Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant did.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion
Kobe Bryant did.
When the superstar basketball player tore his Achilles tendon, he reportedly became obsessed with the story of Achilles from the Trojan War. Bryant, a legendary warrior in his own right and in his daily mentality, was certainly mythological in each and every sense in his accomplishments during his time on this Earth.
Numerology, the belief that numbers have an almost supernatural impact on life, often plays a large role in myth. It is one of the reasons why teams retire certain numbers for their best players; the Lakers chose to retire Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 in December 2017.
Sources: Multiple NBA players have begun informally retiring Kobe Bryant’s jersey number(s) as a tribute — with Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie among them, changing from No. 8 to No. 26.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said that no one on his team will ever his numbers again.
With the sudden and tragic loss of Bryant earlier this week, some believe that the numbers should get similar treatment to what Jackie Robinson (No. 42) has in the MLB and what Wayne Gretzky (No. 99) has in the NHL with a league-wide mandate.
While no such decree has become official, several players in the NBA have taken matters into their own hands. Below are each of those to have made such a decision, which helps illustrate just how wide-spread his impact on the game was. We will continue to update this post as more news will become available.
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant did.
Few if any in sports history both embodied and embraced the mythology surrounding them quite like five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant did. When the superstar basketball player tore his Achilles tendon, he reportedly became obsessed with the story of Achilles from the Trojan War. Bryant, a legendary warrior in his own right and in his daily mentality, was certainly mythological in each and every sense in his accomplishments during his time on this Earth.
Numerology, the belief that numbers have an almost supernatural impact on life, often plays a large role in myth. It is one of the reasons why teams retire certain numbers for their best players; the Lakers chose to retire Bryant’s No. 8 and No. 24 in December 2017.
Sources: Multiple NBA players have begun informally retiring Kobe Bryant’s jersey number(s) as a tribute — with Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie among them, changing from No. 8 to No. 26.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has said that no one on his team will ever his numbers again.
With the sudden and tragic loss of Bryant earlier this week, some believe that the numbers should get similar treatment to what Jackie Robinson (No. 42) has in the MLB and what Wayne Gretzky (No. 99) has in the NHL with a league-wide mandate.
While no such decree has become official, several players in the NBA have taken matters into their own hands. Below are each of those to have made such a decision, which helps illustrate just how wide-spread his impact on the game was. We will continue to update this post as more news will become available.
SPENCER DINWIDDIE, BROOKLYN NETS
(Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 26
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie grew up in Los Angeles, Calif. and has spoken about his deep love for Bryant. Before switching to his own brand of sneakers (K8IROS), he wore the Kobe AD Mid shoes when he played.
The defending winner of the All-Star Weekend Skills Challenge recently spoke about why he changed his number as well as his recent experience chatting with Bryant in Brooklyn (via NBA.com):
“He was everything to a lot of kids and I was one of them … “I met Kobe several times, exchange pleasantries and text messages and things and, maybe this is a little bit over-exaggerated but I felt like this was the first time he was looking at me as the basketball player Spencer, you know what I mean? Briefly, told you guys how much he meant to all the people where I’m from and for him to tell me that in his book I’m an All-Star and stuff like that, talk about a popularity contest before and you don’t win things like that when you’re me, so for him to say that, I didn’t need to be selected anymore, because I was an All-Star, you feel me, it’s not just like my family, it was the guy.”
When The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that several players around the league would change their jersey number, Dinwiddie’s was the first and only name listed.
Dinwiddie has offered to pay for the first 260 people who want their apparel switched from No. 8 to No. 26 as a bit of a thank you for the support.
TERRENCE ROSS, ORLANDO MAGIC
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Change: No. 8 to No. 31
While he went to high school in Portland, Ore., Ross was born in Long Beach, Calif. near Los Angeles.
The Orlando wing spoke about his memories of Bryant during a recent interview (via The Guardian):
“It was my rookie year. We played him in L.A. I didn’t play that game but it was kind of like a front seat to the Lakers show. He killed us, he killed us bad. He hit a couple threes in clutch moments, he dunked to take it into overtime so I was like, “This is like vintage Kobe. And I remember my mom was sitting courtside and she was looking me the whole time, like, ‘This is bad for ‘y’all’. But it was fun, I enjoyed it.”
Ross, who had only just switched to No. 8 before this season began, will once again sport No. 31 on the court.
After leaving his sneaker deal with Li-Ning in China, he started wearing the Nike Kobe AD Mid sneakers.
ZHAIRE SMITH, PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
(Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 5
Philadelphia 76ers wing Zhaire Smith was the No. 16 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. He recently told reporters that he wanted to wear No. 2 while in the NBA because that is what he wore at Texas Tech, though that was retired by the Sixers to honor Moses Malone.
Instead, he confirmed that he chose No. 8 because that was what Bryant wore in the NBA. Smith said he used some of the wild stories about Bryant’s work ethic to inspire him (via NBC Sports):
“I think I heard one of his stories where he was in the gym since 6 a.m., went home, came back. I tried to do that for one day but my body was dead, so I never did that again.”
He wore No. 7 in his first game after Bryant’s death but will switch to No. 5 for the remainder of the season.
Smith had a custom jersey that had the Philadelphia 76ers name on the front with the last name “Bryant” and the No. 8 sported on the back. He said that he will one day use that as the centerpiece of his man cave.
JAHLIL OKAFOR, NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
(Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to TBD
New Orleans Pelicans big man Jahlil Okafor will reportedly no longer wear No. 8 but has not yet decided what the new number will be. Okafor wore No. 22 in high school and No. 15 when he played at Duke. He also wore No. 4 during his brief tenure with the Nets. While he is a big man, he has rocked the Nike Kobe AD NXT 360 kicks on the court.
MOE HARKLESS, LA CLIPPERS
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 11
The Clippers forward is one of Bryant’s many superfans across the league. He once slept in a locker room “to see Kobe practice” and has worn Bryant’s line of sneakers for several seasons. When he was drafted, he told reporters that he was looking forward to guarding Bryant.
QUINN COOK, LOS ANGELES LAKERS
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Change: No. 2 to No. 28
The guard has said that his late father Ted Cook, who passed away when Quinn was just fourteen years old, was the biggest Lakers fan he had ever met.
“I can tell you every Laker thing since I’ve been living. I watched every game, every playoffs every championship, so like I was telling my brother last night, it’s still surreal coming in here and you see all these legendary numbers, you see all the trophies, you see the years that they won it and it’s just more motivation to try and get one this year.”
Cook did not wear No. 8 or No. 24 but told Shams Charania that he no longer felt comfortable wearing his number because of its ties to Bryant’s daughter, who also perished in the terrible crash. He said that “it’s hers” and should be retired.
The former NCAA (2015) and NBA (2018) champion was spotted mourning the loss of Bryant outside Staples Center earlier this week.
MARKIEFF MORRIS, DETROIT PISTONS
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 88
Last year, Morris tweeted that Bryant deserved a spot as one of the “Top 3” players of all-time. He has previously sported the Nike Zoom Kobe 4 Protro shoes on the court. During his first NBA game after the terrible tragedy that involved Bryant, Morris wrote “Mamba Forever” and “RIP 8/24” on his Nike sneakers.
ALEC BURKS, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
(Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Change: No. 8 to No. 20
Back in 2014, NBA wing Alec Burks completed a nasty behind-the-back crossover when guarded by Bryant. To this day, it has been one of the most memorable moments of his career. Burks will tribute Bryant by changing his number from No. 8 to No. 20.
NOTE: This story will be updated as more players make the decision to change their jersey number.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Zhaire Smith discusses why he is changing his uniform number and what Kobe Bryant meant to him.
The loss of Kobe Bryant has sent shockwaves throughout the league as players have begun discussing uniform changes. Meaning any players wearing the jersey numbers 8 or 24 want to change their numbers to honor The Mamba.
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie recently changed his number from 8 to 26 in honor of the legend and it began some changes around the league. Philadelphia 76ers guard Zhaire Smith had worn the number 8 to begin his career, but he now will be changing his number as well.
“I was thinking about it overnight when it happened,” he said. “Then today, I just decided to change it to honor him.”
Smith did wear number 2 when he was in college at Texas Tech, but that number is retired by Philadelphia due to Moses Malone so he wore 8 to honor Bryant.
“Yes I did,” he said. “Predraft, I really wanted 2 to come out of Tech, but that’s retired. Then I found out 8 was available and I said ‘Oh that’s Kobe’ so I did that for him.”
Smith has had an interesting journey to get to this point after suffering a Jones fracture and then an allergic reaction that kept him out for all, but six games in his rookie season and he then has spent the majority of the season in the G League. Tuesday was just his second game of the season playing for the Sixers and he discussed that journey postgame after scoring three points in 9:48.
“Just being a student of the game,” he continued. “Just learning and improving. Once I’m here, just continue to learn. I’ve got a lot ahead of me so just being a student of the game.”
Using Bryant as an example and the work ethic he showed to move forward, Smith says he wants to continue to push forward like that as a player.
“Oh yeah, most definitely,” he said with a smile. “Especially in the summertime, I think I heard a story about how he was in the gym constantly. Probably since 6 AM, went home, came back, so I tried to do that for one day, but my body was dead so I never did that again.”
Smith did confirm that he will be wearing number 5 for the rest of the season, but there was not a special significance behind the number. He does now have his idol looking over him and watching him as he continues to work his way back from a nightmare of a rookie season and put his imprint on the league. [lawrence-related id=24464,24453,24435]
Philadelphia 76ers guard Zhaire Smith has suffered a left ankle sprain.
Saturday night was supposed to be a joyous night for young Philadelphia 76ers guard Zhaire Smith. An opportunity had opened up for him with the unfortunate injury to Josh Richardson and Smith was called up for depth and to be given an opportunity after toiling in the G League all season.
The Sixers then called upon Smith to make his season debut and it lasted all of three minutes. Smith hurt his ankle, walked off gingerly, and the team then announced that he would be out for the rest of the matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. He finished with one rebound to his credit.
Zhaire Smith has suffered a left ankle sprain and he will not return. That’s a tough break for him tonight. #Sixers
Smith only played six games in his rookie season after suffering a Jones fracture in the offseason and then an allergic reaction kept him out even longer. The Sixers then sent him to their affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, with hopes of developing him and he worked hard to make his season debut on Saturday. It’s a shame to see it end so quickly and for his sake, the hope is that it isn’t serious.
The Sixers hold a slim 50-47 lead over the Lakers in the second quarter. [lawrence-related id=24209,24202,24182]
The Sixers on Friday announced the call up of second-year man Zhaire Smith who had been toiling with the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, all season. Smith is averaging 13 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 36% from deep in 19 games with the Blue Coats.
“I have and we monitor him closely,” said coach Brett Brown. “We are so connected with our G League program. (Blue Coats coach) Connor Johnson and I talk, we follow his statistical progress, namely like how is he shooting threes in the corner? Like we get he plays hard, we get that he’s an athlete, and so now what?”
The big aspect surrounding Smith was his work on the defensive end of the floor. The reason why he was sent down to the G League was due to the fact that Matisse Thybulle has shown off more of an offensive game and he has passed Smith in that area. So the challenge for Brown and his staff now is to get the most out of him on the offensive end of the floor.
“Like how can we tap into a little bit offensively what he’s been growing?” asked Brown. “I think that there is an upward trend, a growth that we’ve seen for two reasons. First, him. He’s embraced the fact that he’s with the G League, some people would treat that as you’ve been scolded and he’s handled it maturely.”
The best thing going for Smith is that Johnson was on Brown’s staff so he runs the Blue Coats the exact same way Brown runs the Sixers. That will give him a bit of a comfort level when he gets called up and he continues his NBA career.
“Two, there’s chemistry with the programs that has enabled him to feel like there’s a progressive path and the next step when he comes up here, it’s the same word, same language, same system and I think for those two reasons, we’re looking at him a bit more seriously, especially without J-Rich,” finished Brown.
The Sixers will return to action on Saturday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers where Smith will be active and available to play for them. [lawrence-related id=24141,24131,24124]
Philadelphia 76ers youngsters Zhaire Smith and Marial Shayok had solid games in Delaware.
While the Philadelphia 76ers are in Brooklyn taking on the Nets looking to get another win on the road, their G League affiliate was also busy on Martin Luther King Day.
The Delaware Blue Coats hosted the South Bay Lakers on Monday and they got some good production out of their younger players in a 119-109 win at home. Second-year prospect Zhaire Smith scored 14 points and he knocked down four of his eight attempts from deep as he continues to find his footing in the league. He has only played six games in his NBA career after a bizarre rookie season and him playing in the G League for all of his second season.
Meanwhile, rookie Marial Shayok scored 29 points to lead Delaware while knocking down five of his nine shots from beyond the arc and he also dished out six assists. This continues to be a theme for Shayok who may earn himself a call up to the Sixers soon enough.
Philadelphia 76ers prospect Zhaire Smith had a solid night for the Delaware Blue Coats.
It has been a tough season for Philadelphia 76ers prospect Zhaire Smith, but Friday was a solid outing for the second-year man out of Texas Tech as he continues to find his way in the league.
Smith had 19 points and he drilled four of his six attempts from deep and he also had four rebounds and three assists for the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats. Unfortunately, it came in a loss as the Blue Coats came up short to the Grand Rapids Drive 100-91 at the 76ers Fieldhouse in Delaware.
A night like Friday’s is a huge step forward for Smith. He has had a mostly tough season as he continues to recover from a lost rookie season so anything like an outing like this one is a huge positive for him.
Rookie Marial Shayok had a tough night shooting just 5-for-18 and 2-for-11 from deep for 14 points with six rebounds while local Temple prospect Shizz Alston Jr. had 10 points.
Delaware will get back at it on Tuesday when they hit the road to face the Lakeland Magic. [lawrence-related id=23238,23231,23208]
Philadelphia 76ers second-year man Zhaire Smith is not doing so well with the Delaware Blue Coats.
The Philadelphia 76ers made a bit of a controversial move on draft night in 2018 when they selected local Villanova product Mikal Bridges at 10 overall and then flipped him to the Phoenix Suns for Zhaire Smith, who was picked 16th.
It was a move that was met with ire from the local fan base who were hoping that Bridges would remain in Philadelphia and give the Sixers a blend of scoring and shooting. Instead, the fans had to settle for Smith, a young, raw product out of Texas Tech who had his rookie season cut to just six games due to a Jones fracture and then an allergic reaction in December.
In his second season, Smith was expecting to battle for a spot in the rotation, but with the emergence of rookie Matisse Thybulle, the Sixers sent him to the team’s G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, to continue his development. In 11 games in Delaware, Smith is averaging 13.5 points and 3.9 rebounds, but he hasn’t been able to make a big impact like everybody thought he would.
Smith was a 2018 first-round pick of the Sixers who missed nearly all of last season due to a severe food allergy reaction. He’s only 20, but has struggled to make an impact even in G League games due to his limited skill level. A phenomenal leaper who does his best work in transition, the 6-4 Smith’s skill level hasn’t nearly caught up with his leaping ability – right now he’s basically a 4 in a 2’s body. The surprising part is that he hasn’t been able to bring his athleticism to bear, even in places you’d expect to see it – he rarely draws fouls, for instance, and his rates of blocks, steals and rebounds in the G League have been unremarkable.
The Sixers did pick up Smith’s option for the 2020-21 season so it signals one of two things, either they still have plans for him or it makes it easier to move him. With the emergence of Thybulle and rookie Marial Shayok still waiting in the wings with his impressive play, it makes one really wonder about where Smith factors into the Sixers for the future. [lawrence-related id=21987,21972,21964]
Philadelphia 76ers prospects Norvel Pelle and Zhaire Smith shine in the Blue Coats win.
While the Philadelphia 76ers focus on winning and growing together as a group, their younger players continue to grow down in the G League. Two players, in particular, stood out as the Delaware Blue Coats earned a 115-106 win over Raptors 905 at home on Tuesday night.
Two-way player Norvel Pelle, who recently had a solid NBA debut for the Sixers, led the Blue Coats with 20 points and 14 rebounds with two blocks while second-year man Zhaire Smith had 18 points and five rebounds. Smith shot 8-for-13 and he also drilled one from deep which is a good sign in terms of his developing shooting touch.
On top of the shooting touch, Smith showed he still has the athleticism and the bounce that made the Sixers trade for him on draft night in 2018.
Rookie Marial Shayok, who has had a solid season for Delaware, had 16 points to go along with five rebounds off the bench and Haywood Highsmith, who was a two-way player for Philadelphia in 2018-19, had 11 points.
The Blue Coats play next on Friday when they host the Capital City Go-Go. [lawrence-related id=20576,20559,20550]
Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown is happy with the use of the G League in terms of development.
Long gone are the days when the Philadelphia 76ers relied on unproven young players to develop out on the floor in an intentional way to lose and stockpile assets for the future. Now, the Sixers are legitimate contenders and they have a proven core in place for them to make a serious title run.
That does not mean that thoughts of development and thinking for the future is out of their minds and that is where the G League comes in.
Young players Zhaire Smith, Marial Shayok, Jonah Bolden, and others are getting critical playing time needed with the Delaware Blue Coats to further move their careers forward. In the past, those guys would be up playing for the Sixers and getting some serious minutes like T.J. McConnell, JaKarr Sampson, Hollis Thompson, and others in past year’s.
“The world has changed from T.J.’s, and JaKarr’s, and Hollis’ days to now,” said coach Brett Brown. “So with Marial or Shake or Norvel, those guys would have ‘played played’ five years ago and it’s a good snapshot of how the G League, in my opinion, should be used.”
The Blue Coats are led by Connor Johnson at head coach and he runs exactly what Brown runs up in Philadelphia. Delaware has done a good job of developing prospects like Shake Milton in the past and, more recently, Norvel Pelle who was called into action on Friday against the New York Knicks with the Sixers undermanned and he had four blocks off the bench in good minutes.
“The proximity that we have to Delaware and the closeness of our coaching staffs connect the dots quite well and Norvel’s performance the other night(in New York) when we needed somebody, I think he showed he’s an NBA player,” Brown added. “I think it’s a testament to him and the program.”
The Sixers will continue to chase the title they crave up at the NBA level, but they will also keep on eye on the development of Smith, Shayok, and others as they look towards the future as well. On the G League side, they will continue to do their job of pushing their guys toward the NBA. [lawrence-related id=20423,20435,20416]
