To understand why rumors surrounded the “Black Mamba” and his choice of No. 8, you need to look back at his childhood. When Kobe was six, his family moved from the United States to Italy.

However, Kobe changing from 8 to 24, had nothing to do with Jackson, as Jim admitted on The Mark Jackson podcast. The reason why Bryant changed numbers was because he wanted a fresh start.

We have 81-Points Day (January 22), Mamba Day (April 13), Mambacita Day (May 1), and Kobe Day (August 24), to name a few. As a Kobe fan, I wouldn't mind my first child sharing his birthday with ...

They black and yellow uniforms use a snakeskin-like print and includes "LA 24" on the belt with both of Bryant's uniform numbers, No. 8 and No. 24, under the flap of one of the pant legs on the ...

The Lakers will wear the uniforms as Kobe Bryant's statue is unveiled outside Crypto.com Arena before the game vs. Denver on Feb. 8. Official release The Lakers sported their ‘Black Mamba ...