Bradley Beal always wore the number 23, from AAU ball to preps to his single year of college. He had to switch to No. 3 when he was drafted by the Wizards, since that number's unofficially retired for one Michael Jeffrey Jordan. You'd think Beal would be honored.
Now, Deadspin *could* be taking liberties. The Deadspin article is, in turn, based on a Sports Bog post:
When Bradley Beal came to the Wizards, he gave up the number 23 he had worn while playing ball in AAU, high school and Florida. While not retired, no one has worn that jersey number since Michael Jordan departed Washington, and Beal promised, even before he was drafted, that if he ended up with the Wizards he would choose a different identifier.
Considering the legacy Jordan left in Washington and the hard feelings Wizards have towards James, giving up the number was a smart move regardless of which player Beal was wearing the number for.
Now, Steinberg confirms what we all know: that #23 isn't officially retired in DC. But still: are the Wizards actually pulling a Redskins and unofficially retiring #23? For Jordan?
Please. Release that number back into the wild ASAP. In fact: give it to Eric Maynor on GP, just to put a stamp on it.
As far as shooting guards go, Nos. 24 and 45 have greater claims to a spot in the Phone Booth rafters than No. 23 does.
