The age old question for Kobe Bryant has been which Kobe does he love more: No. 8 or No. 24? And in the introductory press conference ahead of his jersey retirement ceremony during halftime of Monday’s Lakers vs. Warriors matchup, Bryant finally gave an answer.
Kobe Bryant says if he had to pick between No. 8 and No. 24, he’d pick No. 24
Bryant said playing through the pain and grind of his older age is why he would pick No. 24.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
“I kind of go back and forth, but No. 8 has something that 24 will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever have, and that’s the ability to grow hair,” he joked, before turning serious:
“It’s really, really tough for me. I think 24 was more challenging, and I tend to gravitate to things that are harder to do. And physically for me it was really, really hard for me to get up, night-in and night-out, man. It’s a grind. ... Thinking on the Boston Celtics. Having a bone fragment in my foot during that series. Having a broken finger. Muscling through that back half of the career. Some of the toughest stretches of basketball ever, man.
“And so, I guess if you force me to pick one, I’d probably go with No. 24 because of that.”
Ladies and gentlemen, there’s your answer.
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