Oregon Football Player Honors Uncle Kobe Bryant

Eugene, Ore. — When Oregon Ducks freshman Jett Washington takes the field this season, the number on his jersey will carry more than team pride—it will carry family legacy. Washington, nephew of late NBA icon Kobe Bryant, announced via his Instagram story that he will wear No. 24, the same number his uncle immortalized during his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The decision links the Oregon football program to one of sports’ most enduring figures, as Washington begins his collegiate career honoring the relative whose global impact stretched far beyond basketball. By choosing 24, Washington ensures that every carry, catch, or tackle he makes will serve as a quiet tribute to the five-time NBA champion whose work ethic and competitive spirit became a generational standard.

Oregon fans can expect to see the freshman donning the recognizable digits when the Ducks open their 2024 campaign, turning each game day into a subtle memorial observed from the Autzen Stadium stands to television screens nationwide.