When you think of Kobe Bryant, your mind probably jumps straight to those hanging banners at Crypto.com Arena. The #8 and the #24. It’s iconic. But if you grew up in Philly or followed the recruiting trails in the mid-90s, those numbers aren't the whole story. To a specific generation of basketball fans, Kobe isn't just the "Black Mamba" in Purple and Gold; he’s the skinny kid from Lower Merion High School putting up 50 points while wearing Kobe Bryant number 33.
Why 33? Honestly, it wasn't about the Lakers' history or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at the time. It was way more personal than that.
The Father-Son Connection Most Fans Miss
Kobe didn't actually start with 33. As a freshman at Lower Merion, he wore #24. Yeah, the same number he eventually switched to later in his career to symbolize a "fresh start" and 24 hours in a day. But after that first year, he made a switch that defined his prep legacy.
He chose #33 because of his father, Joe "Jellybean" Bryant.
Joe was a legend in the Philadelphia hoops scene long before Kobe was even a thought. He wore #33 during his own high school days at John Bartram High. For Kobe, wearing that number was a way to carry on the family lineage. It was a nod to the man who taught him the game in Italy and pushed him on the asphalt courts of Philly.
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When you see old grainy footage of Kobe crossing people over in a maroon and white jersey, that #33 represents a kid trying to live up to—and eventually surpass—the shadow of his father.
Why We Never Saw Number 33 on a Lakers Jersey
The transition to the NBA in 1996 changed everything. Kobe wanted to keep the tradition alive. He wanted 33.
There was just one massive, 7-foot-2 problem: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
By the time Kobe arrived in Los Angeles, the Lakers had already retired #33 to honor Kareem. It was hanging in the rafters of the Great Western Forum, completely off-limits. You don't just ask to un-retire the number of the league's (then) all-time leading scorer. Even for a guy with Kobe's legendary confidence, that was a bridge too far.
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He also couldn't get his freshman number, 24, because it was being worn by George McCloud at the time.
So, Kobe got creative. He went back to his days at the Adidas ABCD camp. His jersey number there was 143. He did some quick "Kobe math," added the digits together ($1+4+3=8$), and the rest is history. If Kareem’s jersey hadn't been in those rafters, the entire "Mamba" branding might have looked completely different.
The Stolen Jersey Mystery
There's a weird, almost unbelievable side story to the Kobe Bryant number 33 jersey.
In 2017, someone actually broke into Lower Merion High School and stole Kobe's original high school jersey from a display case. It was gone for years. Fans thought it was lost to the black market forever.
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Then, in a strange twist of fate, a collector in China named Liu Zhe bought what he thought was a replica online for about $2,000. After realizing it was the actual stolen artifact, he reached out to the school and returned it in 2020, just before Kobe’s passing. The jersey is now back where it belongs, a permanent reminder of where the legend started.
What Kobe Bryant Number 33 Represents Today
For the "Aces" at Lower Merion, 33 is the gold standard. The school officially retired the number in 2002. They don't just give it out to the next star player.
When people hunt for "Kobe 33" gear today, they aren't just looking for a vintage shirt. They’re looking for a piece of the origin story. It represents the "Pre-Mamba" era—the raw, unfiltered version of Kobe before the rings, the Oscars, and the global fame.
Facts to Remember about Kobe’s High School Years:
- Total Points: He finished his high school career with 2,883 points, breaking the Southeastern Pennsylvania record previously held by Wilt Chamberlain.
- The State Title: In 1996, while wearing #33, he led the Lower Merion Aces to their first state championship in over 50 years.
- Versatility: Though he’s known as a guard, in high school, he literally played all five positions because he was so much better than everyone else.
If you’re a collector or just a fan trying to understand the full scope of his life, you have to look past the NBA stats. The #33 is the bridge between a kid playing in Italy and the man who would eventually take over the world.
To really appreciate the evolution of his game, try tracking down full game tapes of the 1996 PIAA state playoffs. You’ll see the same footwork and the same "assassin" mentality, just with a different number on the chest. You can also visit the Lower Merion gymnasium, which was renamed the "Kobe Bryant Gymnasium" in 2010, to see the retired #33 banner in person.