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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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Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens, (Photo By Ross Lewis/Getty Images) /

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 18, Dave Cowens

The fourth overall pick in the 1970 draft, Dave Cowens, played 11 seasons in the NBA, 10 of which he played for the Boston Celtics wearing the number 18. He averaged 17 points and 15 rebounds his rookie season and was co-Rookie of the Year (sharing the honor with Geoff Petrie).

Over the course of his Hall of Fame career, Cowens racked up eight All-Star selections, was named to three All-NBA teams, three All-Defensive teams, won an MVP and two NBA championships.

In 1973, Cowens averaged career-highs in points (20.5) and rebounds (16.2) per game, winning the league MVP award. That same season, he, along with future Hall of Famers John Havlicek and Jo Jo White, led the Celtics to a league-best 68-14 record.

The following season the Celtics got over the hump and went to the Finals for the first time during Cowens’ career. Cowens played a brilliant game in the decisive Game 7 against Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and the Milwaukee Bucks, recording 28 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and a block, making sure the Celtics went home with the Larry O’Brien trophy.

He averaged a double-double for the first eight seasons of his career and averaged 18.2 points and 14 rebounds during his Celtics tenure. His number 18 jersey was retired by the Celtics in 1981, and in 1991 he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Honorable Mention: Bailey Howell

Greatest NBA Player to wear each jersey number: 17, John Havlicek

John Havlicek was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the seventh overall pick of the 1962 NBA Draft and played his entire career with the franchise. Joining a team that already had four future Hall of Famers on the roster, Havlicek won a championship his first four seasons in the league. The Celtics never lost an NBA Finals series that Havlicek appeared in, and he would go on to win eight total championships during his Hall of Fame career.

Regarded as a prolific scorer and menacing defender in his heyday, Havlicek was selected to 11 All-NBA teams, eight All-Defensive teams and was named MVP of the 1974 NBA Finals.

He didn’t make an All-Star appearance in any of his first three years, but from 1966-1978, he was selected to 13 consecutive All-Star games. Over his 16-year career, he recorded 31 regular-season triple-doubles and five triple-doubles in the postseason. Larry Bird (3,897) is the only Celtics player to score more playoff points than Havlicek (3,776).

Even with all the great talents and Hall of Famers to come before and after Havlicek, he still holds the Celtics franchise records for games played, field goals made, and points scored. He also holds the single-season record for most points scored by a Celtics player, despite retiring before the 3-point line was introduced.

He retired after the 1978 season, and the Celtics immediately retired his number 17 jersey. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a member of the 1984 class.

Honorable Mention: Chris Mullin