Spencer Dinwiddie and "multiple" other NBA players are planning on changing their jersey numbers in order to informally retire Kobe Bryant's old Nos. 8 and 24, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Dinwiddie has changed his jersey number from 8 to 26. Jersey changes typically take a season to finalize, but the NBA is allowing the 26-year-old from Los Angeles to make an immediate switch, according to The New York Times' Marc Stein.
Dinwiddie teared up when reflecting on his and Kobe's friendship on Sunday.
“I met Kobe several times, exchanged pleasantries and text messages and things, and maybe it’s a little bit overexaggerating but I felt like this was the first time he was looking at me as the basketball player, Spencer, you know what I mean?