Players around the league have begun changing their numbers to honor Kobe Bryant. Frank Kaminsky wears number 8 for the Phoenix Suns. He should follow suit.
Frank Kaminsky has worn 44 his entire college and NBA career. However, in honor of Paul Westphal, the Phoenix Suns retired number 44, precluding Kaminsky from wearing it when he signed with the Suns this offseason.
When it was time to decide what number he would adorn, he chose number 8. You know, because 4 plus 4 equals 8.
Several players have used this digit adding technique when their desired number is retired or otherwise taken. For example, John Wall chose number 2 in Washington after wearing 11 his entire life because the franchise retired 11 to honor Elvin Hayes.
Shams Charania is now reporting multiple players who wear either 8 or 24 are swapping their jersey numbers in honor of the recently deceased legend, Kobe Bryant. Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie is changing from 8 to 26, and Orlando Magic guard Terrence Ross is changing from 8 to 31.
The number 24 is already retired by the Phoenix Suns to honor Tom Chambers, but Frank Kaminsky currently possesses number 8.
Actually, Kaminsky is currently not wearing any jersey at all. He is still in street clothes while he continues to heal from his patella stress fracture, likely for a few more weeks. So, perhaps he has time to decide how he wants to handle this.
Kaminsky has only won number 8 for 32 games in his entire life, so you have to believe he isn’t committed to it. Considering he has no real allegiance, he should follow the lead of the better players around the league and change his number.
If he wants to stay in the 44-adjacent category, I would suggest 4, but Jevon Carter already has that one.
Maybe he can pull a Dale Earnhardt Jr. and swap from 8 to 88. That’s double 44, so it falls in line with that.
Regardless, I don’t think anyone who bought a number 8 Kaminsky jersey is going to blink an eye if he renders that jersey irrelevant after half a season. Some things are worth more than an jersey.
There has been some talk about the NBA retiring both 8 and 24 around the league. While I’m not sure I would go that far, I do like the idea of each team determining how they want to handle it, and more acutely, each player making the individual choice to informally pass on 8 and 24.
It will be interesting to see what Frank will do, and if he does choose to change numbers, which number he will pick.