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Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number 00-99

By Larry Hammonds

Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(L) and Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan(R) talk during a free-throw attempt during the fourth quarter 17 December at the United Center in Chicago. Bryant, who is 19 and bypassed college basketball to play in the NBA, scored a team-high 33 points off the bench, and Jordan scored a team-high 36 points. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 104-83. AFP PHOTO VINCENT LAFORET (Photo by VINCENT LAFORET / AFP) (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant(L) and Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan(R) talk during a free-throw attempt during the fourth quarter 17 December at the United Center in Chicago. Bryant, who is 19 and bypassed college basketball to play in the NBA, scored a team-high 33 points off the bench, and Jordan scored a team-high 36 points. The Bulls defeated the Lakers 104-83. AFP PHOTO VINCENT LAFORET (Photo by VINCENT LAFORET / AFP) (Photo credit should read VINCENT LAFORET/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Aron Baynes
Aron Baynes (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 46, Aron Baynes

In 2017 Aron Baynes became the sixth player in league history to wear the number 46 when he joined the Boston Celtics as a free agent. Three years and two teams later, he is currently the only player in the league other than Jack Konchar of the Memphis Grizzlies wearing the number.

Baynes is a late bloomer and career role player. A decent rebounder but below-average defender, he helped the San Antonio Spurs win an NBA title in his second season. Still, it wasn’t until he got with the Celtics and reworked his jump shot in addition to seeing an increased role with his new team that Baynes started to experience individual success.

During the 2019-2020 campaign, as a member of the Pheonix Suns, Baynes joined James Harden as the only other player to record 35+ points, at least 15 rebounds, and 9 three-pointers in a single game when he scored a career-high 37 points and connected on nine three-pointers (also a career-high), to go along with 16 rebounds, in a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

The 6’10” from New Zealand has been to three Conference Finals and two NBA Finals (winning one). He currently plays for the Toronto Raptors, his fifth team in nine years.

Honorable Mention: Jason Collins

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 45, Rudy Tomjanovic

Drafted second overall by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA Draft, Rudy Tomjanovic spent the entirety of his 11-year professional basketball career with the Rockets organization. Even after his retirement, he spent 19 years on the Rockets’ coaching staff, including 12 years as the head coach, before spending his final season as a coach with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Coincidentally, he survived one of the scariest moments in league history. During a matchup against the Lakers during the 1977-78 season, Tomjanovic was the victim of a brutal attack when Kermit Washington sucker-punched him and shattered his face, inflicting life-threatening injuries. The injuries would force him to miss the remainder of the season, ending his streak of four consecutive All-Star games. He spent the next five months rehabilitating before returning the following season.

Not only did he eventually make a full recovery, but he also returned to All-Star form, averaging 19 points and 7.7 rebounds per game while shooting 51.7 percent from the field and 76 percent from the charity stripe, earning his fifth All-Star nod in six seasons.

From 1973-79 he averaged 20.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game, making five All-Star games along the way. Following the 1981 season, Tomjanovic announced his playing days were over after 12 seasons in the NBA, and the Rockets retired his number 45 jersey. At the time of his retirement, he was second in the franchise’s all-time scoring list, behind his teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy.

Because Tomjanovic’s name is so long, instead of following the standard practice of having his last name on the back of his jersey, his jersey read “Rudy T.”

Honorable Mention: Adrian Dantley