Behind the Numbers: Royal Ivey
"In high school I wore
number 12," says Ivey, who
led Cardozo HS in Queens to
their first-ever New York
PSAL title during his senior
year before doing a post graduate year
at Blair Academy in New
Jersey.
"When I went to the
University of Texas for
college, I decided to add 12
to that to represent making
the move to the next level."
As a four-year starter at
UT, Ivey and his No. 24 jersey
were a part of more
victories than anyone else
in school history. But when
it was time to jump to the
NBA, he had a decision to
make.
"I thought about choosing
the place I got drafted as
my number for the pros, but
I didn't like No. 37 (which is
where he was chosen by the
Hawks in the second round of
the 2004 NBA Draft). So I
decided to stick with what I
had done at Texas, and now I
wear No. 36."
Wearing his No. 36 jersey, Ivey
has started all but seven of
the Hawks games so far this
season and maintains an
impressive 3-1
assist-to-turnover ratio.