Milwaukee » As it turns out, LeBron James isn't the only No. 23 in the NBA who'll be opting for a change next season. Wesley Matthews confirmed Friday that he has requested to wear No. 11 in 2010-11.
"I kind of want to start something fresh, start something new again," Matthews said. He wore the No. 11 growing up before switching to No. 23 when he got to high school in Madison, Wis., and found his regular number wasn't available.
Matthews' mother, Pam Moore , wore No. 11 in her basketball career -- "She's OK with it as long as I'm OK with it," he said -- and his father, Wes , wore No. 1 with five of the six teams for which he played in a nine-year NBA career.
Back in November, James suggested that players wearing No. 23 around the league give up the number out of respect for Michael Jordan . James himself has requested to wear No. 6 next season. Matthews supports the move as well.
"I'm all for it," Matthews said. "If that happens, then that's great, because Michael Jordan is the icon of basketball. He was my hero growing up and still is. I have no problem giving up the number."
Matthews won't be the only Jazz player changing numbers next season. Kosta Koufos will switch from No. 41 to Jarron Collins ' old No. 31 while Sundiata Gaines will switch from No. 15 to No. 2, last worn by Brevin Knight .
Having played four seasons at Marquette, Matthews acknowledged being a little out of sorts returning to Bradley Center on Friday as a visiting player. "I'm all backwards right now," Matthews said.
Price out
As spectacular as his dunk was over Austin Daye in the second quarter of Wednesday's victory over Detroit, Ronnie Price ended up missing Friday's game after spraining his right wrist breaking his fall on the play.
It was the 17th game Price has had to miss in a season in which he has battled foot problems (15 games), shoulder tendinitis (one game) and now a sprained wrist.
"My wife asked me the other day, do I need to drink more milk?" Price said. "I told her, 'You know what? Maybe so.' "
"I've been fortunate enough not to have any crazy injury, so that's been a big blessing," Price added, "but to have these knickknacks, it's something that has happened to me in crazy ways this year."
20-20 vision
Jazz general manager Kevin O'Connor wanted to wait until after Friday's game, but said the team is "inclined" to sign Othyus Jeffers to a second 10-day contract. While on the road this week, the Jazz have had little practice time through which to evaluate Jeffers.
"We had to do it when we did it," O'Connor said of signing Jeffers to meet roster minimums two weeks after the Feb. 18 Ronnie Brewer trade, "but it hasn't been entirely fair to him. He hasn't had the chance to practice much with the team."
Corbin gets agent
Jazz assistant coach Tyrone Corbin has signed with Kauffman Sports to represent him, the agency announced. Corbin never has had an agent during his coaching career and the move could better position him for job openings this summer.
