For Denzel Valentine, the ability to carry on the family tradition even after finishing his four-year career at Michigan State meant a lot, especially after earning All-American and AP Player of the Year honors while wearing it as a senior. “My dad wore it in college, so I kinda wanted to wear No. 45 just to show appreciation for him in college, and then it just stuck with me after college,” he added. “I had a great career in it, so I was like, ‘I’m not about to change my number’ and it just so happened to be with the Bulls and MJ had No. 45. It just worked out like that, but it was because of my dad.”