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Quinn Cook, Jahlil Okafor to change numbers in honor of Bryant family

By Kevin Connelly

Duke basketball (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Duke basketball (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Former Duke Basketball superstars, Quinn Cook and Jahlil Okafor, will be changing their respective NBA jersey numbers to honor the legacy of Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

Reality has not set in yet for the tragedy that shocked the world on Sunday but strides are being made to honor the legacies of the late Kobe and Gianna Bryant.

On Tuesday night at Cameron Indoor Stadium, Duke and Pittsburgh wore black warm-up shirts that had the “No. 8” on the front and the “No. 24” on the back.

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There was also a 24.8 second moment of silence in remembrance of the Bryant’s as well as the other seven victims of the helicopter crash.

In addition, former Blue Devils in the NBA are taking matters into their own hands in honoring Kobe and Gianna Bryant by changing their jersey numbers.

Quinn Cook, a current Los Angeles Laker, has worn No. 2 for just about his entire career. Cook wore the number in his four seasons at Duke but then switched to No. 4 with the Warriors.

After signing with the Lakers in the offseason, his late father’s favorite NBA team, his new teammate Jared Dudley allowed Cook to wear No. 2 despite Dudley signing with L.A. and picking his number before Cook.

ALSO READ: Jared Dudley gifts Quinn Cook his legendary No. 2 to wear for Lakers

The former Duke Blue Devil was seen outside of the Staples Center on Sunday night mourning the loss of Kobe and Gianna Bryant with crowds of other fans.

Various players around the NBA that wear No. 8 and No. 24 are changing their numbers to honor Bryant, but Cook is taking the next step.

Quinn Cook is giving up his No. 2 jersey in honor of Gianna Bryant, who wore No. 2 on her team with the Mamba Sports Academy.

Cook will now wear No. 28 with the Lakers to honor Kobe’s “No. 8”, which is retired by the Lakers and “No. 2” to honor Gianna.

Jahlil Okafor will also do the same.

Okafor wore No. 15 at Duke, but once he was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, the former Blue Devil wore No. 8.

After Okafor was traded from the 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets, the big man wore No. 4 but after signing with the New Orleans Pelicans two years ago, Okafor went back to No. 8.

Following the death of Bryant, Jahlil Okafor announced that he will no longer wear No. 8 to honor the legacy of Kobe.

Okafor said he will talk with his family and members of the Pelicans organization before deciding his new number, which he hopes to have picked out before New Orleans’ next game on Friday, January 31.

ALSO READ: The Duke community mourns the tragic loss of Kobe Bryant

The NBA continues to play its games as the league continues to mourn the loss of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, but the Lakers have yet to play a game, as Tuesday’s game against the Clippers was postponed.

Los Angeles is next scheduled to be on the court on Friday night at home against the Portland Trail Blazers.

UPDATE:

Jahlil Okafor will now wear No. 9 for the New Orleans Pelicans and former Duke Blue Devil and current Denver Nugget Mason Plumlee will also honor Kobe Bryant by changing his number from No. 24 to No. 7, Shams Charania of The Athletic reported.

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