Since the devastating news of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death in a helicopter crash that killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others, the NBA has tried to honor the fallen legend.
Players like Stephen Curry, D’Angelo Russell and Draymond Green have all weighed in on social media in remembrance of Bryant. During the Warriors’ first game since his passing, Golden State and the Philadelphia 76ers honored Bryant with a pregame ceremony, and each team took violations after the game tipped off.
Against Golden State, 76ers’ center, Joel Embiid wore Bryant’s No. 24 in his honor, instead of his regular No. 21 jersey. The 76ers all wore No. 8 or No. 24 with Bryant laced across the back in pregame warm-ups.
The honors for Bryant keep rolling in as the news of his death is still rippling through the NBA. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports is reporting Golden State swingman, Alec Burks will change his jersey from No. 8 to No. 20 with respect to Bryant.
Golden State Warriors guard Alec Burks has worn jersey No. 8, but will switch to No. 20 to honor the tragic death of Kobe Bryant who wore No. 8 and No. 24, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 29, 2020
Other players in the NBA are changing from either Bryant’s No. 8 or No. 24 to different jersey numbers. According to reports, Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, Detroit’s Markieff Morris and former Warrior, turned Laker, Quinn Cook have all swapped numbers since the loss of Bryant.
No Warriors will be switching from No. 24 as it’s already retired in honor of Hall of Famer, Rick Barry.