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New Orleans Pelicans: Jahlil Okafor switches to #9 in honor of Kobe

ByWillie Lutz|
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 3: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Quinn Cook #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk prior to a game on January 3, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 3: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Quinn Cook #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers talk prior to a game on January 3, 2020 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

Joining in the trend along with many others around the league, a New Orleans Pelicans’ center will switch his number to honor Kobe Bryant.

Following the passing of NBA legend Kobe Bryant and eight other passengers who were on-board the Sunday morning helicopter accident, the New Orleans Pelicans have joined the rest of the league in honoring the life of one of basketball’s greatest figures.

Prior to yesterday afternoon’s win against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jahlil Okafor told to reporters of his intentions to switch his uniform number from #8, famously worn by Bryant during the first stretch of his career, though Okafor hadn’t decided quite yet which number he would assume.

This afternoon, it was reported by Will Guillory of The Athletic that Okafor will now wear #9 with the New Orleans Pelicans.

When Okafor was drafted with the third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers, the center selected the #8 to represent the city that Kobe called home during his teenage years. As many will recall Bryant attended Lower Marion High School in the Philly suburbs.

Okafor is certainly not the only player in the league to make the switch in the past 48 hours.

Around the league, many of the players who wear Bryant’s uniform number with their own teams are deciding to informally retire his iconic #8 and #24 worn during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers (both numbers already being retired by the Lakers).

Moe Harkless, Terrence Ross, Markieff Morris, Spencer Dinwiddie, Mason Plumlee, and Alec Burks are among the players who’ve switched away from Kobe Bryant’s numbers with more around the league still making a decision.

In a touching tribute, die-hard-Lakers-fan-turned-Laker Quinn Cook decided to change his number from Gianna Bryant’s #2 to become #28, a combination of the father and daughter.

Buddy Hield will continue to wear the #24 with the Sacramento Kings, as the guard feels continuing to wear the number will allow him to honor Kobe’s legacy.

As for the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine will continue to wear the #8 and Lauri Markkanen will continue to wear the #24, providing the same rationale as Hield, per KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. 

Typically, it’s very difficult for players to switch their uniform numbers unless they’re traded to another team or file a proper request during the offseason.

Fans may recall an incident this summer when in the aftermath of Anthony Davis‘s departure from the New Orleans Pelicans, LeBron James attempted to give Davis his #23 uniform number, but the league denied the motion, as they’d already distributed too many of James’s jerseys.

Overall, it certainly seems like a great call by the league office to allow the players the opportunity following Bryant’s tragic passing on Sunday afternoon.

The New Orleans Pelicans play next on Friday, Jan. 31 against the Memphis Grizzlies, where Okafor will wear the #9 for the first time.

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