Russell Westbrook has a new team this season in the Washington Wizards and the nine-time NBA All-Star is ditching the No. 0 he is accustomed to for No. 4. Initially it was assumed the change in number had to do with former Wizards star Gilbert Arenas making the number relevant in his eight seasons in Washington. In years past, players have been told the number was not available with the Wizards.
However, that theory was dispelled when Arenas gave his blessing for Westbrook to wear his old number.
Turns out, Westbrook’s choice of number had nothing to do with “Agent Zero.”
Westbrook wore the No. 4 while playing in high school at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale, California. That’s always been his preferred number, according to Royce Young of ESPN. However, during his college career at UCLA the number was not available, as Arron Afflalo had the number.
When he was drafted to the Oklahoma City Thunder as the fourth overall pick in 2008, Nick Collison wore the number and it ultimately was retired by the Thunder. When Westbrook was traded to the Houston Rockets last season, Danuel House already had the number.
Thus, for the first time since he walked onto the campus of UCLA in 2006, Westbrook joins a team with his preferred No. 4 available. And that’s why he is switching numbers in Washington. Who knew?
More must-reads: