New Miami Heat star Giannis Antetokounmpo is starting a new chapter with the team, and his number reflects that change. Antetokounmpo is known for wearing number 34, as he did with the Milwaukee Bucks, but he now wears number 7 for the Miami Heat.
In an interview on his brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo's podcast Thanalysis, he explained why he changed his number.
“You had to get closure. It was a huge chapter in my life, and now I want to kind of move on. I think I said in the past that the reason why I'm now in 34 is out of respect for not just the organization, but the people that were there with me, supported me, and cared for me. 34 is the number I will only be wearing in Milwaukee.”
He then pointed out the trend of other star players who play for different teams changing their numbers, such as Kevin Durant and LeBron James
“You've seen a lot of players do that. KD wore 35, then he went, I think, to the Warriors and wore 35, then wore 7, then went back to 35. LeBron wore 23, went to 6, back to 23, back to 6. A lot of people wonder, ‘Why do they do that? Is it for jersey sales?' It's not for jersey sales. ”
But Antetokounmpo didn't rule out a return to the number 34 in the future in his tenure with the Heat.
“But I’m human. I might change my mind. Maybe next year I might put 34 on. We’ll see.”
Giannis Antetokounmpo officially kicks off his Miami Heat era on next Wednesday with a matchup against Lamelo Ball, Anthony Edwards, and the new-look Minnesota Timberwolves.