Brian Burns has been balling so darn hard he swears he thinks that he’s Kobe.
Following Tuesday’s session of mandatory minicamp, the Carolina Panthers pass rusher spoke with WCNC’s Ashley Stroehlein about his new uniform number. Burns, who went from No. 53 to No. 0, believes that 2023 is a new beginning—for himself and for the organization.
“I just felt like it was time,” he told Stroehlein of his decision. “There’s a lot of new goin’ around in the building. And like I said before—I never really chose 53, 53 chose me. I felt like this was an opportunity to have a new start. Like, this is a new position, new coach, new coaching staff, new defense. Just new everything. So, new Burns!”
New Burns—under new head coach Frank Reich, new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and their new 3-4 base—will now line up as an outside linebacker. The 25-year-old spent the previous four years of his NFL career as a defensive end—and a highly effective one at that.
But the two-time Pro Bowler has even larger aspirations for himself, adding that his number change has him feeling like basketball icon Kobe Bryant.
“I feel like I’m really entering my prime now,” Burns said. “I feel like this is . . . I’m puttin’ everything together. This is gonna be a good year. I feel like, you know when Kobe switched from 8 to 24? I feel like that’s what’s kinda goin’ on right now.”
Bryant spent the first ten years of his NBA career as No. 8 and the last ten as No. 24. And if you split that entire career up into those eras, the Black Mamba has himself two (almost identical) Hall of Fame careers.
While Burns’ time as No. 53 isn’t nearly what Bryant’s was as No. 8, we love the sentiment. But if his time as No. 0 is anything like Bryant’s as No. 24, the Panthers may have a future legend on their hands.
