There are no jersey number restrictions in the NBA. Players can pick to have any number from 1-99 on their jersey. Former Kentucky center Amari Williams will be rocking a unique jersey number for the Boston Celtics. You don’t see a center wearing No. 77 everyday.
The more prototypical number for an offensive tackle is what Amari Williams will wear in Boston. A recent college basketball rule changed allowed players to pick any number from 1-99. Williams went with a traditional number (22) in his only season in Lexington. Meanwhile, Andrew Carr (7) and Kerr Kriisa (77) got creative with their new jersey numbers. Now Williams will be rocking the same number as his former teammate as he transitions to the NBA.
Boston Celtics believe Amari Williams is elite at a couple of things
Kentucky found a way to unlock Drexel transfer Amari Williams in his only season at Kentucky. The Cats asked the England native to play plenty of point center and initiate the offense while also doing the dirty work in the paint. It turned into Williams becoming one of the most productive centers in college basketball.
That production stood out to the Celtics.
“Amari, he’s been one of the best passing big men in college for a long time,” Boston Celtics vice president of basketball operations Mike Zarren said of the former Wildcat. “He’s an elite rebounder. He’s a great guy. He had a wonderful career at Drexel and then stepped it up another level at Kentucky.
“When you meet him, you’ll see he’s got just an enormous, enormous wingspan. And as you’ll see on the court, if you haven’t seen already, he’s got incredible vision. And those things are just key abilities in the modern NBA.” Amari Williams has the traits to stick in the NBA.
