Los Angeles Lakers: Comparing Kobe Bryant as 8 and 24

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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 24: Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson sit on stage during the Los Angeles Lakers unveiling of the Shaquille O’Neal statue on March 24, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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One of the most important factors dissecting one career vs. another career is the amount of championships won. Usually that comparison is between two different players, but Kobe’s career was so ridiculous that his career is split up in two eras, between two jersey numbers, against himself.

#8 was able to win three-straight championships before his prime, but is often cited as the easiest championships because he had help from Shaquille O’Neal.

#24 was able to win two titles, but did so without Shaq. He also earned three MVP titles: one in the regular season of 2007, and back-to-back Finals MVP in 2009, and 2010. Kobe earned the 2nd Finals MVP title en-route to defeating the Boston Celtics. Also worth noting is that Kobe has been to the NBA Finals 7 times in his career, failing to capture two titles, losing one in 2003-04 wearing number 8, and losing one in 2007-08 wearing number 24.

Ramona Shelburne of ESPN already reported today that the Lakers were going to retire both numbers. If you simply are a firm believer of three is better than two, than you might lean towards #8.

One also can’t forget that Kobe dropped the 81-point bomb on the Raptors in 2006 while wearing #8, which also included a scoring title that year. Also cannot be forgotten is Kobe’s 60-point outburst in his final game of his career.

After three championships, a Shaq departure, and the number switch, Kobe became more of a refined player. Bryant might say he became a complete player by 2003, but he truly began to start trusting his teammates more by 2007, and by doing so, helped thrust him to earning his first and only MVP of his career in 2008.

With the addition of Pau Gasol, the Lakers had continued postseason success nearly achieving a 2^nd three peat in the playoffs going two for three in the Finals from 2007 to 2010. On top of those championships, Kobe earned two Finals MVP awards, and also won two gold medals for Team USA in Beijing and London.

The sad part about the world we live in is that fans have short-term memories and have a “what-have-you-done lately” perception in sports. Perhaps being a severe knock on #24’s legacy is that our most recent recollections of Kobe weren’t as fantastic or remarkable as prime Kobe years.

Next: Ranking Kobe Bryant's 10 greatest games

When it comes down to it, there are special cases you can make, in this roundabout argument, but one cannot disagree that retiring both jerseys is remarkable gesture. Although the inevitability of Bryant being enshrined into the Hall of Fame would contain Bryant’s entire career regardless of what jersey he wore, perhaps the next question for us would be, “which version of Kobe is more worthy of the Hall of Fame?”

I guess we can save that debate for another era.

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