SJMN (Kawakami blog): Marcus Williams will wear number 5

Marcus Williams will wear an interesting number with the Warriors: No. 5
(sound familiar?)

Posted by Tim Kawakami on July 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 pm

Just got back from a few hours in Warriorsland at Ronny Turiaf's
introductory news conference (sorry, didn't pay much attention) and a long
group Q & A session with Chris Mullin.

That second thing, as you know, does not happen often. (Brief summary: No
update on the Maurice Evans/Kelenna Azubuike possible signing situations,
other than Mullin basically agreed that it'll come down to an either/or
thing. Mullin also suggested long-term deals with Monta Ellis and Andris
Biedrins are likely coming down the pike, probably after the last batch of
free-agent activity.)

So I've got some transcribing to do and some thinking to do ahead of my next
post (probably will get that MULLIN entry up late this afternoon), but for
now, thought I'd toss out one hilarious thing that is impossible to miss:

-New point guard Marcus Williams requested and will wear No. 5 with the
Warriors this season.

Hmm. Chubby point guard from LA, used to wear No. 5 with the Warriors? Yep,
that was Baron Davis' number, always has been his number, and Williams is
wearing it because he's from LA and grew up idolizing Baron.

Williams wore No. 1 with New Jersey the last two seasons, I'm assuming
because Jason Kidd had No. 5 locked up (until Kidd was traded last winter).

Williams wore No. 5 when he was at UConn. I didn't realize it then, but now
it seems clear he was always saluting his hero, Baron Davis, with the jersey
number.

That's quite a coincidence since the Warriors are not exactly going to be
lighting candles in tribute to Baron in the near future Might be the exact
opposite.

Yet. they just acquired one of Baron's biggest fans and believe he can do
some of the same things Baron did for them-and, at 200+ pounds, has almost
the exact same body type.

Every time the Warriors try to get out of the Baron Era. somebody keeps
pulling them back.

So the Warriors have Turiaf wearing No. 21-that's Danny Fortson's old
number.

And Anthony Randolph has No. 4-of course, Webber's old/new number.

Lots of flashbacks coming this season for Warriors fans. That can be bad and
good. But they're coming.