It’s official.
Giannis Antetokounmpo will wear a new number with his new team. The Heat confirmed Monday night that Antetokounmpo will switch from the No. 34 he wore in 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks to No. 7 in Miami.
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The Heat announced the number change hours after the trade from the Bucks became official — and not long after the team started selling No. 34 Antetokounmpo jerseys in its online and brick-and-mortar stores.
The switch clearly arrived as a surprise to the Heat. Shortly after the trade became official Monday, No. 34 Antetokounmpo Heat jerseys became available for purchase.
Around the same time Monday, Antetokounmpo appeared on a live stream and hinted at a jersey change to No. 7.
That video, obviously, didn’t stand in as an official announcement. It did set off speculation that those who’d already purchased No. 34 Antetokounmpo jerseys in person were potentially in possession of a rarity.
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Hours later, the Heat confirmed that, indeed, Antetokounmpo would be wearing No. 7 in Miami. They appear to have learned about Antetokounmpo’s desire to switch from his live-stream appearance.
However they found out, the jersey switch has been granted. Per Basketball Reference, Antetokounmpo will be the 14th player in Heat history to wear No. 7, following the footsteps of several notable players including Rex Chapman, Penny Hardaway, Shawn Marion, Jermaine O’Neal, Kyle Lowry and Kel’el Ware, who was traded to Milwaukee in the deal to acquire Antetokounmpo.
The Heat also announced that people who’d ordered No. 34 jerseys online would instead receive jerseys emblazoned with No. 7.
As for those already in possession of No. 34 jerseys that they bought in person, they reportedly have an option.
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Per beat reporter Ira Winderman, the Heat announced that fans can exchange them for No. 7s, leaving them with a choice: turn it in for the real number or hold on to a potential collector’s item.
