Quantity choice holds deep significance for athletes throughout all sports activities.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers initially wore No. 23 to honor his idol, Michael Jordan, however later switched to No. 6 to suggest his private development. He returned to No. 23 after No. 6 was retired league-wide in 2022 after the passing of Invoice Russell.
And Lionel Messi, extensively considered one of many biggest soccer gamers ever, is carefully related to No. 10, impressed by legends like Pelé and Diego Maradona, who additionally wore the quantity.
Whether or not pushed by private expression, cultural significance, superstition or legacy, most athletes have significant causes for selecting their jersey numbers. Earlier than Recreation 2 of the Japanese Convention Semifinals between the Knicks and Boston Celtics, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities shared theirs.
Brunson, who wears No. 11, has lengthy admired Steve Nash, a two-time NBA MVP and former Brooklyn Nets head coach who wore No. 13 for many of his enjoying profession. He obtained to put on No. 13 when he first entered the league with the Dallas Mavericks, following in Nash’s footsteps.
“I met him when I was younger,” Brunson mentioned of Nash following Wednesday’s shootaround in Boston. “I had the ability to reach out and knew that he’d respond. I don’t want to say he’s a mentor, but he’s someone that if I really wanted to, I know that he’d respond. I have that respect for him and from what I’ve seen he has that respect for me also.”
Brunson additionally adopted components of Nash’s recreation, incorporating them into his personal.
“I mean, kind of started — I don’t want to say started, but when he would dribble under the basket and everyone would have to fan out and all of the sudden, he’s alone with the big in the midrange and the big doesn’t know what to do,” Brunson mentioned. “I feel like I learned that from him. I learned a lot. I think he revolutionized that.”
Nevertheless, when Brunson signed with the Knicks as a free agent in 2022, No. 13 was already taken by ahead Evan Fournier, who had six extra years of NBA expertise. Brunson didn’t object, selecting to keep away from battle along with his veteran teammate. His subsequent selection was No. 1, but it surely was taken by one other veteran, Obi Toppin, so he settled for No. 11 and saved it even after Fournier was traded to the Detroit Pistons.
Over time, No. 11 turned an integral a part of Brunson’s id.
“Not going to lie, we don’t really talk about this that much, but seeing little kids wear No. 11 around the Garden, it’s a special feeling and I didn’t want to change my number,” Brunson mentioned.
Cities, who wears No. 32, has lengthy been impressed by Magic Johnson, a five-time NBA champion, three-time MVP, and one of many biggest level guards in basketball historical past. Their shared positional versatility, regardless of their dimension, simply explains his admiration, but it surely doesn’t inform the complete story.
The 7-foot middle additionally selected No. 32 to honor his father, Karl Cities Sr., who wore it whereas starring at Monmouth College, permitting him to pay tribute to 2 influential figures in his life.
“He made his teammates better and he had a lot of flair with it,” Cities mentioned of Johnson. “For me to be able to see someone like that who made his teammates better who also scored and was able to impact the game in all statistical categories, it was really cool for me to see someone like that. He was always smiling, and I was always a smiling kid and cracking jokes, so it resonated with me.”
