<P> Later in the season , it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006 -- 07 NBA season . Bryant 's first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33 . After the Lakers ' season ended , Bryant said on TNT that he wanted 24 as a rookie , but it was unavailable , as was 33 , retired with Kareem Abdul - Jabbar . Bryant wore 143 at the Adidas ABCD camp , and chose 8 by adding those numbers . In the first round of the playoffs , the Lakers played well enough to reach a 3 -- 1 series lead over the Phoenix Suns , culminating with Bryant 's overtime - forcing and game - winning shots in Game 4 . They came within six seconds of eliminating the second - seeded Suns in Game 6 , however , they lost that game 126 -- 118 in overtime . Despite Bryant 's 27.9 points per game in the series , the Lakers broke down , and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven games . After scoring 50 points on 20 of 35 shooting in the Game 6 loss , Bryant was criticized for only taking three shots in the second half of the 121 -- 90 Game 7 loss to Phoenix . </P>
<P> Later in the season , it was reported that Bryant would change his jersey number from 8 to 24 at the start of the 2006 -- 07 NBA season . Bryant 's first high school number was 24 before he switched to 33 . After the Lakers ' season ended , Bryant said on TNT that he wanted 24 as a rookie , but it was unavailable , as was 33 , retired with Kareem Abdul - Jabbar . Bryant wore 143 at the Adidas ABCD camp , and chose 8 by adding those numbers . In the first round of the playoffs , the Lakers played well enough to reach a 3 -- 1 series lead over the Phoenix Suns , culminating with Bryant 's overtime - forcing and game - winning shots in Game 4 . They came within six seconds of eliminating the second - seeded Suns in Game 6 , however , they lost that game 126 -- 118 in overtime . Despite Bryant 's 27.9 points per game in the series , the Lakers broke down , and ultimately fell to the Suns in seven games . After scoring 50 points on 20 of 35 shooting in the Game 6 loss , Bryant was criticized for only taking three shots in the second half of the 121 -- 90 Game 7 loss to Phoenix . </P>
when did kobe bryant change his jersey number from 8 to 24
when did kobe bryant change his jersey number from 8 to 24
at the start of the 2006 -- 07 NBA season
at the start of the 2006 -- 07 NBA season