“I wanted to be like Michael Jordan but No. 23 ran out”: Donovan Mitchell reveals why he chose to wear his current jersey number 45 for Utah Jazz and Louisville

Donovan Mitchell reveals how he wanted to be like Michael Jordan and wear jersey number 23. Since the number was taken, the Jazz star stuck with No. 45.

Donovan Mitchell is one of the greatest young talents in the league today. Despite being only 24-years-old, Don has proved that he has what it takes to be a leader on a championship-contending team. There is no doubting his potential or the fact that Spida is going to be one of the league’s future faces.

Definitely, there must be millions of Mitchell fans who must be looking up to him and considering him as their idol. However, for Don himself, Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan was that inspiration.

Michael Jeffery Jordan is one of the most influential players in the league. Today, many current superstars grew up idolising His Airness. There was no one who didn’t want to be Like Mike. Mitchell too, revealed how the GOAT is the reason for his current jersey number.

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Donovan Mitchell explains how he chose his current jersey number – #45

There is no doubt that MJ made the number 23 famous. Everyone, growing up, wanted to wear Mike’s number on their back. Donovan too, a die-hard Michael Jordan fan, wanted the same.

However, he stuck with #45 as #23 was taken. On his recent appearance on the “Knuckleheads” podcast, the 2-time All-Star mentioned:

“Everybody wanted to be like Mike, and 23 ran out. You know the jerseys, I couldn’t get it. So how could I go about with this?… I’m gonna wear 45 and then, from there it just took off, and yeah like 45, I can only understand that Chicago and 45 ain’t a famous number.”

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Very famously, Michael wore No. 45 when he first returned in the league after his first retirement in 1996. After the tragic death of his father, the 6-time champ wanted to have a new chapter in his career. However, after playing merely 22 games with that number, MJ decided to switch it back up because 45 just wasn’t quite like 23.

So far, Don has been successfully living up the legacy. The Utah Jazz combo guard is in the midst of his best season of his relatively young 4-year career. Averaging 32.9 points, 5.1 assists and 3.5 rebounds this postseason, he can definitely lead his team to the NBA Finals.