Andrew Pace
In basketball, players are assigned to one of five positions: point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward, and center. Each position is associated with a unique number, ranging from 1 to 5. While the NBA has had over 4,000 players, it is surprising that not all numbers from 00-99 have been worn equally. Some numbers are more popular than others, with certain numbers being rarely used or even avoided. For instance, the number 23 is iconic due to its association with Michael Jordan, while numbers like 35 and 31 are among the least worn in the NBA. The choice of jersey numbers can be influenced by various factors, including player preferences, superstitions, and rule restrictions, especially in college basketball, where there were previously limitations on wearing digits greater than 5.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Least worn number in the NBA | 35 |
| Second least worn number in the NBA | 31 |
| Least worn single-digit number in the NBA | 6 |
| Least worn number in college basketball | 8 |
| Most worn number in the NBA | 3 |
| Most worn number in college basketball | 7 |
| Most worn number by modern NBA guards | 3 |
| Most worn number by NBA greats | 23 |
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What You'll Learn
- The number 23 is synonymous with Michael Jordan and is one of the most popular numbers in the game
- The number 33 is also one of the most iconic numbers in basketball, having been worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird
- The number 3 is the most popular number amongst modern NBA guards
- The number 35 is the least worn sub-40 common number
- The number 69 has never been worn in the NBA
The number 23 is synonymous with Michael Jordan and is one of the most popular numbers in the game
The number 23 is synonymous with Michael Jordan, who wore the number throughout his career. Jordan is considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time, and his success wearing the number 23 jersey has made it one of the most popular numbers in the game.
Jordan chose the number 23 because it was half of the number 45, which was his brother Larry's number when they played together for their school's varsity team. Jordan himself wore the number 45 during a brief stint with Minor League Baseball, but when he returned to basketball, he went back to wearing the number 23.
Jordan's success with the Chicago Bulls helped to cement the popularity of the number 23 jersey. He won six NBA titles, five regular-season most valuable player awards, and scored 32,292 all-time points as number 23. The number has become so popular that it is now worn by players of all levels, from young kids just starting out to professional athletes.
LeBron James, who also wears the number 23, has added to the popularity of the number. James, who wore the number out of admiration for Jordan, is challenging Jordan's legacy as the greatest player of all time. When Jordan and James are discussed, it is Jordan who is most associated with the number 23.
Despite the popularity of the number 23, some talented and hyped players may avoid wearing it as they want to create their own legacy. Less gifted players might also avoid it as they feel they cannot live up to the expectations associated with the number.
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The number 33 is also one of the most iconic numbers in basketball, having been worn by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird
The number 33 is one of the most iconic in basketball, with several Hall of Famers having worn it. The number is most associated with NBA legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird. Abdul-Jabbar, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers, was named MVP a record six times and won six NBA championships. He was also the NBA's all-time leading scorer when he left the league in 1989, with 38,387 points.
Larry Bird, meanwhile, played for the Boston Celtics and was the centrepiece of a roster that included Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. The Celtics won three NBA titles (1981, 1984, and 1986) and reached the finals twice more, in 1985 and 1987. Bird's rivalry with the Lakers' Magic Johnson in the 1980s elevated the NBA into a global sport.
Other notable basketball players to have worn the number 33 jersey include Scottie Pippen, Shaquille O'Neal, and Patrick Ewing. The number is also associated with greatness in other sports, such as baseball, where Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, Eddie Murray, and Mike Piazza all wore it. In football and hockey, Tony Dorsett and Patrick Roy, respectively, wore the number 33 jersey.
While the number 33 is iconic, it is not the most worn number in the NBA. In fact, some players may even steer clear of it due to the high expectations associated with the legendary players who wore it. The number 23, made famous by Michael Jordan, is one of the most popular in the NBA, along with the number 3.
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The number 3 is the most popular number amongst modern NBA guards
In the NBA, jersey numbers have become synonymous with the greats that wore them. The number 23, for example, is forever linked to Michael Jordan, and the number 33 is known for being worn by dominant centers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird. While the NBA has had over 4,000 players, there are still some numbers that are less favored by players.
Wearing the number 23 comes with high expectations, and talented and hyped players might shy away from it to create their own legacy. The number 3, on the other hand, has been worn by some of the best point guards in the league.
While the number 3 is popular among guards, the number 33 is also a well-known jersey number, worn by rising stars like Kyle Kuzma and, in the past, by Hall of Famers like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Larry Bird. The number 23, made famous by Michael Jordan, has also become one of the most popular numbers in the game, with Lebron James and Jason Richardson donning it.
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The number 35 is the least worn sub-40 common number
In the NBA, the number 35 is the least worn sub-40 common number. In fact, some numbers are avoided by players altogether. This is surprising given that the NBA has had over 4,000 players throughout its history.
The number 35 has been worn by 166 players, with 31 being a close second with 168 players. The number 13 has been used by 173 players and is also considered unlucky or less common in other sports like the MLB and NHL.
By contrast, the number 23 is one of the most popular numbers in the game, thanks to the legendary Michael Jordan, who wore the number throughout his career. Lebron James, another player who wears number 23, has also contributed to its popularity. The number 3 is the most popular number among modern NBA guards.
Some numbers are more popular than others due to superstition, with players believing certain numbers bring good luck. For instance, UNC's Paxson Wojcik chose to wear the number 8 because it's his lucky number and he was born on August 8.
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The number 69 has never been worn in the NBA
The number 69 has a well-known sexual implication, and the NBA is a family-friendly league. This is the main reason why the number 69 has never been worn in the NBA. In fact, the number is banned from being worn by any player in the league.
Dennis Rodman, one of the most eccentric players in NBA history, tried to wear the number 69 when he joined the Dallas Mavericks in 1999. Mark Cuban, the team owner at the time, supported Rodman's request and even had a jersey printed for a photoshoot. However, the NBA denied the request, and Rodman ultimately wore number 70 for the Mavs.
It is uncommon for NBA players to wear jersey numbers in the 60s, and the number 69 is particularly avoided due to its sexual connotation. While the NBA has had over 4,000 players throughout its history, there are still several numbers that remain unused, and 69 is one of them.
The NBA has specific rules regarding jersey numbers. Jerseys must have a player's number legibly printed on the back and front of the uniform, and certain numbers are restricted or retired league-wide. For example, the number 6 was retired across the entire league to honor the late Bill Russell, who wore that number throughout his influential career with the Boston Celtics.
While the number 69 has been avoided in the NBA due to its sensitive nature, it is worth noting that jersey numbers are an essential part of a player's brand and can even become synonymous with their name. Numbers like 23, 33, and 34 are well-known in the NBA due to the legendary players who wore them, such as Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
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Frequently asked questions
No single number is the least used in the NBA, but some numbers are less popular than others. Numbers with a 6, 7, 8, or 9 are less popular, with 6 being the least popular single-digit number. Numbers above 55 are also rarely used.
The most popular numbers in the NBA include 23, worn by Michael Jordan and Lebron James, 3, popular among modern NBA guards, and 33, worn by players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, and Kyle Kuzma.
The popularity of certain numbers may be influenced by superstitions or the desire to avoid numbers associated with high expectations, such as 23. Additionally, there are rules governing jersey number usage, such as the previous restriction on college basketball players wearing digits greater than 5.
