#8
1996 saw the birth of an aspiring, multi-talented, Italian speaking, flashy, and extremely likable basketball prodigy. Kobe claims the origin of the number came about when he was attending Adidas ‘ABCD basketball camp by adding up his jersey number together: 143 = 8.
The number linked to the young, hot-doggin’, bravado swinging version of the showboat formally known as bean. Bryant, who wore this jersey for approximately 10 years, amassed the kinds of stats that are Hall-of-Fame worthy.
From gaining his first all-star nomination to his 3 NBA titles, a recollection of the talent he went up against is necessary when putting in your case for preferring #8.
Key Opponent: Spurs
Kobe’s first year as a starter for the Lakers was an impressive one, earning him his first All-NBA selection (3rd), but came to a halt as they met the San Antonio Spurs in the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs. The Spurs swept the Lakers 4-0. While not matched up against each other, the 1999 meeting in the playoffs between #8 and Tim Duncan marked the beginning of a career long rivalry between the two.
While it might be more suitable to compare Kobe against someone of his size and player position, Duncan is someone Kobe is regularly compared to largely by the fact that both players have the same amount of titles won at 5. Between 1999 and 2004, it wasn’t more so of an individual battle between one or two Spurs players against #8, but a smothering barricade of Spurs players cramping the future Hall of Famer.
Throughout 1999 and 2004, the Lakers went 3-2 against the Spurs in the playoffs, with Kobe having the task of guarding Mario Ellie and Sean Elliot. Tony Parker and Manu Ginobli were then added into the Lakers/Spurs rivalry down the road, keeping the Mamba’s hands full. Kobe and his Lakers mustered through the Spurs in 2001 and 2002 en route to earning titles in each respective season.
Key Opponent: Trailblazers
The Portland Trailblazers have always been significant in Lakers history, with both teams engaged in numerous battles with each other. The most famous of those were the encounters against Scottie Pippen, Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, and self-proclaimed “Kobe-stopper”, Reuben Patterson — particularly the 1999-00 Western Conference Finals.
In Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals, the Lakers were down by 15 in the 4th quarter only to storm back with a victory punctuated with the iconic Kobe to Shaq alley-oop. Another particular moment for Kobe was during the 2003-2004 season that had the Lakers and the Trailblazers fighting for the Pacific division title, where Kobe had hit two buzzer beaters — one to send the game into overtime, and one to win it at the buzzer. After nailing the game-winner, (In Reuben Patterson’s grill, mind you) Kobe was met near center court with open arms from Laker teammates, with an Alonzo Harris “king-kong-ain’t-got-shit-on-me” roar.
Key Opponent: Kings
Arguably the Laker’s biggest rival during their three-peat years, (1999, 2000, 2001) the Sacramento Kings, led by Mike Bibby, Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and Peja Stojakovic, fought many a battle in hopes to dethrone the Lakers in their quest to go back-to-back-to-back.
The Kings were yearly disposed of by Bryant and the Lakers, much to the dismay of the Arco Arena acolytes. In fact, one year, after coach Phil Jackson called Sacramento a “cow town”, the King’s fans deliberately brought cowbells with them to the next home game, and continuously rang Jackson’s and the Laker’s bells with bells of their own. Through 2000-2002, the Lakers owned the Kings 3-0.