Who will stake their claim as the greatest to wear their new number?
With the excitement of Media Day, Knicks fans finally received answers to a burning offseason question: What numbers will the newest members of the team wear during the upcoming season? Following one of the most eventful off-seasons in franchise history, which is still not officially done, the Knicks roster is packed with fresh faces ready to finally show off their new digits, and perhaps cement their legacy as the next player to wear that number best.
While Knicks fans will still have to wait to see if Karl-Anthony Towns will fill Herb Williams’s old number #32, or elect for an entirely fresh start, Media Day 2024 and the Knicks’ Instagram stories, provided fans with a first look at which number some of the team’s other recent additions will be sporting on their jerseys this year.
Mikal Bridges #25: While this is rather old news, today gave Knicks fans their first chance at seeing Bridges in his new #25 jersey. After wearing #1 during his stint with the Brooklyn Nets, Bridges opted to return to the familiar #25—a number he wore during his high school, college, and Phoenix Suns days. Bridges is already a fan favorite among Knicks faithful as he joins his ‘Nova brothers this season. But, what will it take from Bridges if he were to one day surpass Bill Cartwright as the Knick to have worn the #25 best?
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Cameron Payne #1: As Cameron Payne embarks on his 10th NBA season, New York becomes the seventh stop in his decade-long journey through the league. Throughout much of his career, Payne has worn #22, with the Thunder, Bulls, and Sixers. As a member of the Suns and Bucks, Payne wore #15. And, during his lone season in Cleveland, he wore the #3.
If Cameron wanted to wear any of the numbers that he wore prior to joining the Knicks, he was fresh out of luck. #22 and #15 are retired for Dave DeBusschere and Earl Monroe, while Josh Hart currently wears #3. As a result, Payne will wear Amare’s old #1 for the first time in his career.
Tyler Kolek #21: Like Payne, Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek is unable to wear his first choice. While Kolek’s college #11 isn’t retired by the Knicks (just yet), it is occupied by the Knicks’ newest captain Jalen Brunson. The reasoning behind Kolek’s decision to wear #21 remains unclear, but he’ll have a challenge ahead if he aims to surpass the legacies of Gerald Wilkins and Charlie Ward, the two Knicks legends who were neck and neck in our WWIB #21 segment.
Ariel Hukporti #55: Call it a coincidence, or call it what you want, but on the same day that former Knicks great and NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo passed away, the Knicks’ second-round pick of 2024 revealed that he will also wear #55 this season. Hukporti wore #55 during the Knicks’ Summer League, so it comes as no surprise that he will continue with the number this season. However, on the same day, the basketball world mourned the loss of Dikembe Mutombo—one of the league’s greatest defenders and global ambassadors—seeing that #55 again today just hit different.
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