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It is well-chronicled that Kobe Bryant wore the No. 8 to summarize the No. 143 he wore during Adidas ABCD Camp. The number was also the same figure he wore when he was still playing in Italy.
A Bleacher Report in 2017 detailed Kobe Bryant’s mentality behind the iconic numbers.
“When I first came in at 8, is really trying to ‘plant your flag’ sort of thing. I got to prove that I belong here in this league…It’s non-stop energy and aggressive stuff."
The Black Mamba proceeded to explain how No. 24 came to be:
“Then 24 is a growth from that. Physical attributes aren’t the way they used to be, but maturity level is greater…Start having a broader perspective being one of the older guys on the team now, as opposed to being the youngest. Things evolve.”
Kobe Bryant’s immortality isn’t found when you look up and see his jersey numbers hanging from the rafters. It’s in the approach that the best basketball players in the world are still using today because of him. The Mamba Mentality helps superstars and fledgling beginners gain the belief that there is still a mile to go when everything seems to have been exhausted. Four years ago today, the LA Lakers honored that mentality.