Typically, player number changes aren’t something that makes headlines or make headlines, unless it’s Kobe Bryant or LeBron James. However, things are a little different in Denver this season.
Russell Westbrook, who has worn the number “0” for all but one year of his professional career, will switch to “4,” the same number he wore in high school and in his lone season with the Washington Wizards, which he said at the time represented a new beginning.
Christan Braun currently wears No. 0 for the Nuggets, and a report was released (and received some attention) that Westbrook reached out to Braun about exchanging numbers, which the third-year forward denied. However, Westbrook said Tuesday in an Instagram story that that was not true:
“Please let’s leave our young star alone. CB and I never discussed him going by number 0. I did not want, ask or request the number 0 because I chose to mark this new change with a ‘new’ number. The excitement of the new season has already begun and unfortunately I know that means a lot of fake stories will be dumped. Not today! CB and I are locked in and ready for things to get going in the city of highs.”
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon will also change his number, going from the 50 he has worn since arriving in Denver to 32.
It’s a tribute to Gordon’s older brother, Drew, who died in a car accident in May. Drew wore No. 32 while playing at New Mexico and during his career overseas. Aaron wanted to honor Drew by changing his number.