Mitch Kupchak: Lakers could retire both of Kobe’s jerseys

One of the questions surrounding Kobe Bryant’s farewell season with the Lakers is which jersey number of his will be retired when the time comes. The answer apparently might be: both.

Bryant wore jersey No. 8 to start his career, winning three titles with that number. He said at the time that he wanted to wear his high school number 24 as a rookie, but it was taken, which is why he started with eight. For the 2006-2007 season, he switched to 24 and became one of the top selling jerseys. Bryant won another two titles with that jersey.

So which one will be retired?

“I don’t know the answer. Obviously it’s going to be 8, 24 or it could be both,” GM Mitch Kupchak said at a fan event on Sunday, via the Los Angeles Times.

Last month we shared a story saying that the team was trying to decide which number of his to retire, but now the debate just got a whole new spin. Maybe the answer lies with asking Kobe his preference.