Facts About The Legendary Late Kobe Bryant You May Not Have Come Across Before

Unlucky Number 24?

Kobe began high school playing with the number 24, although he switched numbers for his last three years of high school ball. Initially adamant to keep number 33, the NBA had to break it to him that the number was already owned by legendary pro-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The number was officially retired with Kareem’s departure from the sport in 1989. This meant Kobe started with the number 8, and kept it for his entire career. Kobe spoke very highly about Kareem as someone who he looked up to, and the pair were even good friends later in his life.

NBA League Infancy

Kobe was not only the first guard to be drafted straight out of high school, he was also the youngest player ever to star in the NBA league. At just over 18 years old, this was a record nobody anticipated him to break, but destiny had big plans for his life. Over time, new names have taken over the record, although many will remember his memorable debut on November 3rd 1996, playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Six minutes he surely never forgot in his lifetime.