Kobe Bryant

After 10 seasonswearing the No.8 on his back,Kobe Bryant will become No.24 next season. Thereason for the surprising decision by the Los Angeles Lakers super guard

last week has becomea hot topic for debate.

Bryant wore No.24when he was in early high school,but he changed to No.33 in his senior year. Heswitched to No.8 when he was selected by the Lakers in 1996,and has not

been changed since.

Bryant has refusedto explain the decision until the end of the play-offs（季后赛）.So guessing Bryant's motive hasbecome a popular game among NBA fans and

newspaper columnists（专栏作家）.

There are all kindsof speculations.Many say that Bryant wants to leave the past behind and have afresh start. He has often been criticized for playing to benefit himself and

not the team as awhole.Others say that he may be trying to compare himself to MichaelJordan.Jordan was famous for his No. 23 jersey（运动衫）.Some, such as NBC

Sport columnistMichael Venter, argue that it is "all about money".Bryant will makemore money by selling new jerseysto his fans.

Some speculationsare more about fun.For example,there is an opinion that Kobe is actually just adiehard（非常执著的）fan of thepopular TV drama "24".

All this talk hasturned the number change into a major issue.It seems that there is a lot offuss （大惊小怪）over somethingthat should be pretty simple.

Jersey numbershave their own special significance in American sports,especially basketball.Players choose their number when they join a team and they usually stick with

that number for therest of their career. When a great player retires,his team will honor him byretiring his number.

To some extent,thejersey is the player,and the player is the jersey.Thus,when you see the famousNo.23 for the Chicago Bulls,you immediately think about Michael Jordan.a

No.32 Miami Heatsjersey recalls the image of Shaquille O'Neal,and the Houston Rockets' No.11belongs only to Yao Ming.

Lots of stories arebehind players' jersey number selections.Jordan said that he chose No.23because it was roughly half of 45.Jordan's elder brother wore the No.45 in

college.Yao Mingonce revealed that the No.11 stands for two people in love-meaning him and hisgirlfriend Ye Li.Which of thefollowing is NOT a speculation about Bryant's motive to change hisnumber,according to this passage?

A.He wants to leavehis past behind and have a fresh start.

B.He wants tocompare himself to Jordan.

C.He wants to earnmore money.

D.He wants to showthat he is a man of great importance.