Russell Westbrook cleared the air on why he won’t wear No. 0 for the Denver Nuggets this season.
The nine-time All-Star will sport No. 4, which Westbrook previously wore in his lone season with the Washington Wizards. The number was previously worn by new Denver teammate Hunter Tyson, who will switch to No. 5
After a report surfaced that Nuggets teammate Christian Braun wouldn’t give up his No. 0, Westbrook took to Instagram to refute it.
“Let’s please leave our young star alone,” Westbrook said on his Instagram story, per CBS Sports. “CB and I never discussed him passing along the number 0. I didn’t want (to) inquire about or request the number 0 because I chose to mark this new change with a ‘new’ number.”
Westbrook has worn No. 0 in 15 of his 16 NBA seasons and during one season at UCLA. He wore No. 4 in high school but it was taken by Arron Afflalo when he arrived at UCLA, prompting Westbrook to switch to No. o. When Westbrook was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder, he sported No. 0 because Nick Collison already wore No. 4.
In 2017, Westbrook revealed the special meaning behind No. 4.
“My favorite number has always been four because that’s the number of people in my family — my little brother, my mom and my dad,” Westbrook said, per Sporting News. “My family is always with me for every milestone. Even if they aren’t there physically, I talk to them before and after each game and I know they are watching and with me in spirit. There is not one person in my family that pushed me more than another, they all push me and they all have had an impact on me.”
Westbrook is entering his 17th NBA season and first with the Nuggets after signing a two-year, $6.8 million contract with Denver in July. The deal came after the LA Clippers traded the 35-year-old guard to the Utah Jazz and the two sides reached a contract buyout.
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(Photo: Kevin Jairaj / USA Today)