Donovan Mitchell Explains Why He Chose No. 45: “23 Ran Out…”

2 Min Read

Fox 13

Michael Jeffrey Jordan may have retired 20 years ago, but he continues to inspire greatness today.

For Jazz young star Donovan Mitchell, who is in the middle of a breakout season, Jordan was the inspiration behind his basketball journey, and also the reason for his current jersey number.

Here’s what he said on the “Knuckleheads” podcast:

“Everybody wanted to be like Mike, and 23 ran out. You know the jerseys, I couldn’t get it. So how could I go about with this?… I’m gonna wear 45 and then, from there it just took off, and yeah like 45, I can only understand that Chicago and 45 ain’t a famous number,” said Mitchell.

No. 45 doesn’t explode like No. 23 used to. No. 45 is not No. 23. I couldn’t have done that to No. 23.”

Jordan famously wore No. 45 after his first return to the NBA in 1995. After the death of his father, he wanted to wear a new number to signify a new chapter for his life and career. and 45 was the number he wore through High School.

He only wore that number in the NBA for 22 games, however, before eventually returning to 23 the game after Nick Anderson’s now-infamous comment: “45 isn’t 23.”

It’s a moment in history that has largely been forgotten. But in an era with so many 23s, Mitchell decided to don it himself as an ode to the Bulls legend.

So far, Mitch has been living up to its legacy. Through this postseason run, he has been nothing short of exceptional. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R9hM7sWOqU

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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