Steve Blake will switch numbers for Kersey

By CM Towle | Feb 20, 2015

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Steve Blake will switch jersey numbers so the Blazers can retire Jerome Kersey’s number.

Trail Blazers legend Jerome Kersey died on Wednesday from what has now been revealed to be a blood clot that traveled into his lung, according to a report by Oregon Live. Kersey’s passing had a little more meaning to current Blazers point guard Steve Blake, who wears the former Blazer’s famous number 25. Blake said he always felt it was an honor to wear the number that Kersey made so famous in Portland, but on Thursday he went to Portland assistant general manager Bill Branch and asked if he could switch.

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The reason was that Blake felt the number should be retired in Portland and he was willing to change his current jersey number so that could happen. Blake headed to practice, wearing number 25, but during that time, Branch made some phone calls and alerted the equipment team of the possible change. By the end of practice, the decision was made. The NBA had approved the change and Blake will now wear number five beginning with Portland’s game against Utah on Friday.

“I just wanted to do that for him,” Blake said. “Hopefully the fans will understand it.” (via Oregon Live)

As for retiring the jersey number, that is up to Portland management. The Blazers already have nine retired numbers. Team president Chris McGowan said on Thursday that the organization is considering several different ways to honor Kersey, including retiring his number 25 that Blake just gave up.

McGowan asked for patience on the process, saying that Kersey’s passing was still too fresh for everyone in the organization, and obviously the fans as well. But, he did confirm that Kersey will definitely be honored, possibly even as soon as the Sunday home game against Memphis.

Blake said he was at a Bible study when he heard the news of Kersey’s death. As Kersey spent a lot of time in Portland and with the Blazers after his retirement, Blake said he’d gotten to know him pretty well. He revealed that he came to his decision to give up his jersey number the next day.

Blake is in his third term with the Blazers, having previously spent the periods of 2005-06 and 2007-10 and with the team. He rejoined Portland this season and is in his 12th season in the league.

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