Amanda Knapp
The number 23 jersey is one of the most iconic and recognizable in NBA history, with Michael Jordan and LeBron James being the most notable players to wear the number. Jordan wore the number throughout his career with the Chicago Bulls, and James wore the number with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Lakers. Other NBA players who have worn the number include Mitch Richmond, Anthony Davis, and Jimmy Butler.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of basketball legends who wore 23 | 5 |
| Names of basketball legends who wore 23 | Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Mitch Richmond, Alex English, Jimmy Butler |
| Number of players who wore 23 in the 2022-23 season | 11 |
| Number of players who have worn 23 in NBA history | 206-237 |
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What You'll Learn
Michael Jordan
Jordan's athletic leaping ability, showcased in his back-to-back Slam Dunk Contest championships in 1987 and 1988, is credited with influencing a generation of young players. Several NBA players, including James and Dwyane Wade, have cited Jordan as their role model growing up. Commentators have also dubbed many next-generation players "the next Michael Jordan", including Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, and Allen Iverson.
Jordan's impact extended beyond the basketball court. In 1996, he starred as himself in the live-action/animation hybrid film Space Jam. He also made appearances in the Emmy-winning documentary series The Last Dance (2020). Jordan has been recognised for his philanthropy, having raised millions of dollars for charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In 2014, he became the first billionaire player in NBA history, and President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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LeBron James
James entered the league in 2003 and wore number 23 with the Cavaliers until 2010, when he left for the Miami Heat and switched to number 6. He returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and won the 2016 NBA title before joining the LA Lakers in 2018, where he achieved another championship with number 23 on his jersey. James has four championship wins, four MVP awards, four Finals MVP awards, and 17 All-Star appearances to his name, as well as 16 All-NBA selections.
James has switched between numbers 6 and 23 a few times throughout his career. Number 6 holds significance for James as he wore it when competing internationally with Team USA for Olympic gold, and his two children were born in October and June, corresponding to the number. Additionally, two players he admires, Bill Russell and Julius Erving, also wore number 6. James wore number 6 for the entirety of the 2021 and 2022 seasons but switched back to number 23 for the 2023 season, stating that he wanted to honour Russell, who passed away in 2022.
Despite his achievements, LeBron James is not considered the most iconic player to wear the number 23 jersey. That title is widely attributed to Michael Jordan, who wore the number throughout his entire NBA career and made it famous. However, James himself has acknowledged Jordan's impact on the sport, stating that Jordan's impact on basketball should be recognized in some way.
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Mitch Richmond
While Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the most famous basketball players to wear the number 23 jersey, Mitch Richmond also wore the number 23 jersey during his career.
Mitchell James Richmond III, born on June 30, 1965, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is an American former professional basketball player. Richmond played collegiately at Moberly Area Community College and Kansas State University. He was a six-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member, and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in the 1988–89 season. Richmond was drafted 5th overall in the 1988 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, where he played until 1991. During his time with the Warriors, Richmond was a key part of Don Nelson's fast-paced offense, dubbed "Run TMC" alongside teammates Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin.
In 1991, Richmond was traded to the Sacramento Kings, where he played until 1998. During his time with the Kings, Richmond was the team's leading scorer in each of his seven seasons, averaging no fewer than 21.9 points per game. He also won MVP honors at the 1995 All-Star Game in Phoenix. Richmond was then traded to the Washington Wizards in 1998, where he played for three years. His time with the Wizards was less successful, and he lost some of the shooting touch he had displayed with the Kings.
Richmond's departure from Washington coincided with the signing of his perennial rival, Michael Jordan, to the Wizards. Richmond then signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he played the final year of his career. He earned an NBA championship ring with the Lakers in 2002, playing sparingly in the postseason. Richmond was voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014 and inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
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Alex English
Alexander English, born on January 5, 1954, is an American former professional basketball player, coach, and businessman. English, a native of South Carolina, played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks. He was selected in the second round of the 1976 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 23rd pick. English played the small forward position and is best known for his time with the Denver Nuggets in the 1980s.
During his tenure with the Nuggets from 1979 to 1989, the team enjoyed significant success, making the NBA playoffs nine consecutive times, winning two Midwest Division titles, and reaching the 1985 Western Conference Finals. English excelled as a scorer, averaging a career-high 23.8 points during the 1980-81 season and further elevating his game in the 1981-82 season with an average of 25.4 points. He led the NBA in scoring in the 1982-83 season, solidifying his status as one of the league's top offensive threats.
English's impact extended beyond his prolific scoring. He played a pivotal role in the Nuggets' success, helping them advance to the postseason and earning individual accolades along the way. He was named to the All-Star Team and the All-NBA Second Team in consecutive seasons. Over his 15-season career in the NBA, English played for four different teams, averaging an impressive 21.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. His scoring prowess was not limited to the regular season, as he demonstrated during the 1978 NBA Playoffs with the Bucks, averaging 13.4 points per game.
While English wore the number 23 jersey during his career, it was for a relatively short period. Nevertheless, his overall impact on the game and his contributions to the Denver Nuggets' success in the 1980s have earned him recognition as a Hall of Fame player. English's post-playing career includes working for the NBA, serving as an assistant coach for multiple NBA teams, pursuing business ventures, and becoming an NBA ambassador.
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$16.95
Jimmy Butler
Number 23 is one of the most iconic and recognizable numbers in NBA history, largely due to Michael Jordan's illustrious career. LeBron James, widely regarded as the greatest NBA player ever, has also contributed to the number's prestige, winning two NBA championships while wearing the number 23 jersey.
After playing one year of college basketball for Tyler Junior College, Butler transferred to Marquette University on an athletic scholarship. As a sophomore, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and his performance continued to improve during his junior and senior years. In the 2011 NBA draft, Butler was selected as the 30th overall pick by the Chicago Bulls. He played for the Bulls for six seasons before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017.
During his time with the Timberwolves, Butler donned the number 23 jersey, adding to the list of notable players who have worn this iconic number. In November 2018, Butler was traded again, this time joining the Philadelphia 76ers, where he continued to wear the number 23. In July 2019, he signed with the Miami Heat, reaching the NBA Finals in his first season with the team. Butler's impressive career has included numerous accolades, including being a six-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team member, and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Team member. He also won a gold medal as part of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
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Frequently asked questions
There have been several basketball legends who wore the number 23.
Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Mitch Richmond are some of the most well-known basketball legends who wore the number 23. Jordan wore 23 throughout his career with the Chicago Bulls, except for a brief period after coming out of retirement in 1995 when he wore 45, and on February 14, 1990, when he wore a generic Chicago Bulls jersey with the number 12. LeBron James wore 23 during his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the LA Lakers. Mitch Richmond wore 23 during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors and in his final season with the LA Lakers.
Jordan chose the number 23 because of his brother. In an interview, Jordan explained that his brother wore the number 45, so when they were on the same team, Jordan chose half of that number, which was 22.5, rounded up to 23.
No, LeBron James did not always wear the number 23. He wore 23 with the Cleveland Cavaliers until 2010, and then changed to number 6 when he moved to the Miami Heat. He won two titles in four years with the Miami Heat and then returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014, switching back to the number 23.
Yes, Marshawn Lynch of the NFL and Bob Nystrom of the New York Islanders hockey team also wore the number 23 and are considered notable athletes in their respective sports.
