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
33 of 46
Next
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 24, Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant was one of the most feared and respected players during his career. He played 20 seasons in the NBA as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, 10 of which he wore the number 24. From 2007-2016, Bryant wore the number 24 and averaged 26.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

As the team’s unquestioned leader, Bryant led the Lakers to three consecutive NBA Finals from 2008-2010. After suffering a brutal loss to the Boston Celtics in 2008, Bryant and the Lakers went back to the Finals and defeated the Orlando Magic in six games. Bryant was named Finals MVP with averages of 32.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. In 2010, the Lakers met the Celtics in a 2008 rematch, and this time Bryant would not be denied. He averaged 28.6 points, 8 rebounds, and 3.9 assists en route to winning his second championship and Finals MVP in as many years.

During the “KB24” era, Bryant was a 10-time All-Star and won three MVPs in three of those games, tying Bob Pettit’s record of four All-Star game MVP awards. He was named to six All-Defensive teams and seven All-NBA teams.

During his time wearing the number 24, Kobe finished in the top-five in MVP voting seven times, finally winning the award in 2008, the only time he would receive the honor.

After 20 years in the league, He retired from the NBA at the end of the 2017 season. In his final regular-season game, at age 37, Bryant recorded 60 points, the most ever by a player in the final game of their career. A true testament to Bryant’s greatness.

He retired as the Lakers all-time leader in points and virtually every other statistical category. He is currently the fourth-leading scorer in NBA history (33,643). Both his number 24 and number 8 were retired by the Lakers, becoming the only player to have multiple jersey numbers retired by a single organization.

Honorable Mention: Moses Malone

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 23, Michael Jordan

This was by far the toughest decision I had to make while compiling this list. LeBron is the best all-around player in the history of the game, but he never quite soared to the heights that Michael Jordan did.

Jordan was known throughout his career for his tough competitive nature, intense work ethic, trash-talking his opponents, and as a strong clutch performer. As a member of the Chicago Bulls, Jordan converted 25 game-winning shots or free throws within the last 30 seconds of a game.

He was a proficient and versatile scorer who name a name for himself early in his career, using his athleticism gifts to play well above the rim and make acrobatic finishes. He was also adept at making difficult shots and creating space using his signature fadeaway.

Even as the most dominant scorer in the game, he still averaged 5.3 assists per game for his career.  Considered by many to be the greatest basketball player to ever live, Jordan won six NBA championships and was named Finals MVP, a record six times. He played 15 seasons across 19 years, coming out of retirement twice before retiring for good after the 2002-03 season. From 1987-1998, he was named to nine All-Defensive teams, led the league in scoring 10 times, was named to 11 All-NBA teams, and was voted to 12 of his 14 All-Star games (winning three All-Star game MVP awards), won voted league MVP five times, led the league in steals three times, and won Defensive Player of the Year.

Jordan influenced an entire generation of players, including one Kobe Bryant, who modeled his entire game after His Airness. His number 23 was retired by the Chicago Bulls, but his impact on the game was so significant that the Miami Heat retired his jersey as well, even though he never played a single game for the franchise. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame both as an individual and as a member of the 1992 Dream Team.

Honorable Mention: LeBron James