Why Does Donovan Mitchell Wear 45? The Michael Jordan Link

Donovan Mitchell wears jersey number 45 as a direct tribute to Michael Jordan’s baseball career and his 1995 return to the Chicago Bulls.

While most athletes covet the legendary number 23, Mitchell’s choice is rooted in personal history and a unique high school circumstance where his first choice was unavailable. The number serves as a bridge between Mitchell’s baseball upbringing and his basketball stardom.

For the Cleveland Cavaliers guard, 45 symbolizes an underdog mentality and a nod to his father’s professional baseball ties, making it one of the most meaningful jersey selections in modern NBA history.

Why Did Donovan Mitchell Choose Number 45?

The motivation behind Mitchell’s selection is a sophisticated blend of idolization, necessity, and family heritage.

Growing up, Mitchell viewed Michael Jordan as the ultimate benchmark for athletic excellence, but his path to the number 45 was not just about replication; it was about finding a unique way to honor a hero while forging his own distinct identity.

This number has followed him from his formative years in boarding school through his collegiate rise and into his current status as a cornerstone of an NBA franchise.

The Michael Jordan Baseball Influence

Mitchell’s primary inspiration for the number 45 stems from Jordan’s departure from basketball to pursue a career on the diamond. Jordan famously wore 45 during his minor league baseball stint with the Birmingham Barons, an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

When Jordan returned to the NBA in 1995, he initially kept the number 45 for his first 22 games because his iconic 23 had been retired.

Mitchell, who shared a deep love for both sports, found this specific chapter of Jordan’s career highly resonant, leading him to adopt the number as a “dual-sport” tribute that connected his two athletic passions.

The “23 Was Taken” Reality

While the tribute to Jordan was intentional, the specific choice of 45 was also born out of a practical high school conflict.

During his time at Brewster Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New Hampshire, Mitchell originally sought to wear the number 23 to emulate Jordan’s primary basketball identity.

However, the number was already claimed by a teammate. Rather than settling for a random alternative, Mitchell pivotally opted for 45, viewing it as a creative way to still honor his idol while embracing a number that carried its own unique historical weight.

The Significance of “45” Over the Iconic “23”

In basketball culture, 23 is often considered the gold standard, but Mitchell argues that 45 carries a different type of psychological weight.

By selecting a number that Jordan wore during a period of transition and perceived vulnerability, Mitchell aligns himself with the themes of comeback and reinvention.

This choice reflects a deep understanding of sports history and a desire to stand out among his peers who often choose more traditional numbers to signal their greatness.

Embracing the Forgotten Number

Mitchell has been vocal about the motivational power of wearing a number that is often overshadowed. He has stated that while “everybody wants to be 23,” people frequently forget the significance and the grind associated with number 45.

For Mitchell, wearing 45 is a constant mental reminder of being overlooked or unranked during his early basketball days.

This “forgotten” status fueled his work ethic, helping him transform from a relatively unheralded prospect into an elite NBA scoring threat who thrives on proving doubters wrong.

The “45 is Not 23” Historical Context

The choice of 45 also carries a subtle layer of grit derived from NBA lore. During the 1995 playoffs, after Jordan returned wearing 45, Orlando Magic defender Nick Anderson famously stripped the ball from him and later remarked that “45 is not 23”.

While this was intended as a slight against Jordan’s perceived loss of dominance, Mitchell has reclaimed the number as a symbol of resilience.

By wearing 45, he acknowledges the pressure and the high standards of the NBA, using the number to drive his own pursuit of excellence regardless of external comparisons.

How Mitchell’s Baseball Background Shaped His Choice

Mitchell’s connection to the baseball diamond is more than just a passing interest; it is ingrained in his family DNA. Long before he was a scoring machine in the NBA, Mitchell was an aspiring professional baseball player with legitimate prospects.

This early athletic foundation heavily influenced his perspective on competition and his eventual choice to honor the sport of baseball through his basketball jersey number, creating a unique narrative of what could have been.

Legacy of the New York Mets Organization

The tie to professional baseball is a family affair for the Mitchells. His father, Donovan Mitchell Sr., is a longtime executive for the New York Mets organization.

Growing up in this environment, Mitchell was immersed in the culture of professional sports from a young age, spending significant time around Major League facilities.

This upbringing solidified baseball as his first love, and wearing 45 serves as a permanent nod to the sport that shaped his early childhood and his understanding of professional athletics.

The Injury That Redefined His Career

The transition from a baseball-first athlete to a basketball star was forced by a dramatic physical setback. During his sophomore year of high school, Mitchell suffered a severe wrist injury while playing shortstop. The injury occurred during a collision with an outfielder while he was chasing a fly ball.

This moment was a major turning point; the physical requirements of being a productive batter are highly dependent on wrist strength, and the recovery process made it difficult for him to maintain his previous trajectory in baseball.

The Mental Pivot to Basketball

Interestingly, the injury provided Mitchell with unexpected clarity regarding his future. While he was sidelined and unable to participate in either sport, he realized that he missed the game of basketball significantly more than he missed baseball.

This psychological realization led him to shift his full athletic focus toward the court. Consequently, the number 45 became a way for him to carry his baseball roots onto the NBA floor, ensuring that his original passion remains a visible part of his professional identity.

Tracking Donovan Mitchell’s Jersey History

Mitchell has displayed a rare level of consistency regarding his jersey number, wearing 45 at every significant milestone of his competitive career.

This loyalty to the number reinforces his brand identity and serves as a constant reminder of his journey from a boarding school recruit to an NBA franchise pillar.

Why the Number 45 Stuck Throughout His NBA Career

When Mitchell entered the NBA as the 13th overall pick for the Utah Jazz, the number 45 quickly became synonymous with his explosive rookie season.

His decision to maintain the number through his transition to the Cleveland Cavaliers demonstrates a commitment to the personal narrative he established as a teenager.

It represents a continuous thread of excellence that bridges his past aspirations with his current status as an elite perennial All-Star.

Establishing the Brand in Utah

As a rookie in Utah, Mitchell wore 45 while taking the league by storm, notably winning the 2018 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.

During this time, he popularized the number among a new generation of fans who associated 45 not just with Jordan’s brief return, but with Mitchell’s own high-flying style and clutch scoring.

The number became a central part of his “Spida” persona, representing a player who could dominate the game despite being drafted outside of the top ten.

Maintaining Identity in Cleveland

Following a blockbuster trade to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2022, Mitchell chose to retain his signature number.

In Cleveland, the number 45 has continued to be a symbol of elite performance, as Mitchell has led the team to multiple playoff appearances and set numerous franchise scoring records.

By keeping the number, he reinforces the idea that his success is built on the same underdog mindset and dual-sport appreciation that he possessed when he first put on the jersey at Brewster Academy.

Frequently Asked Questions About Donovan Mitchell’s Number

Did Donovan Mitchell wear 45 in college?

Yes, Mitchell wore number 45 during his two seasons at the University of Louisville from 2015 to 2017. He explicitly requested the number to carry his dual tribute into the collegiate spotlight, where he eventually developed into a first-round NBA talent.

Was Mitchell’s number inspired by a family member?

While the number is a direct tribute to Michael Jordan, it is indirectly connected to his father’s career.

Because his father is a Major League Baseball executive, the choice of a number that honors Jordan’s baseball career is a subtle way for Mitchell to acknowledge his father’s professional influence and his family’s deep roots in the sport of baseball.

Who else famously wore 45 in the NBA?

While Michael Jordan is the most famous player to wear 45, he only did so for a total of 22 regular-season games upon his return in 1995.

By wearing the number for his entire career, Donovan Mitchell has arguably become the player most closely associated with 45 in the modern era, turning a “secondary” Jordan number into a primary mark of his own legacy.

Conclusion: The Personal Legacy of 45

Donovan Mitchell’s decision to wear number 45 is a masterclass in athletic storytelling. It is a number that honors the past—specifically the baseball-to-basketball transition of Michael Jordan—while remaining firmly rooted in Mitchell’s own family history and personal setbacks.

From the collision on a high school baseball field to the bright lights of the NBA playoffs, the number 45 has been a constant companion in Mitchell’s journey.

It serves as a reminder that greatness often comes from being “overlooked” and that the most personal tributes are often the ones that drive an athlete to reach their highest potential.

As Mitchell continues his career in Cleveland, the number 45 stands as a testament to a dual-sport heart beating within an elite basketball body.