Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Anthony Bennett switches jersey number to honor friend Dejean-Jones

Anthony Bennett

Kathy Willens / Associated Press

New Brooklyn Nets basketball players, including UNLV’s Anthony Bennett (far right), pose with their jerseys following a press conference to introduce them, Wednesday, July 20, 2016, at the team’s training center in the Brooklyn. From left are Joe Harris, Trevor Booker, Jeremy Lin, Caris LeVert, Justin Hamilton, and Bennett.

Anthony Bennett may have spent just one season with the UNLV basketball team. But he has remained loyal to the program and his former teammates.

From the emotional farewell when he declared for the NBA Draft following the 2013 season to multiple Twitter posts supporting UNLV over the years, Bennett appears to have lived up to his parting words.

“I won’t be wearing a UNLV jersey anymore, but I’ll always be a Runnin’ Rebel for life,” he said in 2013 while holding back tears when announcing he was turning professional.

The No. 13 jersey he’ll wear next season with the Brooklyn Nets is his tribute to former UNLV teammate Bryce Dejean-Jones, who was fatally shot in late May. Bennett has wore No. 15, his old UNLV number, and No. 24 in his initial three seasons in the league. BDJ, who wore No. 13, and Bennett helped UNLV reach the NCAA Tournament in 2013.

“No. 13, I will be rocking this for my man Bryce. I am happy to get this,” Bennett told blogger Rickard Bergquist while holding up the jersey.

Bennett’s three-year professional career clearly hasn’t gone as planned — the 6-foot-8 power forward has been waived twice and Brooklyn is his fourth franchise. He signed a two-year, $2.1 million contract with the Nets this month, but just the first season is guaranteed. Many feel this is his last chance to stick in the league.

Bennett is labeled as one of the biggest busts in draft history. He went No. 1 overall to Cleveland, but has averaged 4.2 points and 3.1 rebounds in 128 games. Last season with Toronto, he played just 4.4 minutes per games, averaging 1.5 points and 1.2 rebounds before being waived after 19 appearances.

He’s battled weight problems, but appears — at least according to pictures — to be fit and in improved shape.

“He showed up with his body looking terrific, and how he conducted himself during [minicamp], not only on but off the court as well,” Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks told the New York Post. “He’s well aware that this is a terrific opportunity and he needs to make the most of it. He’s hungry. We’ll see. The ball’s really in his court now.”

Dejean-Jones left UNLV for Iowa State, but remained close with former teammates and coaches. A UNLV contingent of more than a dozen, including Bennett and former coach Dave Rice, were in Los Angeles this summer for his memorial. Dejean-Jones worked his way into the NBA last season with the New Orleans Pelicans, averaging 5.6 points in 14 games. He showed enough on a pair of 10-day contracts to earn a guaranteed deal.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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