Magic rookie Jase Richardson credits Kyrie Irving for jersey number inspiration

Jase Richardson will have a familiar look with the Orlando Magic after electing to keep his jersey number from a season ago as a freshman at Michigan State.

Richardson originally wore No. 4 in high school at Bishop Gorman and Christopher Columbus. He was forced to change it upon joining the Spartans since it is retired to honor Scott Skiles, who was an All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year in 1986.

The 19-year-old ultimately opted to switch to No. 11 last year and will wear it with the Magic, beginning next season. He revealed during his introductory press conference on June 27 that he chose it as a tribute to nine-time All-Star Kyrie Irving.

My original number is four, but Jalen (Suggs) has that, so I can’t go back to that one. Eleven I wore it in college because four is retired there, but Kyrie Irving was one of the players I kind of looked up to as a kid. Then my name is Jason Richardson II, so it kind of means the second, so you have the double one.

Richardson was named to the All-Big Ten third team last season, averaging 12.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists on 41.2% shooting from 3-point range as a freshman. He ranked ninth in the country in box plus-minus (plus-11.6) and 14th in offensive rating (132).

The 25th pick debuted with the Magic in the NBA Summer League, averaging 16.5 points, 2.5 assists, 1.5 rebounds and one block on 55.6% shooting from the field in two appearances. He produced 19 points and four assists in his last game on July 13.

Richardson projects to check a lot of boxes for the Magic and was a player they were even looking at with the 16th pick before trading it away. He faces an uphill battle vying for rotational minutes, but he appeared to pass the test in his first action this summer.

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.

This article originally appeared on Rookie Wire: Magic: Jase Richardson credits Kyrie Irving for jersey inspiration

Magic rookie Jase Richardson credits Kyrie Irving for jersey number inspiration

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