Kobe Bryant’s Legacy: Comparing his No. 8 and No. 24 eras with the Lakers

The late Kobe Bryant remains one of the most celebrated and influential figures in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, remembered not only for his accolades on the court but also for the lasting impact he left off it.

Bryant retired in 2016 after a storied 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he scored 33,643 points, won five NBA championships, and earned numerous individual honors, including the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player award, two NBA Finals MVPs, and four NBA All-Star Game MVPs. In recognition of his extraordinary career, the Lakers retired both of his jersey numbers, 8 and 24 — a rare honor reserved for true legends.

A Tale of Two Jerseys

Bryant was a one-team man throughout his career, donning No. 8 during his first decade in the league before switching to No. 24 in 2006. Remarkably, he scored more than 16,000 points wearing each number — a testament to his sustained excellence across two distinct phases of his career.

While No. 8 was marked by explosive athleticism, highlighted by his 81-point game in 2006 and three straight championships alongside Shaquille O’Neal, No. 24 symbolized his maturity and resilience, leading the Lakers to back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010.

Here’s how his career numbers stack up:

No. 8 (1996–2006)

• Points: 16,866 
• Rebounds: 3,634 
• Assists: 3,148 
• Steals: 1,059 
• Blocks: 431 
• All-NBA appearances: 8 

No. 24 (2006–2016)

• Points: 16,777 
• Rebounds: 3,413 
• Assists: 3,158 
• Steals: 885 
• Blocks: 201 
• All-NBA appearances: 7 

Though he secured his lone MVP award as No. 24, Bryant’s statistical edge in points, rebounds, steals, and blocks came during his No. 8 years.

CRAZY stats from the legendary Kobe Bryant:

• 81 Point Game
• 40+ Game-Winners
• 518 30-Point Games
• 6 60-Point Games
• 2x Olympic Gold Medalist
• 2x Scoring Title
• 5x NBA Champion
• 18x All-Star
• 3rd in Total Points Scored (33,643)
🐐💯 pic.twitter.com/OQGSmMZBRa

— Mamba Insider (@Mamba_Insider) October 2, 2018

 Kobe’s Own Perspective

For Bryant, the choice between the two numbers wasn’t just about statistics but about the challenges each era represented.

“It’s really tough for me. I think 24 was more challenging, and I tend to gravitate toward things that are harder to do,” Bryant once reflected. “Physically, it was harder to get up night in and night out. Taking on the Boston Celtics, playing with a bone fragment in my foot, a broken finger, and grinding through the back half of my career — those were some of the toughest stretches of basketball ever. If you force me to pick one, I’ll probably go with 24 because of that.”

A Legacy Beyond Numbers

While fans continue to debate whether Kobe was greater as No. 8 or No. 24, his legacy extends far beyond jersey numbers. Beyond his championships and individual awards, Bryant earned two Olympic gold medals with Team USA and, more importantly, inspired countless athletes with his “Mamba Mentality” — a relentless pursuit of excellence that continues to influence the game today.

Despite the tragedy of his passing in 2020, Kobe Bryant’s legacy endures, not just as one of basketball’s greatest players but as a cultural icon whose impact will forever transcend the court.

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