There are a lot of things we take for granted in the NBA, and jersey numbers are one of them. To the fans, it’s something to help us identify players during a game but for players, it can have a deeper, more sentimental meaning.
Of course, there are also some cool stories that go with them. Zach LaVine, for example, recently shared his experience when he tried to get Nikola Pekovic’s number on the Timberwolves.
Zach Lavine says he was terrified to ask Nikola Pekovic for his jersey number on the Wolves:
“I wasn’t even gonna ask Pekovic for the number. I was terrified of him.” pic.twitter.com/u3UPqTOytl
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) July 18, 2020
For those that have paid attention, you’d know LaVine wore #8 with the Wolves, but he originally wanted 14.
Zach wanted #14 because that was the number he wore in college, looks like he never got it back 😭 pic.twitter.com/3bo8YltSPP
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) July 18, 2020
So it seems he never got the chance to wear his favorite number, and we’ll never know if Pekovic would have given it to him because LaVine never asked. And, to his credit, Pekovic was an absolute monster in his day, standing at 6-11, and 307 pounds.
Don’t forget that Nikola Pekovic was an absolute unit! pic.twitter.com/OKmlzyn3M3
— Top Ball Coverage (@TopBallCoverage) July 18, 2020
So that’s the story of why Zach LaVine never wore 14 with the Wolves and why he probably never will at this point. It’s all thanks to Nikola Pekovic.
