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LaMelo Ball changing jersey number

By Evan Birchmore

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: LaMelo Ball #1 of Chino Hills High School looks for the open pass during the game against Mater Dei High School at the Galen Center on February 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 24: LaMelo Ball #1 of Chino Hills High School looks for the open pass during the game against Mater Dei High School at the Galen Center on February 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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After wearing the No. 2 jersey for his first two seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, LaMelo Ball will be making the change to the No.1 jersey for next season, as reported by Shams Charania.

The move had been expected for some time. Ball, who grew up wearing the No. 1 jersey and who uses the “1 of 1” slogan in his marketing, was unable to use the number upon his arrival to Charlotte due to teammate Malik Monk already having it. While Monk left Charlotte to join the Los Angeles Lakers last offseason, Ball had not filed for a jersey number change by the NBA’s March deadline, as Monk was still on the team at that point.

The NBA imposed the March deadline in order to protect jersey retailers, who otherwise faced the possibility of having obsolete jersey inventory on hand. While players can circumvent the rule by purchasing the outstanding inventory of jerseys with the old number, Ball did not go that route.

Another hint came a few weeks ago when Charlotte draftee Mark Williams was introduced with the No. 5 jersey, which was worn by James Bouknight last season. Fans began thinking of the domino effect, with Bouknight rumored to switch to the No. 2 jersey that he wore in college and Ball making the switch to the No. 1 jersey.

Ball joins a star-studded list of point guards who have worn the No. 1 jersey for Charlotte. Franchise icon Muggsy Bogues was the first player to ever wear No. 1 for the Hornets, which he did from 1989-1998. Baron Davis, who was named an All-Star while with the Hornets in 2002, wore the No.1 jersey from 2000-2002. Kemba Walker, who is best known for wearing the No. 15 jersey, wore the No. 1 jersey in his rookie campaign in 2012. Others to have worn the No. 1 jersey include Jason Hart, Ryan Hollins, Derek Anderson, Andre Brown, Cartier Martin, Stephen Jackson, Lance Stephenson, and Courtney Lee.

LaMelo Ball embraces the “1 of 1” mantra with the No. 1 jersey

In his exit interview following the Hornets’ loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the play-in tournament, Ball went on record to say “I ain’t supposed to wear No. 2 ever again in my life”.

Thankfully for him, that will not be an issue any longer. In changing to the No. 1 jersey, Ball is fully embracing the “1 of 1” mentality that Hornets fans have come to love.

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