Did Kobe ever wear 33?

Did Kobe Ever Wear 33?

Yes, Kobe Bryant did wear the number 33—but not in the NBA. Long before he became a Lakers legend sporting No. 8 and later No. 24, Kobe’s high school days at Lower Merion in Pennsylvania saw him donning the number 33 jersey.

As he once shared, “In high school I started out with number 24. Then I went to number 33 later on.” That switch came after he noticed a gap in the rack during uniform selection. The story goes that young Kobe initially wanted No. 24, but it wasn’t available at the time—so he picked 33 instead, a nod to one of his childhood idols, Larry Bird, who famously wore the same number for the Boston Celtics.

Though he eventually switched back to 24 in his senior year—which later became the first of his two NBA numbers—the 33 remains a quiet but meaningful chapter in Kobe’s early journey. It's a number that tied him to the legacy he admired while quietly shaping the work ethic he’d become known for.

While fans remember him most for 8 and 24, the significance of 33 lies in its roots: a symbol of growth, influence, and the humble beginnings of a future NBA great. It’s a reminder that even icons start somewhere—on high school courts, with borrowed numbers and big dreams.