Magic Johnson paid tribute to Kobe Bryant with both of his jersey numbers. Here is the meaning behind each one.

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• Kobe Bryant is the only player in NBA history to have two numbers retired by the same team.
• He retired in 2016 and his Los Angeles Lakers jerseys were sent into the rafters at Staples Center in December 2017 during the halftime ceremony of a Lakers-Warriors game.
• Bryant wore No. 8 for the first half of his career and switched to 24 ahead of the 2006-2007 season.
• As No. 8, Bryant described trying to prove himself, while the second half of his career, as No. 24, was marked by "growth," he told ESPN.
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Kobe Bryant is the only player in NBA history to have two numbers retired on his behalf by the same team, the Los Angeles Lakers.

The 41-year-old, widely believed to be one of the greatest basketball players the sport has ever seen, died on Sunday in a helicopter accident in California. His 13-year-old daughter Giana was also among the nine people who lost their lives when the Sikorsky S-76 crashed in the Calabasas hills, according to the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department. 

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See Also:

• Kobe Bryant had an illustrious NBA career but faced controversies off the court
• NBA teams take to court and pay tribute to basketball idol Kobe Bryant with moments of silence, special gear, and letting the shot clock run out
• NBA has no plans to cancel games after basketball icon Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash

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