Detroit forward Markieff Morris is switching his jersey number from No. 8 to No. 88, to show “double respect” for the late Kobe Bryant.
Morris, a Philadelphia native like Bryant, made the announcement before the Pistons took on the Nets in Brooklyn. Morris will not be able to don the jersey change until the league office approves it.
“I grew up idolizing Kobe and that 8, that 24 and that 33 touched me,” Morris said. I’m going to go with double 8s. All respect to Kobe. I’m going to put it on my jersey twice.”
Morris is not alone. In the past two days, several players have requested jersey changes, including Brooklyn’s Spencer Dinwiddie, who will take on Morris Wednesday, as well as Orlando’s Terrence Ross, Philadelphia’s Zhaire Smith, Moe Harkless of the Clippers and Golden State’s Alec Burks.
And Lakers guard Quinn Cook took it a step further.
On Friday, at Staples Center when Los Angeles returns to action vs. the Trail Blazers, he plans to be wearing No. 28, the team confirmed Wednesday, with the No. 8 to representing Bryant and the No. 2 to honor his late daughter, Gianna.
Gianna Bryant, who was 13, wore No. 2 in her youth basketball games and intended to one day play for the University of Connecticut. UConn honored Gianna by placing a No. 2 jersey on its bench this week.