- The number 23 leads the list of best jersey numbers in NBA history.
- See why 6, 32, and 34 also made the cut.
- LeBron James made the list with two different jersey numbers.
NBA superstars and legends are best remembered for their basketball talents and career accomplishments. Because of this, their jersey numbers are also part of their identity.
These players helped their teams’ NBA odds of winning a title and made their jersey numbers immensely. But what are the most iconic numbers worn by players throughout the league?
Here are the four best NBA jersey numbers in history that have become the most recognizable and should be hung in the rafters.
Best NBA Jersey Numbers in League History
Number 23
The best jersey number in NBA history is the number 23. There is no debate about this because two of the best NBA players of all time, Michael Jordan and LeBron James, wore them.
Jordan pioneered the number, and James used it to commemorate him because he was his idol growing up.
On this date in 1990, Valentine’s Day, Michael Jordan’s No. 23 jersey was STOLEN & MJ had to wear No. 12.
MJ dropped 49 PTS vs. Orlando! 🐐
“A 6’6” guard from North Carolina. Number 12, Michael Jordan.” This sounds so wrong 😂 pic.twitter.com/37sfkzH9s8
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) February 14, 2023
Jordan’s Chicago Bulls jersey is probably the most popular in history because it’s leveraged in basketball-related activities and other industries such as fashion and pop culture.
Both James and Jordan have won NBA titles and multiple MVP awards wearing the number.
Number 34
The number 34 is likely the favourite number of big men in the NBA because the most notable players who donned them were power forwards and centers. Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are the four most popular superstars to wear 34.
Although they have different reasons for donning the number, there’s no denying they reached the superstar level. All of them have become regular-season MVPs, and Barkley was the only player among them who never captured an NBA championship.
Number 32
Number 32 is another iconic jersey number in the NBA, as Magic Johnson, Karl Malone, and Bill Walton sported it during their time in the league.
These players have also won regular season MVPs, with Johnson securing three, Malone with two, and Walton snagging the award once.
Johnson became the first true big point guard, Malone spearheaded the unstoppable pick-and-roll play, and Walton was known for being a big man with guard-like agility and skills. Among the three, Malone was the lone player who never won a title.
Number 6
The number 6 was donned by Bill Russell, Julius Erving, and LeBron James, which made the number memorable. Russell became the winningest NBA player in history with 11 championships, Dr. J displayed his aerial prowess, and James became the league’s villain in Miami with the number on his jersey.
LeBron James changing his jersey number, a timeline of 2️⃣3️⃣ to 6️⃣ and back pic.twitter.com/VdcNSvTP2C
— No Dunks (@NoDunksInc) July 17, 2023
Erving and James helped their teams capture a title while sporting the number 6. All three became the regular season MVPs, as Rusell won five, James won two, and Erving captured one. They have a combined 14 titles, making it one of the most iconic jersey numbers in NBA history.