Aside from the diehard Los Angeles Lakers fans, some NBA followers may be wondering why Kobe Bryant deserves to have both 8 and 24 retired. Suffice to say, he deserves it not only due to all the hard work and accolades but given how many lives he affected as a player.
It is well understood by now that the Los Angeles Lakers plan to retire Kobe Bryant’s numbers in December. Be that as it may, some (other than those that are Lakers fans) may not understand the rationale behind both 8 and 24 being immortalized.
After all, this is something that has never been done in the history of the sport. With that being said, it begs the question: what makes this case so much different? What makes this allowable?
There even came a point last year where the Black Mamba himself never necessarily expected this would occur. However, he did have the following to say regarding the matter at the time: “ it’ll be pretty hard for someone else to wear the other one.”
Such a claim makes total sense given that he invested a full decade donning each respective number. In both, he accomplished quite a bit with the most notable achievements being the five titles he helped bring to Los Angeles.
The man also collected the 2008 NBA MVP and is the league’s third all-time leading scorer. The list goes on and on for ages—these few accolades are just part of the story.
That is the interesting thing to consider, though. From an on paper perspective, it is easy to see why the ball club decided to make this bold choice. The reasons never seem to end.
My first hands on experiencing involving Kobe came on December 20, 2005. It was the kind of performance that took the level of superstardom to an entirely different galaxy. That night it was seriously impossible to tell whether he was part extraterrestrial.
In merely three quarters he dropped a cool 62 points. The scarier part is that he outscored the Dallas Mavericks singlehandedly.
Yet it gets even scarier. Just a few weeks later in the same building, Bryant set a team record and scored more points in a game than anyone not named Wilt Chamberlain with 81. 81!
Bearing that in mind, it is as if Kobe could never be satisfied. The tremendously skilled athlete was always striving to reach new heights.
Michael Rosenberg of Sports Illustrated elaborates on this notion a bit more when he reflects on the 20-year run of Kobe Bean.
"One [number] was not enough. Of course it wasn’t. The whole point of Kobe’s career was that nothing was ever enough for him. Championships were not enough. Scoring titles were not enough. Fame was not enough. Sometimes he played like he wanted to dribble through a triple team and dunk over an advanced-stats gee[k]."
Such an approach may seem wholeheartedly ludicrous to an average, everyday person. However, that is precisely where the beauty lies.
More from Lakers News
- Darvin Ham adds to Max Christie hype train after Lakers preseason opener
- Is LeBron James playing tonight? Latest Lakers vs Warriors update
- Can Darvin Ham put all of the Lakers puzzle pieces together?
- Lakers news: Darvin Ham knows his fifth starter, LeBron James and Rui Hachimura, Jalen Hood-Schifino praise
- Michael Malone’s painfully ironic comment has Lakers fans heated
Kobe constantly went to extremes. When others would be reaching for the skies to try to become better players, he would be reaching for the stars. And when that occasional person would likewise reach for the stars, Kobe would kick it up a notch and strive for the heavens.
That, to me, is the vintage Kobe mentality that is now a common phrase in itself these days. He seemed to be on this nonstop quest.
It again was weird at times because sometimes it was hard not to wonder: “what else is the man trying to prove?”
General Manager Rob Pelinka recently spoke about his former client’s “Mamba Mentality” in a piece written by Drew Garrison of SB Nation.
"Beyond the championship banners and individual accolades, Kobe’s ‘Mamba Mentality’ is something the Lakers will always try to emulate. It alone daily inspires all of us to strive for greatness. Kobe’s loyalty and dedication to his craft make him one of the most iconic superstars in sports history. The full impact he has on this game and on future generations will not be fully recognized for a long, long time."
Pelinka touched on a key point in his assessment of Kobe. It is the fact that the shooting guard touched the lives of so many as a longtime member of the purple and gold. Stars will come and go, but words along those lines are the marks of legends.
This is fair to say perhaps for a certain reason that I see every so often. Kids are not yelling the name of LeBron James or even Michael Jordan when throwing a crumbled up piece of paper into a trash bin. Rather, those youngsters are echoing the name of Kobe with an unexplainable level of enthusiasm and joy.
It sheds light on the kind of impact he made. Kobe has not necessarily been retired from the game that long, so the influence that has transpired is amazing.
Let alone the last sillier example, I see more and more kids today trying to copy his moves or don his sneakers. It is like they want to literally want to transform into their hero, even if it is for a split second or two.
Thus, the logic behind numbers 8 and 24 going into the rafters starts to make more sense.
Paolo Uggetti of The Ringer delves into this logic a little bit more in an article he wrote, believing the move by the Lakers is a suitable one.
"[It’s] a perfect fit considering the legacy left behind. Sure, a Hall of Fame case could be made for Bryant in either jersey. But for a career that will likely be remembered most for a unique ability to power past limitations, even when it might not have been such a good idea, why choose the prudent approach now?"
Accordingly, when the legacy part of Bryant’s career is mulled over, that is also where the beauty comes to fruition. He has likewise inspired many to not be so prudent themselves.
Los Angeles Lakers
It is easy to be pragmatic—easy. But the Lakers’ icon consistently took the high road night in and night out.
In conjunction with this, there are many times he did this while feeling crummy health wise.
Arguably the most notable example of this came during his 17th campaign when he tore his Achilles. It is the kind of an injury that has never been friendly to anyone.
When it occurred, though, Bryant courageously sunk two free throws before going to the locker room. It was yet again another moment where many I’m sure just froze in utter astonishment.
Such Kobe-esque memories like that speak to the willpower he had. He had this ability (somehow… it cannot be deciphered) to play through pretty much anything. He arguably had the highest pain threshold of any basketball player ever, including Mr. Jordan.
Alas, too, this obsession is ultimately what led to the last few years of his career being so catastrophic. He spent much time on the sidelines due to that unquenchable passion for the greatest game ever invented.
Amidst even all of that, though, he always seemed determined to want to come back. To at least give it one more shot. He did not hang his head and just give in to Father Time. He was going to put up one heck of a fight. And he did just that.
That is what makes him so special. A once in a generation guy. He put his mind above matter so frequently and just kept going.
It is very reminiscent of one famous line by Dory in Finding Nemo: “just keep swimming.”
Therefore, Kobe’s career extended beyond himself. He (whether intended or not) seemed to be encouraging others to keep moving forward notwithstanding the surplus of obstacles that life presents.
His legacy really hinges on that. In striving to become the greatest possible version of himself, we ergo become inspired to attempt to do the same.
Further evidence of this manifested yesterday. When the Lakers’ all-time leading scorer heard the news, he appropriately posted this picture of himself on his Instagram account.
No, instead of celebrating with his loved ones, the cold-blooded Black Mamba was found pumping iron.
It is so very Kobe because it encapsulates who he is. He has never had this goofier side of him. Instead, the picture demonstrates how hard-working and pokerfaced the character is.
Such a style and way of living seems absurd. Absurd is not even a strong enough word.
Yet that is what makes Kobe so great and worthy of this never before seen distinction. He was and has always been willing to go the extra mile.
Next: Top 10 Kobe Bryant Games Of All-Time
While others are cozily sleeping, he is not. That is what makes him so great. And, moreover, that is why any questions surrounding this spiel should now be put to sleep.