Joel Embiid took an extra step to honor Kobe Bryant during the Philadelphia 76ers’ game on Tuesday, but it came with a condition.
Jersey No. 24 is already retired by the 76ers to honor Bobby Jones, who played eight seasons for the team from 1978-1986.
Embiid called Jones and asked for permission to wear the number. Jones granted it, however, he had one condition.
Jones, who was nicknamed “The Secretary of Defense”, made the All-Defense team 11 times in his career. Kobe made it 12 times. Jones told Embiid that the big man had to play hard defense, because a lot of defense goes into No. 24.
Sixers Hall of Famer Bobby Jones on his talk with Joel Embiid asking permission to wearJones retired number 24 tonight to honor Kobe @FOX29philly https://t.co/QX3jjjkRZj pic.twitter.com/3gBa89wtCR
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) January 29, 2020
Embiid wore the number for the game. He also told Jones how much Kobe meant to him growing up in Africa.
In 2018, Embiid actually wrote about how much Kobe meant to him.
That was my exposure to American culture — Bow Wow, Kanye and Kobe. Sometimes I’d go to this court by my house where guys would play pickup, and every time I’d shoot the ball, I’d literally yell out, “KOBE!”
Imagine it. I’m out there shooting bricks, yelling out Kobe, on a busted hoop in Cameroon.
Seven years later, I was playing Kobe.
Joel Embiid is wearing #24 tonight. pic.twitter.com/ku57tSOMzO
— Dime (@DimeUPROXX) January 29, 2020
In addition to Embiid’s tribute to Kobe, both the 76ers and Warriors took eight-second shot-clock violations to begin the game in honor of Kobe’s jersey numbers.
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— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 29, 2020
More Larry Brown Sports coverage of Kobe Bryant’s death:
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Other victims of the helicopter crash:
– John Altobelli, junior college baseball coach, also died in helicopter crash
– Christina Mauser, girls’ basketball coach, among the helicopter crash victims
– Sarah Chester, daughter Payton were also killed in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
– Ara Zobayan was the pilot in Kobe Bryant helicopter crash
Tributes to Kobe:
– NBA players changing jersey numbers in honor of Kobe Bryant
– Bill Belichick shares touching anecdote in tribute to Kobe Bryant
– UConn honors Gianna Bryant with own jersey, spot on the bench
– Video: Shaq gets emotional talking about Kobe Bryant on TNT
– Dallas Mavericks retire Kobe Bryant’s No. 24 jersey
– Video: Raptors, Spurs start game with amazing tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Shaq posts heartfelt tribute to Kobe Bryant
– Michael Jordan releases statement on death of ‘little brother’ Kobe Bryant
– Video: Doc Rivers breaks down crying talking about Kobe Bryant
– Phil Jackson calls Kobe Bryant ‘a chosen one’ in statement on his death
– NBA commissioner Adam Silver issues statement on death of Kobe Bryant
– Video: Dwyane Wade posts emotional message reacting to Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kendrick Perkins extends olive branch to Kevin Durant after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Gilbert Arenas vows to begin coaching career like Kobe Bryant urged him to
– Video: Emotional Mike Breen sums up NBA world’s emotions about Kobe Bryant’s death
– Trae Young’s huge game was full of Kobe Bryant-related statistical coincidences
More coverage:
– Investigators release chilling drone footage from Kobe Bryant helicopter crash site
– Video: Kobe Bryant helicopter audio released
– Media errors, rumors, poor judgment run rampant in reporting of Kobe Bryant news
– NBA postpones Tuesday’s Lakers-Clippers game after Kobe Bryant’s death
– Kobe Bryant recently filed for ‘Mambacita’ trademark for daughter Gianna
– Kobe Bryant checked in on Shaq’s son Shareef morning of helicopter crash
– No, Rick Fox did not die in helicopter crash that killed Kobe, Gianna Bryant
– Lakers fans start memorial to Kobe Bryant outside Staples Center
– Kobe Bryant’s last tweet was congratulating LeBron James on passing him
– Sports world stunned over Kobe Bryant news
– Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash – dead at 41
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