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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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Shawn Kemp
Shawn Kemp (Photo by PETE LEVINE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 40, Shawn Kemp

Shawn Kemp was selected with the 17th pick of the 1989 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. He played for four different teams across 14 seasons and averaged 14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game for his career.

After his rookie year, the Supersonics added Gary Payton into the mix, forming the duo that would later be known as “Sonic Boom.” At the peak of his powers, Kemp and Payton led the SuperSonics to a franchise-record 64 wins and their first NBA Finals appearance in nearly 20 years, though they would lose in six hard-fought games to the Chicago Bulls.

He made the playoffs in 10 of his 14 seasons but could never replicate his success in 1996.

The 6’10” power forward had the rare combination of height, finesse, and power, but even though he was a freak athlete with a penchant for dunking the ball as hard as he could, Kemp lost all four Slam Dunk contests he participated in.

The Reign Man was named to three All-NBA teams and participated in six All-Star games. He retired following the 2003 season after years of dealing with weight issues and drug and alcohol abuse.

Honorable Mention: Bill Lambier

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 39, Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard has played just two seasons in the number 39 jersey (currently in the second season). Ironically he wore the number 12 for the first 12 seasons before switching multiple times before “settling” on 39 the last two seasons.

Though he is no longer the player that made him an eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Howard has been effective in his playing time and played an integral role off the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers 2020 title run.

He can be a liability in pick and roll defense and when switching on guards, but he’s still a rebounding machine and solid rim protector. Over the last two seasons, Howard has grabbed at least 10 rebounds in 47 games and is credited with multiple blocks in 38 games. He is also averaging 14.5 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game per 36 minutes, during that span.

Honorable Mention: Jerami Grant