Kristaps Porzingis is officially headed to the Bay, and while Warriors fans will have to wait a bit longer to see him in action due to injury, there’s already a new look to get used to. When the 7-foot-3 big man finally suits up for Golden State, he’ll be rocking No. 7-a fresh jersey number for him and a subtle signal of a new chapter in his career.
Porzingis, who arrived in San Francisco as part of a blockbuster trade deadline deal from the Atlanta Hawks, has worn just two numbers over the course of his NBA journey: No. 6 and No. 8.
He sported No. 8 most recently in Boston and Atlanta, and No. 6 earlier in his career. But with both numbers unavailable or simply left behind, he’s making the switch to No. 7 for the first time since entering the league.
That number has some history in Golden State. Buddy Hield, who was also moved at the deadline, was the most recent Warrior to wear No.
- In total, 29 players have donned the number for the franchise.
Some notable names include Antawn Jamison, who gave the number some scoring flair in the early 2000s, Kelenna Azubuike, a fan favorite with a smooth shooting stroke, and Jeremy Lin, whose brief stint in the Bay came before his rise to Linsanity. Jermaine O’Neal and Eric Paschall also had turns with the number, each bringing their own style to the court.
For Porzingis, this jersey number change might seem minor, but it’s part of a larger reset. After bouncing between five teams in his career, he now joins a Warriors squad looking to retool on the fly and make another run with its veteran core. When healthy, Porzingis brings a rare blend of rim protection, floor spacing, and offensive versatility-traits that could make him a fascinating fit alongside Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
We’ll have to wait to see how he meshes with Golden State’s system, but one thing’s for sure: when Porzingis finally steps onto the Chase Center floor in that No. 7 jersey, it’ll mark the beginning of a new era-for him and potentially for the Warriors as well.