Now some players have decided to take the gesture a step further by changing their individual jersey numbers. Others will continue to wear either No. 8 or No. 24 as a way to remember Bryant and bring his “Mamba Mentality” to the court each night.
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Here is a list of players who have chosen to honor Kobe Bryant with a midseason jersey switch, along with those who will keep their numbers or have not yet decided.
NBA players with new jersey numbers to honor Kobe Bryant
Alec Burks, Warriors
Quinn Cook, Lakers
Spencer Dinwiddie, Nets
Maurice Harkless, Clippers
Markieff Morris, Pistons
Jahlil Okafor, Pelicans
Miye Oni, Jazz
Mason Plumlee, Nuggets
Terrence Ross, Magic
Zhaire Smith, 76ers
The Sixers guard told ESPN he will wear the No. 5 moving forward.
NBA players wearing No. 8
Trevor Ariza, Trail Blazers Bismack Biyombo, Hornets Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kings Danilo Gallinari, Thunder Rui Hachimura, Wizards — Will continue to wear No. 8. Justin Holiday, Pacers Frank Kaminsky, Suns Zach LaVine, Bulls — Will continue to wear No. 8. Patty Mills, Spurs Emmanuel Mudiay, Jazz Jarred Vanderbilt, Nuggets Kemba Walker, Celtics — Considering changing his jersey number but has not decided.
Hawks guard Trae Young wore No. 8 against the Wizards before switching back to his usual No. 11.
NBA players wearing No. 24
Khem Birch, Magic Dillon Brooks, Grizzlies Pat Connaughton, Bucks Bruno Fernando, Hawks Buddy Hield, Kings Alize Johnson, Pacers — Will continue to wear No. 24 “as a tribute of the great respect I will always have for [Bryant]. " Lauri Markkanen, Bulls — Will continue to wear No. 24 because “now it has a deeper meaning. " Garrison Mathews, Wizards
Sixers center Joel Embiid wore No. 24 against the Warriors instead of his usual No. 21.
Cavaliers forward Larry Nance Jr. wore No. 24 against the Pelicans before switching back to No. 22 for the second half.
A post shared by Joel “The Process” Embiid (@joelembiid) on Jan 28, 2020 at 7:49pm PST
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban released a statement saying that No. 24 “will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick.”
A post shared by Larry Nance Jr (@larrydn7) on Jan 29, 2020 at 9:06am PST