Ranked! 10 Iconic Jersey Numbers in NBA History As LeBron Switches to 23

• Jersey numbers in sports are important to fans, teams, and players
• The NBA has many special jersey numbers like 23, 32, 33, 34 and 21
• Sports Brief looks at some of the best jersey numbers in NBA history

NBA players' jersey numbers are one of the first things we see when we start watching an NBA game. Numbers could just be random numbers, but some mean more to players.

This past weekend LeBron James revealed he will switch from No. 6 to No. 23 for the Los Angeles Lakers in the coming season to honor the late Boston Celtics legend, Bill Russell.

Most sports fans will immediately recognize No. 23 as the Michael Jordan number due to his global popularity. LeBron James has also worn that jersey number making it even more iconic.

Sports Brief ranked the greatest jersey numbers in NBA history based on MVP awards and championships.

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Top 10 jersey numbers in NBA history

10. No. 22

Hundreds of players have worn No. 22 over the course of NBA history, but a few stand out. Clyde Drexler and Elgin Baylor are two iconic players who wore that number. Baylor is one of the greatest players who never managed to win an NBA title. Drexler won the NBA title with the Houston Rockets in 1995. In the 2022/23 season, Andrew Wiggins, DeAndre Ayton, Desmond Bane, and Jimmy Butler wore No. 22.

Honorable Mentions

Dave DeBusschere, Clyde Drexler, Ed Macauley, Slater Martin, Larry Nance Sr., Ricky Pierce, John Salley, Andrew Toney.

9. No. 1

No. 1 is an important number in arguably any profession. It represents excellence and victory. Although some icons have donned that jersey, no one comes close to “The Big O,” Oscar Robertson. He won his only title in 1971 with the Milwaukee Bucks and set several records that stood for decades. James Harden, Devin Booker are some of the players that wore No. 1 last season.

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Honorable Mentions

Tiny Archibald, Chris Bosh, Baron Davis, Penny Hardaway, Tracy McGrady, Derrick Rose

8. No. 6

This number is usually associated with Bill Russell, one of the greatest NBA players of all time. His 11 NBA rings are unmatched and probably never will be. After Russell died at the age of 88 last year, the NBA retired No. 6 across the league. James, who wore No. 6 throughout his four years with the Miami Heat, then went back to No. 23 from 2014-2021. He wore No. 6 in the past two seasons for the Lakers.

Honorable Mentions

Walter Davis, Julius Erving, Neil Johnston, Kristaps Porzingis

7. No. 3

Some of the greatest guards have worn No. 3. From Chris Paul and Allen Iverson to Dwayne Wade; the jersey remains iconic. The number is synonymous with Iverson, who dazzled NBA fans in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Paul, Jordan Poole, Bradley Beal, Anthony Davis, and CJ McCollum wore the jersey last season.

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Honorable Mentions

Dennis Johnson, Drazen Petrovic, Ben Wallace

,6. No. 24

This is the Kobe Bryant number. He switched from No. 8 to No. 24 after the 2005-06 season and went on to win two titles in 2009 and 2010 without Shaquille O'Neal. Both jerseys were retired by the Lakers in 2017 and he remains a household name in the NBA despite his untimely death in 2020. It is one of the best jerseys of all time due to Bryant's worldwide superstardom. Dillon Brooks and Buddy Hiled wore that number last season.

Honorable Mentions

Mark Aguirre, Rick Barry, Bill Bradley, Tom Chambers, Joel Embiid, Spencer Haywood, Dennis Johnson, Bobby Jones, Sam Jones, Moses Malone, Reggie Theus.

5. No. 21

A few legends have worn this number, like Kevin Garnett to San Antonio Spurs icon Tim Duncan. Deuncan edges everyone who has worn this jersey due to his achievements.

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Honorable Mentions

Dave Bing, Michael Cooper, Joel Embiid, Sleepy Floyd, World B. Free, Kevin Garnett, Truck Robinson, Bill Sharman, Dominique Wilkins.

4. No. 34

You could form an elite five-man unit of players who wore No. 34. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neal (on the Los Angeles Lakers), Hakeem Olajuwon, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Paul Pierce have all worn the number. Olajuwon is probably more synonymous with the number as he wore it throughout his 18-year career, per the Athletic.

3. No. 32

Magic Johnson, one of the greatest players in NBA history, wore No. 32. Several iconic players like Shaquille O'Neal (Orlando Magic version), Karl Malone, Kevin McHale, and Bill Walton, while Julius Erving donned it too. Karl-Anthony Towns wears that jersey for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Honorable Mentions

Billy Cunningham, Blake Griffin, Rip Hamilton, Jason Kidd, Jerry Lucas.

2. No. 23

Every sports fan knows the No. 23 jersey was worn by the great Michael Jordan. It is probably the most iconic number in sports. James will wear it next season, giving it a more prestigious feel. Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat retired No. 23.

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Honorable Mentions

Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Calvin Murphy, Frank Ramsey, Mitch Richmond.

1. No. 33

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of the NBA's icons, wore No. 33. His list of accomplishments can be compared to any other player in the NBA's Mount Rushmore. No. 33 was retired by both the Lakers and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Honorable mentions

Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing, Marc Gasol, Grant Hill, Antawn Jamison, Alonzo Mourning, Scottie Pippen, Charlie Scott, David Thompson.

Record LeBron James can break

Sports Brief earlier reported on the records LeBron James can break after confirming he will return for his 21st NBA season.

He will turn 39 in December, meaning he will certainly become the oldest player to achieve milestones in rebounds, assists, and even scoring, although he is the all-time leading scorer for the league.

Other records he can break are All-Star and All-NBA selections, most minutes, and defensive rebounds.