Photo from MinnesotaTimberwolves.com
Former Arizona Wildcat forward Derrick Williams is no longer No. 23.
The second pick in the NBA Draft was introduced today at a news conference in Minneapolis, where he was handed a jersey with the number 7.
“I wanted to keep a single digit number. I didn’t want to get number 23 anymore,” he said in a one-on-one interview with a member of the team’s official web site.
“I felt like that’s Jordan’s number. I just wanted to something different. I’m in a different league now and I just wanted to start fresh and start all over.”
In addition to a video (and transcript) of the one-on-one interview, this link to the official site also has video of part of Williams’ larger session with the media.
And here’s one more thing: NBA video has an all-access look at Williams on draft day.