“People had a problem with him…” Celtics rival Kevin Garnett reveals best version of Kobe Bryant between No. 8 and 24

Kevin Garnett called jersey No.24 a whole different version of Kobe Bryant, compared to when he was wearing jersey No. 8

“People had a problem with him…” Celtics rival Kevin Garnett reveals best version of Kobe Bryant between No. 8 and 24

Kevin Garnett talks about the different versions of Kobe's jersey numbers (Image via Open Source, X)

The Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant got his statue unveiled on February 8th outside the Cypto.com arena in Los Angeles. Kevin Garnett, the retired Boston Celtics star, explained the difference between the late Kobe Bryant’s two versions. Kobe Bryant wore Number 8 and Number 24 throughout his career as a Laker.

While visiting The Kobe Room at the Hall of Fame with Paul Pierce, Garnett said Kobe was so good that he got his two jerseys retired. To which Pierce asked which version Garnett thought was better, KG said No.24. He thought 24 was smarter. He said, 

24, he was smarter. Nobody liked 8. 8 was his own demon.
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Garnett explained further by saying the Jersey number 8 version was the most challenging. People had a problem with him as he was selfish. But for 24, Kobe changed completely. Garnett called the second version the reborn version, and claimed the second Kobe was family-oriented, and had a whole different mentality.

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There will be a total of 3 statues of Bryant outside the Crypto.com Arena. The one that was unveiled on Thursday was of Jersey No. 8. Another one will be of Jersey No.24 and one with his daughter Gianna Bryant.

The reason Kobe Bryant changed his jersey number

Kobe Bryant is the first player to get his two jerseys retired by a team. Bryant played for the Los Angeles Lakers for 20 years and won 5 championships. In 2017, one year after his retirement Lakers retired his jersey with both No. 8 and No. 24.

Why Kobe change jersey No. from 8 to 24
Kobe Bryant Jersey No. 8 and 24 (Images via The New York Times/ CNN)

Bryant changed his jersey number from No. 8 to No. 24 during the 2006-07 season. At the time, Bryant explained that growth was the reason for this change. The physical aspects have changed as well as the maturity level. After being married and having kids, things evolved for the 5-time champion.

But it seems as if there was another reason for the change. Bryant would constantly get compared to Michael Jordan. Wearing a number that is one step above Jordan’s 23 was Bryant’s way of telling people that he is above his own Idol.

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