroad grew up wanting to emulate Jordan, and perhaps Bryant has undoubtedly been closest given his electric scoring ability, defensive hustle and dedicated mentality. The pair shared a mutual respect, but Bryant’s famed competitiveness appeared to spill over to influence his jersey number change.
Bryant came into the NBA donning the no.8. After allegations derailed his image, Bryant attempted to rebrand and re-invent himself as the new face of the Lakers in the wake of Shaquille O’Neal’s departure to the Miami Heat. The five-time champion opted for no.24 - and Garnett insists that was no coincidence as he granted an insight into Bryant’s unrelenting mentality.
“People don’t understand what his no.24 stands for,” the 2004 MVP told ShowTime Basketball. “People don’t understand that was a sign to everybody that he was a step above 23 - and that was a shot at Mike, like ‘I’m better than you’.”
Garnett continued, claiming Bryant was determined to chase and ultimately surpass Jordan’s legacy. He added: “He was obsessed. He chose 24 because of Jordan. He picked it because in his mind he was above Michael. The 24 over the 23. It was a shot at Jordan.
“Every record that Jordan had, Kobe chased it.”
Bryant’s former teammates have spoken of his intense belief to better Jordan in the past, with both Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel commenting on it. While many still herald Jordan as the best player in NBA history, Bryant is certainly in the conversation along with the likes of LeBron James and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Across 20 NBA seasons, Bryant contested 18 All-Star Games - including 17 straight from 1999 to his final year in 2015/16 - while he was a five-time NBA champion with the Lakers. He was named to the All-NBA teams on 15 occasions, while he also claimed the 2007-08 MVP and two Finals MVP awards to go with a pair of scoring titles.
However, Jordan beat Bryant by one ring and never lost in an NBA Finals series over his career. Jordan was also MVP of the league five times to Bryant’s sole win, though the Lakers icon has more All-NBA nods (Jordan had 11).
The pair shared a close relationship as Jordan appeared to see Bryant as the natural carrier of the torch after his retirement. The Bulls legend even spoke at Bryant’s memorial in Los Angeles following the tragic helicopter accident that killed his daughter Gianna among others in January 2020.
