NBA players have started to informally retire the numbers “8” and “24” in the wake of Kobe Bryant's tragic death, an initiative taken to honor his memory and legacy in the sport, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Brooklyn Nets point guard Spencer Dinwiddie is among them, switching his No. 8 for No. 26:

Dinwiddie played in Sunday's game against the Knicks in the immediate aftermath of Kobe Bryant's death, donning No. 8 for the last time, as a jersey change in such a short period of time would have proved impossible.

The NBA usually makes players wait until the following season to change their jersey number (or name), but given the circumstances, Dinwiddie was allowed to go through with the change, according to Marc Stein of The New York Times.

Other notables wearing jersey No. 8 are Zach LaVine and Kemba Walker, who switched from the No. 15 he wore with the Charlotte Hornets, which had been retired in Boston.

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It might take a while for the entire NBA to take an initiative to retire either or both of those numbers, but the Dallas Mavericks were the first to sign up for it, as owner Mark Cuban made an edit to do so the day of Kobe Bryant's passing:

“Kobe was an ambassador for our game, a decorated legend and a global icon,” the Mavs said in a statement. “Kobe's legacy transcends basketball, and our organization has decided that the number 24 will never again be worn by a Dallas Maverick.”

While it is a touching tribute by Cuban and the Mavericks, retiring those numbers is a process for the rest of the NBA teams, some of which have retired those numbers for other franchise greats already.

Yet if this initiative continues through NBA locker rooms, teams might have no choice but to do so formally and give him a Jackie Robinson-like treatment, considering Kobe Bryant's massive imprint on the NBA game.