LOS ANGELES - When the day comes that Kobe Bryant's jersey is retired by the Lakers, it will go on the Staples Center wall as No. 24, not No. 8.

That's Bryant's preference, and so it shall be.

Bryant played his first 10 seasons as No. 8 (winning three NBA titles and scoring 81 points in a game), then the past seven as No. 24 (winning two NBA titles and his only MVP). There remains the possibility Bryant will "change his mind," as he says, and not retire after next season - though extending his tenure as No. 24 would only strengthen his identity with that number. That's the number he wore as a high school freshman, when Lower Merion went 4-20, and that's the underdog mentality he prefers to maintain.

Before Bryant takes his obvious place on the Lakers' wall of fame, however, someone else should be so honored - and it has to happen next season.

Jerry Buss.

Now that Buss is gone, also gone is the excuse that the greatest owner in sports didn't really want any individual honor. The potential appearance that it was just Buss honoring himself because he owns the team also is wiped away with his children now in charge.

Shaquille O'Neal's jersey went up Tuesday night in a sensational ceremony that was a reminder of what a truly special organization the Lakers are. (The glitch of O'Neal's jersey going up with his name and number emblazoned on the front of a jersey, as seen by the V-neck collar, as opposed to the back already has been corrected.)

Although it was Phil Jackson making the speech to introduce O'Neal, Jerry West on hand also - and O'Neal made sure to remind everyone how West told him when he came to the Lakers to look up there at the jerseys of the past Lakers greats and think deeply about what it would mean to join them.

In a natural parallel, current Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak did the very same to Dwight Howard before this season. It's all part of Buss' cycle of success.

The Lakers have been absurdly dominant under Buss, who bought the Lakers in 1979 and died Feb. 18, and the reality is Buss made the calls all along to say yea or nay.

It was Buss who called O'Neal on the day he retired two years ago to promise that No. 34 would go up on the wall - and soon. The Lakers' usual protocol is to await players' induction in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, as happened for Jamaal Wilkes before No. 52 went up earlier this season.

Further justification for Buss joining the wall with his own banner is that Buss has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, too. So has broadcaster Chick Hearn, the only non-player to have a purple and gold jersey hanging up there at Staples.

Hearn's jersey features a microphone on it.

A logical icon for Buss' jersey? The Larry O'Brien NBA championship trophy, which the Lakers won 10 times in Buss' reign.

The Lakers could do something different, naming the Lakers' Staples Center court after Buss or putting a statue outside. But where he belongs is up there on the wall with the Lakers' greatest greats.

Lakers spokesman John Black said Friday various ways to honor Buss within the organization have been discussed, but no decisions have been made.

While on the topic, it's a no-brainer that Jackson, a Hall-of-Famer already, should get a jersey banner for leading the Lakers to five titles - even though Jackson, like Buss, has said he's not looking to be so honored. (After Jackson left the Chicago Bulls in 1998, they put a banner up for him immediately in '99 with "COACH" on it instead of a number.)

But forcing Mike D'Antoni to suffer through more "We want Phil!" chants would be downright cruel at this point, wouldn't it? Let's just start with Buss next season.

• Read more articles by KEVIN DING

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