Welcome To Boston - Pick A Number
Dear Marquis Daniels and Shelden Williams (as well as any future signings); welcome to the Boston Celtics! Your first order of business is to pick out a new number. In Boston this is no simple task. In fact, it is a pretty big deal. This is your legacy and this town makes a very big deal about that.
Piggybacking on FLCeltsFan's articles on retired numbers, I thought I'd give you guys some guidelines and advice.
First you don't have to follow this guideline but traditionally for 2 digit numbers, you want to keep both digits under 5 because it makes it easier for the ref's to single your number to the scorer's table (and let's face it, the refs are going to be on edge with this team already) That's why numbers like 23 and 34 are more common than say 66 or 99.
So here are the numbers that are off limits.
Retired numbers: 00, 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 35
Current player's numbers: 4, 5, 9, 12, 20, 30, 34, 42, 43, 44, 50
Celtics Free Agents: 0, 7, 8, 11
Some suggestions:
- For the most part it isn't a good idea to take a free agent's number if they are still unsigned elsewhere (ie. don't take 0). But seriously, feel free to take Mikki Moore's #7.
- 13: for the non-superstitious (or perhaps for the anti-jinx crowd). Might be a good fit for Marquis who is used to putting odd markings on his body.
- 45: probably better for the wide bodied Williams since the numbers take up a lot of room on the jersey.
- 51, 52, 53, 54, 55: Yeah, nobody wants these numbers. Mostly reserved for 10 day contract guys.
- At this point, you just have to ditch the conformity route. Go with a 27 or a 36 or something like that.
- Check the comments - the readers here will not only tell me where I made mistakes, but they'll offer their own ideas as well. Happy number hunting!
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Too Funny
Nice write-up Jeff. I always wonder about the numbers whenever we sign someone.
I’d pick something in the 70s or 80s. That’s why Artest would have been perfect here. Or Carlton Fisk. . . .
Btw,
I reckon before too long they’ll start adding names to those jerseys. Like “2:Auerbach” etc, instead of just “2”. I honestly wouldn’t like to see another digit added to the numbers. I’d hate to see someone wearing 000…
Anyhoo, that said: it’s still a great read, the above work, FLCeltsFan’s articles.
- Dirk 'DaarisDirk' van Boxtel
If 00 and 0 are considered different, then ...
how about 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, …, 09 ?
could happen
In fact, hasn’t someone worn a number like that? Rodman maybe?
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
Actually, they’re not considered different. No franchise is allowed to have 00 and 0 on their roster at the same time.
Didnt know
Our own FLCelts fan is a writer at Loys, does he run that site?
"....you can't handle The Truth"
by kheeko on Aug 4, 2009 6:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
she
yes, she is one of the primary writers there and does a great job
she just blesses us with her daily links over here
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
No Celtic has ever worn the following #`s
36-37-38-39
46-47-48-49
By the numbers
At what point do the Celts stop retiring numbers? Cause 34 is going up to the rafters eventually. Maybe number 5 down the road? (probably not though) When is enough, enough?
Also, could Scal be any cooler? http://www.freep.com/article/20090803/SPORTS03/908030359/1051/Ex-Piston-Rasheed-Wallace-draws-rave-reviews-
Who said the "50's" were reserved for 10-dayers?
Jeff, What about old favorite E-Will Eric Williams! Number 55 held it down for us at the SF spot for a while in the 00’s.
Great post btw. Always wondered if it was players like Rodman and Artest needed special permission from the league for their linemen/receiver-esque numbers.
If Tom sanders and Frank Ramsey get their numbers retired...
Why not Larry Siegfried {#20}?
—5 rings
—Best FT % in the NBA from 1965-72






















