Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Reasons Behind Why Basketball Players Change Jersey Numbers

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Reasons Behind Why Basketball Players Change Jersey Numbers

    I read this article on Hoopsworld and thought everyone would be interested in it also. In wake of Lebron James saying he would change his jersey number after this season out of respect for Michael Jordan, here are some other players who have changed their numbers and their reasons behind it.


    PHILOSOPHICAL REASONS

    Ron Artest, Indiana Pacers – from #15 to #23 to #91 – For the first few years of his pro career, Artest wore #15 because it was just the number he'd always worn. He changed to #23 as an homage to Michael Jordan, then later changed again to #91 as an homage to Dennis Rodman.

    Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets – from #1 to #3 – Changed this season to promote his "3 Points Darfur" initiative, intended to help raise money for schools in Africa.

    Rasheed Wallace, Detroit Pistons – from #30 to #36 and back – 'Sheed has pretty much always worn #30, but for a three-year stretch with the Pistons he wore 36, I believe to commemorate the death of a close family member. When the years wearing that number weren't particularly memorable, he switched back.

    Amar'e Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns – from #32 to #1 – Originally taking #32 as an homage to his idol, Shaquille O'Neal, Stoudemire changed to #1 in 2007 after returning from a knee surgery and hoping to return to form. His goal was, you guessed it, to be the #1 player in the league.

    Andray Blatche, Washington Wizards – from #32 to #7 – Blatche wanted to come into this season with a whole new attitude about the way he played the game, so his #7 signifies, in his words, "7 days a week of hard week, 7 days of being focused."


    GAVE IT UP FOR A VETERAN

    Earl "J.R." Smith, Denver Nuggets – from #1 to #5 – Part of this new number change has to do with letting Chauncey Billups wear #1, but it probably also has something to do with the reinvention of his public image, losing the headband and going by his given name of Earl instead of J.R.

    Al Jefferson, Boston Celtics – from #8 to #7 – When the Celtics re-acquired Antoine Walker in a midseason trade, Jefferson eventually gave him his old #8 back. Agent 88 didn't have quite the same ring to it.

    Brendan Haywood, Washington Wizards – from #00 to #33 – For the first few years of his career Haywood wore #00, just like he did at the University of North Carolina, but when Gilbert Arenas was signed in 2003 he gave it up so Arenas could remain Agent Zero.

    Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers - from #4 to #9 - Philly's "other" A.I. switched out the number he wore his rookie year so that the newly-acquired Chris Webber could keep his trademark #4.


    GOING BACK TO THE ROOTS

    Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers – from #8 to #24 – No, he didn't change his number to one-up Michael Jordan. It's the first number he wore in high school and wanted to get back to that part of his past. It also signifies a fresh start for the second half of his career, which has certainly been successful in its own right.

    Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets – from #6 to #4 – After wearing #6 for most of his career as a professional, Martin reverted back to #4, his college number at Cincinnati, just a couple of seasons ago.

    Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets – from #7 to #1 – The original trade to Denver left Billups without his usual two number choices—1 and 4—so we went with #7. As the new season started, J.R. Smith surrendered #1 and Billups went back to the number that made him one of the cherished Pistons of all time.

    Michael Jordan, Chicago Bulls – from #45 to #23 – When Jordan came back from his baseball exodus he wanted a fresh start, but all wearing #45 got him was frustration and failure. His real return seemed to begin when #23 came back out of the Chicago wardrobe.

    Antoine Walker, Boston Celtics – from #88 to #8 – In the trade that returned him to Boston, Walker couldn't wear #8 because young stud Al Jefferson was wearing it. After a few games, though, Jefferson gave the number up and Walker looked much more his old self.

    Chris Webber, Washington Bullets – from #2 to #4 – Scott Skiles wore Webber's trademark #4 when he first was traded to the Bullets, but once Skiles retired, Webber took his old number back.

    Jordan Farmar, L.A. Lakers – from #5 to #1 – Farmar used to wear #1 back at Taft High School and then later at UCLA.

    Nate Robinson, New York Knicks – from #4 to #2 – Not only was this Robinson's first jersey number as a kid, but it was the number of his favorite athlete, Deion Sanders, when he played for Florida State.

    Martell Webster, Portland Trail Blazers – from #8 to #23 – Webster wore #23 in high school, but Darius Miles had it when he first joined the team.


    LEFT TEAM, CAME BACK

    Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons – from #3 to #6 – It's weird seeing Big Ben in anything but a #3 Pistons jersey, but Stuckey has sold a few of his own with that number now and he didn't want to give it up. With Wallace's other favorite number (4, which he wore in Orlando and Cleveland) retired for Pistons GM Joe Dumars, he just doubled his three and went on with his life.

    Brad Miller, Chicago Bulls – from #40 to #52 – Miller actually has worn #52 for every team he's played for, but for some reason in his first go-round in the Windy City he chose #40 instead, even though #52 was available. When he was traded back to Chicago last winter, he stuck with #52 even though his old Bulls number, #40, was up for grabs.

    Jannero Pargo, Chicago Bulls – from #15 to #2 – Pargo wore #15 in his first stint with the Bulls, but when he returned that jersey was filled by John Salmons. Instead he chose #2, which he's also worn over the course of his professional career.

  • #2
    Thanks for the article... that was interesting.
    Collecting autographs, game-used cards, & certain inserts/parallels of the following players/teams: Tony Gwynn/Padres, Kurt Suzuki/A's, Greg Maddux, Brett Favre/Packers, Steve Largent/Seahawks, Kobe Bryant/Lakers, & Devin Setoguchi/Sharks.

    My Website

    My Blog

    My Bucket

    sigpic

    Comment


    • #3
      Cool read!

      Haywood actually started out his Wizards career with #3, but switched when Juan Dixon came in the very next year. He then chose 00, but switched again (to 33) accomadate Agent 0. When antawn Jamison came in the very next year, who wore 33 his entire career up till that point, Haywood had enough and basically told Jamison to get a new #.
      "The good kid from the mad city, holding a cereal box instead of a glock"

      Bucket (Not Updated)|Set Needs

      Comment


      • #4
        that's pretty cool

        If you want to add this to Ron Artest, he's 37 as a Laker to commemerate how many weeks Michael Jacksons "Thriller" spent at #1 on the charts
        sigpic

        Comment


        • #5
          nice read. real intresting.
          Looking for Stephen Curry, Jonas Jerebko, Chad Jenkins, Lions Rookies, Tigers, Pistons
          sigpic

          Comment

          Working...
          X