Irving to wear No. 11 for Celtics
The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that newly acquired star guard Kyrie Irving will wear No. 11 for the coming season.
Kyrie has picked his new jersey number: pic.twitter.com/HEVnb5jvQX
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) August 23, 2017
Irving's No. 2 jersey, which he wore through his first six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers, has already been retired by the Celtics in honor of Hall of Fame coach Red Auerbach.
In a tremendous bit of foreshadowing, Irving previously wore No. 11 at St. Patrick High School in New Jersey - on a team called the Fighting Celtics.
Just like old times.
— Boston Celtics 365 (@Celts365) August 23, 2017
Kyrie Irving will wear #11 in green for the Celtics as he did in High School pic.twitter.com/sm4cwSUIkQ
As far as single-digit jersey numbers in Boston go, the pickings are slim. The franchise has also retired Nos. 00, 1, 3, 6, and 10. A handful of other jerseys are also essentially off limits, including the No. 4 which belonged to Isaiah Thomas, Kevin Garnett's No. 5, and Rajon Rondo's No. 9; No. 7 is already worn by Jaylen Brown.
The last player to don No. 11 for the Celtics doesn't seem to harbor any ill will toward Irving.
That number gets passed around like a 40 lol it's a new era out there https://t.co/NdzJ4MWyqw
— Evan Turner (@thekidet) August 23, 2017