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Take Two

Why Kobe Bryant is the only Lakers player to have 2 jersey numbers retired

By Take Two Staff
Published Dec 20, 2017
LAGUNA BEACH, CA - OCTOBER 25: Kobe Bryant speaks on stage at WSJ.D LIVE After Dark at Montage Laguna Beach on October 25, 2016 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Dow Jones)
LAGUNA BEACH, CA - OCTOBER 25: Kobe Bryant speaks on stage at WSJ.D LIVE After Dark at Montage Laguna Beach on October 25, 2016 in Laguna Beach, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Dow Jones)
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Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Dow Jones
)

Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.

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Why Kobe Bryant is the only Lakers player to have 2 jersey numbers retired

Kobe Bryant wore two jersey numbers during his career with the Lakers -- 8 and 24. And on Monday, the Lakers decided to retire both numbers.

How rare it is to have two jersey numbers retired

 


"It is singularly unique," Andy Kamenetzky told Take Two's Meghan McCarty Carino. "The list currently begins and ends with Kobe Bryant. If you look at the contextual factors creating the situation where Kobe ended up with two numbers retired, it's a safe bet that the list will live and die with Kobe's career. Most players are neither good enough nor have enough of a sentimental connection to a franchise to merit jersey retirement to begin with. In Kobe's case, he won five titles with the Lakers and he's a future first ballot hall of famer."