AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
- Many in and around the NBA are calling for the league to honor Kobe Bryant in special ways following his death.
- Some have called for the league to retire his No. 24 while others would like the NBA logo changed to look like Bryant.
- The Dallas Mavericks have already announced that they will retire Bryant's number.
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The NBA world was shocked on Sunday with the sudden death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter crash along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others on board.
Bryant was one of the greatest ever to step foot on the basketball court and will be remembered as the best of many all-timers to wear the Lakers purple and gold.
Tributes and remembrances of Bryant poured in from former teammates, his NBA peers, and fans around the world as news of his death spread on Sunday. On the court, teams across the league took intentional 24-second shot clock violations to start their games, as a tribute to the no. 24 that Bryant wore through the latter half of his career.
On Sunday night, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban announced that the franchise would be retiring Bryant's no. 24. "Kobe's legacy transcends basketball, and our organization has decided that the number 24 will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick," Cuban said in a statement.
Fans celebrated Cuban and the Mavericks' gesture, and called on other teams across the league to follow suit.
Additionally, NBA fans called on the league to change its logo to Bryant's silhouette, with more than 270,000 signing an online petition supporting the switch.
Others suggested a tribute at the upcoming NBA All-Star game, with one team wearing no. 8 and the other wearing no. 24 in honor of Bryant.
And others called for fans to keep the tradition of shouting out "Kobe!" while shooting a wad of paper into the nearest recycling bin.
Bryant is already set to be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this year, but it's clear that fans are still looking for more ways to celebrate his life and career.
- Read more:
Here are the 9 victims of the Calabasas helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter
Lakers legends and former teammates pay tribute to Kobe Bryant
I think the best way for the NBA to honor Kobe is to retire his jersey numbers across the league. https://t.co/3qE0ZvwcjY
- Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) January 27, 2020
Mark Cuban retiring Kobe's number in Dallas is incredible. Retire it across the league
- Shane Young (@YoungNBA) January 27, 2020
No NBA player should wear the number 24 ever again.
Retire Kobe's number league wide. It's only right. https://t.co/hLlxDOmX6e
- Sam White (@samwhiteout) January 27, 2020
The league needs to retire #24. No words can explain what this man did for basketball. Thank you Kobe ❤️ #MambaMentalityForever https://t.co/FXJfTP9KOX
- thatoneguy (@Breezysmallz) January 27, 2020
The NBA needs to change the logo to Kobe Bryant.
- Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 26, 2020
Can the @NBA put proper respects on Kobe's name and change the logo pic.twitter.com/JgXm7otVno
- matt (@MattAskins) January 26, 2020
The NBA needs to change the logo to this immediately in honor of Kobe pic.twitter.com/Cwe2xIJs9j
- NBA Best Matchups (@NBABestMatchups) January 27, 2020
Change the #NBA logo... pic.twitter.com/KTlSmIiQuM
- Barmelo Xanthony (@Hoodrich_AMG) January 27, 2020
Dear @NBA, I think it's time we change your logo. #MambaForever pic.twitter.com/FRrYprO8w4
- Zach Ertz (@ZERTZ_86) January 27, 2020
NBA All-Star game Team Lebron should all wear #8 and Team Giannis #24 for Kobe
- LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) January 26, 2020
One small way to remember Kobe - one team wears 8 and the other 24 in the All-Star game
- Patrick Kinahan (@PKKinahan) January 26, 2020
Dear @NBA ,
NBA All-Star game needs to be:
Team Kobe vs Team Bryant
One team wears 8 and one wears 24
Captains wear 2 for Gianna
All NBA/Kobe Fans!
- Coach Ramer (@Coach_Ramer) January 27, 2020
to the generation that grew up shouting "KOBE!!" every time we threw something, don't stop.
don't let that tradition die
- lucy💛💚 (@lucyxncfc) January 26, 2020