One of Kristaps Porzingis' first orders of business in Boston is choosing a new uniform number -- because he ain't wearing No. 6.
That number -- worn by Celtics legend Bill Russell -- is retired not just in Boston but across the entire NBA as of last season. So, while Porzingis donned No. 6 with each of his previous three teams (the New York Knicks, Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards), he needs a new number after being traded to the Celtics last week. His choice, per Celtics.com's Marc D'Amico: No. 8.
WATCH ANYTIME FOR FREE
 |
Stream NBC10 Boston news for free, 24/7, wherever you are. |
MORE PORZINGIS COVERAGE
No. 8 has an interesting history in Boston as the choice of All-Stars and role players alike. The most recent Celtic to choose No. 8 didn't even get to wear it on the parquet -- Danilo Gallinari missed the entire 2022-23 season due to a torn ACL suffered last August.
Get updates on what's happening in Boston to your inbox. Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter.
Prior to Gallinari, former point guard Kemba Walker is the most notable recent player to rock No. 8 (2019-21), while Jeff Green (2011-15) and Jonas Jerebko (2014-17) took turns with the number as well.
But the most famous Celtic to wear No. 8 in the 21st century is Antoine Walker, who earned three All-Star nods over seven seasons with the Celtics (1996 to 2003) while forming a dynamic duo with Paul Pierce. Walker loved the number so much that when the Celtics brought him back in a midseason trade in 2004-05, he chose No. 88, with No. 8 taken by rookie Al Jefferson.
No. 8 also was a lucky number for Scott Wedman, who won a pair of championships as a role player for the Celtics from 1983 to 1987.
Porzingis arrives with higher expectations than any previous wearer of No. 8 outside Antoine Walker (and perhaps Kemba Walker). The 7-foot-3 big man averaged a career-high 23.2 points per game last season in Washington while adding 8.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.
Porzingis is expected to be introduced in a Celtics press conference Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.
