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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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Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon (Photo credit should read BRETT CRANDALL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 34, Hakeem Olajuwon

Number 34 was tough to narrow down to just one person. Over 200 players have worn the number 34 at some point in their career, including seven Hall of Famers. Hakeem Olajuwon gets the slight edge over Shaquille O’Neal for the number one spot. While Shaq is considered the most dominant force to ever play the game, Olajuwon is arguably the most skilled and the greatest center of all time.

One of the most skilled and polished post players of All-time, Olajuwon has his own signature post-move, the “Dream Shake,” and even started a “Big Man Camp” to teach the fundamentals of playing in the post.

He’s one of the greatest defenders and shot blockers in the history of the sport. He won two Defensive Player of the Year awards and retired as the NBA’s all-time leading shot blocker with 3,830.

From 1984-1997, he averaged 24.2 points, 12 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.9 steals, and 3.4 blocks per game. During that span, he was selected to 12 All-Star teams, 11 All-NBA teams, nine All-Defensive teams, led the league in blocks three times and rebounding twice, won two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and finished in the top-five of MVP voting six times, winning once.

In a matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in 1990, Olajuwon became the third person in league history to record a quadruple-double with 18 points, 16 rebounds, 10 assists, and 11 blocks. In 1994 he became the first and only player in NBA history to win the NBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP awards in the same season.

Olajuwon made three trips to the NBA Finals during his 18-year career. He lost to Larry Bird and the Celtics early in his career but led the Rockets’ back-to-back victories in 1994 and 1995.

He averaged 21.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 3.1 blocks per game for his career and retired as one of the most decorated players in league history.

Honorable Mention: Shaquille O’Neal

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 33, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

This was another tough one for me, mostly because of my bias for Larry Bird, but I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I didn’t acknowledge Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s greatness. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer (LeBron will likely dethrone him before he retires) with 38,387 points scored. Kareem is one of the best players in the history of the game. Some even consider him the true GOAT. Nine Hall of Famers have worn the number 33, but none come close to Abdul-Jabaar.

Despite his thin and lanky frame and playing until age 41, Abdul-Jabaar was one of the toughest and most durable players ever. He played through numerous injuries and appeared in at least 74 games in 18 of his 20 seasons in the NBA.

From 1970-1986 averaged 26.4 points per game, using his unstoppable signature “skyhook” shot, establishing himself as one of the top scorers in the NBA. He led the league in scoring two times, blocks per game four times, and rebounding once.

He’s the only player to be selected to 19 All-Star teams and the only player to win six MVP awards (Michael Jordan and Bill Russell are the only other players with at least five). He won six NBA championships, five with the Lakers and one with the Milwaukee Bucks, and he was named Finals MVP twice. Abdul-Jabaar was also selected to 15 All-NBA teams and 11 All-Defensive teams.

He currently ranks first in scoring, fourth in rebounding, and third in blocks all-time in the NBA. Widely regarded as the greatest center to ever play in the NBA, and with the way the game is played today, it’s safe to say there will never be another Kareem Abdul-Jabaar.

His number 33 was retired by both the Bucks and the Lakers.

Honorable Mention: Larry Bird