Rod Strickland, 59, ‘honored’ to have DePaul jersey retired. ‘It means more now as an older gentleman.’

Key Highlights

• John’s, the Blue Demons made Strickland one of just five men’s basketball players with their jersey numbers retired.
• The two-time All-America guard, who led DePaul to three NCAA Tournament appearances from 1986-88, joined Mark Aguirre, Terry Cummings, Dave Corzine and George Mikan as men’s players with jerseys in the rafters of Wintrust Arena. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStrickland, who went on to play 17 seasons in the NBA and is in his fourth season as the Long Island head coach, received the honor at the age of 59.
• But he thinks it means more now than it would have earlier in his career.“When you’re playing, especially for me, I always was in the moment,” Strickland said on a Zoom call Tuesday afternoon.
• “Always thought I wanted to be the best.
• I wanted to win — but in that moment.