Alec Burks will change jersey number to honor Kobe Bryant

On Tuesday night, the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers paid tribute to the late Kobe Bryant, who was killed on Sunday in a helicopter crash. During that game, Alec Burks wore the same jersey number he’s worn during his entire Warriors tenure: 8.

It’s likely the last time Burks wears that number. On Wednesday morning, Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes reported that Burks will change his jersey number to honor Bryant, who famously wore No. 8, as well as No. 24. Burks will instead wear No. 20 rather than Bryant’s old number.

This was the first year that Burks had worn No. 8, after having worn No. 10 and No. 13 earlier in his career.

Normally the NBA does not allow players to change their jersey number during the season. But after it was reported that Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie would also be changing his No. 8 jersey, it was revealed that the NBA would allow jersey changes for Bryant. Some have been single-game changes - such as Joel Embiid wearing No. 24 last night - while others, like Burks’ move, are for the rest of the year.

Former Warriors guard Quinn Cook is also changing his number. Cook previously wore No. 2, which is the same number worn by Bryant’s daughter, Gianna. Known by many as “Gigi,” Gianna was clearly taking after her father on the court. She was among the nine people killed in the accident.