"I'm going to take care of him for that," Bazemore said of Simons.

Kent Bazemore is "going to take care of" Anfernee Simons for changing his jersey number originally appeared on nbcsportsnorthwest.com

On Monday, the Trail Blazers traded for Atlanta Hawks veteran wing Kent Bazemore.

The following day, it was announced that Trail Blazers second-year guard Anfernee Simons changed his jersey number to No. 1, thus making Bazemore's number he has had his entire career, No. 24, available.

On Wednesday morning at Bazemore's introductory news conference, he publicly announced how much he appreciates Simons changing his number.

Blazers say Anfernee Simons will wear No. 1 this season. Kent Bazemore will wear No. 24. — Dwight Jaynes (@dwightjaynes) June 25, 2019

Bazemore did not talk to Simons previously before the number change occurred, and he doesn't know how Simons went about changing his number, but he is not going to let that gesture go unnoticed.

"I'm going to take care of him for that," Bazemore said of Simons.

Bazemore went on to say with a smirk, "Twenty-four is a number that I've had since before Kobe [Bryant], by the way."

There's no doubt that No. 24 has great significance to the newest Trail Blazer.

"I've had that number since I was 12 or 13 years old, so it's been with me for a very long time. It means a lot to me. You know, a 24-second shot clock, 24-hours in a day, and my mom and me are 24 years apart, so there's a lot that goes into," Bazemore said.

Bazemore will turn 30-years old on Monday. He is grateful for the 20-year-old giving up his number. Bazemore agreed that Simons ‘s gesture was a sign of "respect."

"Big props to that. I'm going to be looking out for him all season," Bazemore added.

But really, it's a win-win for both Bazemore and Simons because Simons will now wear No. 1, which is very fitting since his namesake Anfernee ‘Penny' Hardaway wore No. 1 during his NBA heydays.