Hoops Habit
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
23 of 46
Next
Jerry West
Jerry West (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 44, Jerry West

The second overall pick in the 1960 NBA Draft, Jerry West played 14 seasons in the NBA, all with the Los Angeles Lakers. West became known for his late-game heroics and legendary Lakers announcer Chick Hearn coined the nickname “Mr. Clutch.”

He may not have won a lot of championships, mainly due to the Lakers having no answer for Bill Russell, but

West still made nine trips to the NBA Finals in his career and holds the NBA playoffs record for the highest points per game average in a series with 46.3, most points scored in a six-game series with 278, and most points scored in the Finals with 1,679. In 1969 he became the first and only player in NBA history to be named Finals MVP despite being on the losing team.

West was named to 12 All-NBA teams, five All-Defensive teams, and made the All-Star team every single season of his Hall of Fame career. At 33 years old, he led the league in assists with 9.7 assists per game while scoring 25.8 points per night. In 1966 he set the record for the most free throws made in a single season, a record that still stands today.

Even with all he’s accomplished, West is known by most people as the NBA logo. In his retirement, the Lakers retired West’s number 44 jersey as well as erected a bronze statue of West in front of the Staples Center.

Honorable Mention: George Gervin

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 43, Jack Sikma

The Seattle Supersonics (OKC Thunder) drafted Jack Sikma in the first round of the 1977 NBA Draft. In just his second season in the league, Sikma made his first of seven consecutive All-Star teams while helping the Supersonics secure the only NBA championship in franchise history.

Sikma was one of the first sharp-shooting big men, although it wasn’t until toward the end of his career when his athleticism had already dissipated that he began to consistently step out on the perimeter. Over the final four seasons of his career, he made 199 3-pointers on 35.3 percent shooting. In 1988 he led the league with a 92.2 free throw percentage.

From 1979-1988 he averaged 17 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks in 35 minutes per game. He averaged a double-double eight times in his career and retired with averages of 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds.

One of the more reliable players of his day, Sikma played in at least 80 games in 10 of his 14 seasons. His teams made the playoffs 11 times, but he would retire with just one title.

It’s been 35 years since he played his last game with the Supersonics, yet he still holds the franchise records for career defensive and total rebounds as well as in a single season. He is one of six players to have his number retired by the franchise.

Honorable Mention: Brad Daugherty