After wearing the same jersey number in high school and college, Cameron Boozer will begin his career with the Memphis Grizzlies sporting a new look on the court.
Boozer donned No. 12 at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami and at Duke last season. Though Ja Morant has since been traded to Portland, the two-time All-Star initially occupied No. 12, which forced Boozer to select a number for his rookie campaign.
Figuring it likely would have been difficult to pry No. 12 away from Morant, Boozer initially tossed around a few possibilities on draft night, including Nos. 2 or 21. He instead pivoted from those two choices to go with another number.
“The No. 27, my mom wore it in college playing volleyball," Boozer said during an introductory press
conference in Memphis on June 25. "So that’s why I chose that number.”
Boozer was the consensus National Player of the Year, averaging 22.5 points, 10.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists while shooting 39.1% from 3-point range. He is the only freshman in history to tally at least 700 points, 300 rebounds and 100 assists in a single season.
The No. 3 overall pick debuted with the Grizzlies in the NBA Summer League, averaging 18.5 points, eight rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals in six appearances. He was named to the All-Summer League first team, ranking second in points (111) among all players in Las Vegas.
Boozer is the early front-runner to win Rookie of the Year after a dazzling showing in the desert last month. He enters next season with tremendous hype and should be in store for a productive first season in the league with the Grizzlies.
Note: Throughout August, Rookie Wire is looking at every first-round pick and why each player selected their respective jersey number as they make the jump to the NBA.
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This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Grizzlies' Cameron Boozer shares inspiration behind new jersey number
