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Malika Andrews
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Tim Bontemps
Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie and Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross will both change their jersey numbers from No. 8 to honor Kobe Bryant.
Dinwiddie announced Tuesday on Twitter that he will change his jersey from No. 8, which Bryant used to wear, to No. 26.
Dinwiddie explained on Twitter that he chose 26 in part because his son, Elijah, was born on April 20 and Dinwiddie was born on the 6th.
Honor your people.
Number 26, Spencer Dinwiddie. pic.twitter.com/Y3oZREw602
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 28, 2020
Fans also quickly pointed out that 26 is the sum of Bryant’s other jersey No. 24 and Bryant’s daughter Gianna’s jersey No. 2. The Nets’ next game is Wednesday against the Pistons.
Dinwiddie has said he regards Bryant as his childhood hero. He got emotional when speaking to reporters hours after Bryant’s death following the Nets game against the Knicks.
“For him to tell me that in his book I am an All-Star and stuff like that. Guys talk about the popularity contest before and you don’t win things like that when you me. So for him to say that I didn’t need to be selected anymore because I was an All-Star and it wasn’t just my family saying it, it was the guy.”
The Magic announced later Tuesday that Ross would start wearing No. 31 — instead of No. 8 — beginning with Saturday’s game against the Heat. Ross had worn No. 31 before switching to No. 8 before this season.