With the No. 2 he wore for the Cleveland Cavaliers unavailable with the Celtics since it's retired in honor of Red Auerbach, Kyrie Irving has chosen to go with No. 11, the number he wore in high school.
Celtics' Nos. 1 and 2 are retired for franchise founder and original owner Walter Brown and for Auerbach. They're two of the 22 numbers the C's have retired, limiting Irving's choices after his trade from the Cavs on Tuesday. Paul Pierce's No. 34 will be the 22nd number honored this season on Feb. 11 when the Cavs visit the Boston Garden.
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Some of the more notable No. 11 in Celtics history include Chuck Cooper, first African-American player in the NBA, who wore it from 1950-54, as well as Charlie Scott (1975-78), Bob McAdoo (1978-79), Glen "Big Baby" Davis (2007-2011) and most recently, Evan Turner 2015-2016.
The green No. 11 is a familiar look for Irving, who wore it at Saint Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J., before he was No. 1 at Duke.