Best Basketball Players by Jersey Number

The NBA is the epitome of basketball excellence. It is the platinum league of the sport where the creme de la creme of basketball royalty perform gravity-defying acrobatics on the court. Over the years, many exceptional superstars have come and gone. Some have left an indelible imprint on the game, others less so. This post showcases my pick of the 7 best basketball players by jersey number. It's a tough call, selecting just 7 players from a packed field of powerful performers, but let's give it a shot!

#32 – Earving Johnson Jr. a.k.a. Magic Johnson

The LA Lakers were exceptionally fortunate to have Magic Johnson on their side. He played for the team in 1979/1980 through 1990/1991. He also returned to play an additional season in 1995/1996. Magic Johnson, the point guard/forward was the #1 overall pick in the First Round of the 1979 NBA draft, and he played with the team for 13 seasons, including 13 playoffs, with 5 championships to his credit, 12 All-Star commendations, and 2 MVP awards.

#32, #34, #33, #36 – Shaquille Rashaun O’Neal a.k.a. The Diesel

At an imposing 7'1" tall, The Big Aristotle is regarded as one of the best ever. He was drafted by the Orlando Magic as the #1 overall pick in Round One of the 1992 NBA draft. Shaq competed at the highest level for 19 NBA seasons, including 17 playoffs. He helped the team secure 4 NBA championship titles, and was voted an All-Star 15 times, and played 12 times, He’s also got 3 MVP awards.

#33 – Kareem Abdul Jabbar a.k.a. Lew

Kareem Abdul Jabbar played for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Lakers. At 7'2" tall, he stood among the giants of the NBA. He was the #1 overall pick in Round 1 of the 1969 NBA draft, and competed for 20 seasons at the highest level, including 18 playoffs. He helped his team secure 6 championships, and was voted an All-Star 19 times, having played 18 times.

#23 –Michael Jordan a.k.a. MJ

Michael Jordan was the #3 overall pick in Round 1 of the 1984 NBA draft. He played for one of the finest NBA teams of all time – making it great while he competed – the Chicago Bulls. He competed for 15 seasons, including 13 playoffs, and helped the team win 6 championships. He was voted an All-Star 14 times, playing 13 times. Jordan also has 3 MVP awards to his credit. he played with the Bulls between 1984/1985 through 1992/1993, and again from 1994/1995 to 1997/1998, and with the Washington Wizards in 2001/2002 through 2002/2003.

#8 and #24 – Kobe Bryant a.k.a. The Black Mamba

The erstwhile Kobe Bryant – taken too soon – ranked among the most legendary NBA players of all time. His numbers #8 and #24 with the LA Lakers held special significance to him. He was the #13 overall pick in the first round of the 1996 NBA draft for the Charlotte Hornets (for 1 week). He played in 20 NBA seasons, including 15 playoffs. He helped his teams secure 5 championships, and was voted an All-Star 18 times, having played 15 times. Bryant also racked up 4 MVP awards over the years. He played with the Lakers from 1996/1997 through 2015/2016.

#33 – Larry Bird a.k.a. Larry Legend

Larry Bird is a name that virtually every NBA fan around the world instantly recognizes. This guy could fly, and his performances were extraordinary. He was the #6 overall pick in Round 1 of the 1978 NBA draft for the Boston Celtics. He played with the Celtics for 13 NBA seasons, including 12 playoffs. He racked up 3 championships, and was voted an All-Star 12 times, having played 10 times. He also received 1 MVP award. Larry Bird played with the Boston Celtics between 1979/1980 and 1991/1992. He averaged 24.3 points over his career during the regular season, and 23.8 points during the playoffs.

#3 –Allen Iverson a.k.a. Third Degree

Allen Iverson, born Allen Ezail Iverson was one of the finest NBA players of his time. A short man by NBA standards, he stood 6 feet tall, and played guard for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Denver Nuggets, the Detroit Pistons, the Memphis Grizzlies, and again with the Philadelphia 76ers later in his career. He was a #1 overall pick in Round #1 of the 1996 NBA draft. Iverson competed in 14 NBA seasons, including 8 playoffs. He never led his teams to any NBA titles, but was an All-Star 11 times, having played 9 times. He was also nominated as an MVP twice.

There it is! A list of 7 world-class NBA superstars and their numbers. Naturally, I can't list all the top NBA players like Wilt Chamberlain, LeBron James, John Stockton, and Stephen Curry, among a formidable list of contenders. It's worth pointing out that the #3 features prominently among the best NBA players. Perhaps it's just coincidence that I selected these guys, perhaps there is magic in 3s? Come on over to 888sport New Jersey and enjoy live betting on the top NBA games!

* Photo by Damian Dovarganes and AP