The Significance of 17?

[Solid D]

Trivia Question
Many of you know the significance of Brent Barry's choice of wearing uniform number 17 for the Spurs. The inspiration for that number should be at the SBC Center tonight:

Chris Mullin, whom Brent Barry admired in his formative years.

Does anyone know why Chris Mullin's choice of uniform number was 17?

[Spurminator]

Because he grew up watching John Havlicek.

http://sportsposterwarehouse.com/warehouse/havlicekpf-1.jpghttp://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Slope/2477/a_cmulli.jpghttp://www.spursinfo.com/photos/spurs/041103/041103_3.jpg

[timvp]

Nice question. I know the answer, but i'll let someone else guess. :)

It's interesting that players such as Brent Barry and Mario Elie hold Chris Mullin in such high regard. Mullin is one of the most highly respected people in the basketball world. It would be interesting to read an article on exactly what he did to earn the respect. I've heard stories about how he stayed late at practices with the young players and taught them all he knew about basketball. But I wonder what he did specifically that has made him such a practice session legend.

[timvp]

That was quick, Spurminator :hat

[Solid D]

Excellent work Spurminator.

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/barry_140_041026.jpg http://www.sfgate.com/sports/pages/graphics/1997/08/mullin-186x320-dribble.gif http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/img/johnhavlicek1.JPG

[Spurminator]

I thought it might have been Rick Barry, which would have made for an intyeresting Circle of Admiration... but Rick wore 24.

So I looked for other white marksmen of the seventies, and Havlicek popped right up.





Also, it says so on Mullin's NBA.com bio... ;)

[Solid D]

Barry is more like Mullin than Havlicek.

The player in the NBA that most reminds me of Hondo Havlicek is Manu Ginobili. I haven't seen a player that has reminded me of his style of play moreso, since Hondo retired. From energy sixth man to starter, it didn't matter, Jarrin' John, as Johnny Most used to call him, made things happen...just as Ginobili does now.

[SpursWoman]

I thought you were talking about this #17:


http://www.geocities.com/nolefan_fsu/basketball/ward_charlie4.jpg



:fro

[jalbre6]

Jon Barry used to wear #17 too, in admiration of Mullin. Don't know about Scooter and Drew, though.

[duncan2k5]

he wears 17 because...Thats how old he was when he finally..."got some" :elephant

[GoSpurs21]

and I thought it was because of Vinni Del Negro

[RobinsontoDuncan]

hmmmm..... i never knew players asigned so much thought to their numbers, is is supersition?

[wildbill2u]

Barry is more like Mullin than Havlicek.

The player in the NBA that most reminds me of Hondo Havlicek is Manu Ginobili. I haven't seen a player that has reminded me of his style of play moreso, since Hondo retired. From energy sixth man to starter, it didn't matter, Jarrin' John, as Johnny Most used to call him, made things happen...just as Ginobili does now.

Good comparison. Havlicek came in to the league with energy, brains and raw talent. He made himself a legend by the time he left by improving his game year by year while remaining a consumate team player. I only hope Manu can do as well.