Orlando Magic guard Courtney Lee was about to be the first player to wear No. 32 for the team since Shaquille O’Neal last wore it in 1996.
The team actually assigned him the number. He wore it in high school, in college at Western Kentucky, and, hey, it was available.
Lee, however, decided he’d rather wear No. 11.
Lee will honor Daniel Rumph, who wore the number when he was Lee’s teammate at Western Kentucky. Rumph died of a heart condition while playing pick-up ball in 2005. Lee has credited Rumph with keeping him in school after a homesick freshman season.
“I wouldn’t be here without Daniel. I wouldn’t have this opportunity,” Lee said.
“I always want to represent him in a good way.”
It often takes the stars and moon lining up just right for rookies or players new to a team to get the number they wore in college or with their last team; taking something else when your number is available is almost like spitting on the good fortune you’ve been given.
In Lee’s case, I don’t think anyone will blame him.
