Lakers to retire Kobe Bryant's jersey on Dec. 18
— -- The Los Angeles Lakers will retire Kobe Bryant's jersey before their game against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 18, sources confirmed to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne.
It's not yet clear which of the numbers Bryant wore with the Lakers (Nos. 8 and 24) will be retired.
"[Whichever number they choose], it'll be pretty hard for someone else to wear the other one," Bryant told Shelburne in August 2016.
TMZ Sports first reported that Bryant's jersey will be retired in December.
Bryant, who retired after the 2015-16 season, played 20 seasons with the Lakers, winning five championships.?The 18-time All-Star scored 33,643 career points, currently third on the all-time list behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone.
The Lakers usually only retire the jerseys of players in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bryant isn't yet eligible for enshrinement, but the team is confident he will be inducted.
The Lakers also retired Shaquille O'Neal's jersey in 2013 before he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
Bryant will be the 10th player to have his jersey retired by the Lakers, joining Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin Baylor (22), Gail Goodrich (25), Magic Johnson (32), Abdul-Jabbar (33), O'Neal (34), James Worthy (42), Jerry West (44) and Jamaal Wilkes (52).
The name of longtime team broadcaster Chick Hearn also is hanging in the rafters of Staples Center.
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