The 23rd is an iconic number in both the NBA and American sports, with a legacy of players who have worn it including Michael Jordan and LeBron James. Here are 10 other players to wear that jersey: 1) Nik Stauskas (Philadelphia 76ers). A Canadian player for now but originally from Michigan, he was selected as the 20th overall pick by Philadelphia in 2015. He has recently been traded to Sacramento Kings where he will look to revive his career as well as their young backcourt which includes De’Aaron Fox and Buddy Hield., 2) Will Barton (Denver Nuggets). One half of Denver’s dynamic duo alongside Gary Harris, Barton played three seasons at Memphis before being drafted 19th overall by Denver during the 2013 NBA Draft. He averaged 16 points per game last season playing for Nate McMillan., 3) Willie Cauley-Stein (Sacramento Kings). The 7-footer out of Kentucky transferred from UK after one year because they already had another 7 footer named Anthony Davis coming into college. His play led him on a 2014 Rookie All Star team along with Karl Anthony Towns., 4) Dario Saric (Minnesota Timberwolves). After playing just two years overseas following his time at Osijekacademy high school basketball academy in Croatia, this versatile Croatian forward/center made himself known when head coach David Blatt first saw his talent against France during the European Championships.: , 5) Kosta Koufos (Memphis Grizzlies): This former member of Utah Jazz spent four years prior to joining Grizzlies without much success due to injuries limiting availability. In 2017 however third year showed flashes reminiscent those early days while averaging 12 points per game off 57 percent shooting from field.., 6) Joakim Noah(New York Knicks): When New York acquired Noah via trade after missing playoffs last season – making them lose hope – fans were excited about what could happen next given everything going on around town…but so far there hasn’t been anything positive happening since then despite some comments saying no reason why not!, 7 ) Paul George (#23 – Oklahoma City Thunder),8 ) Avery Bradley (#23 – Boston Celtics), 9 ) Rodney Hood #23 – Cleveland Cavaliers ),10 ) Xavier Henry # 23 Phoenix Suns
Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the same sentence is enough to make any basketball fan’s mouth water. Here are ten of the best players who have worn No. 23 in NBA history: Anderson, Chris Jackson, Dave Bing, Nick Van Exel
The “lebron james jersey number” is a topic that has been around for a while. Michael Jordan and LeBron James made history wearing the No. 23.
The #23 jersey has the potential to be the most popular in NBA history. It was the number worn by some of the greatest athletes of all time, including Michael Jordan and LeBron James. There have been many more players that have worn the renowned jersey number on their backs throughout NBA history. Do they, however, come close to matching Jordan and James’ achievements as superstars?
Based on their effect on the game as well as what they accomplished individually and as part of a team, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best players in NBA history who wore the #23 number. When a player wears the number 23, grandeur comes to mind. That is why a player must be cautious while wearing that number on the court, since fans will be watching them from the moment they walk on the court. Here are the top ten best players to ever wear the #23 jersey, with the proviso that they had to wear it for at least three seasons, which excludes guys like Jimmy Butler (2 seasons).
Kevin Martin is number ten.
17.4 points per game, 3.2 points per game, 1.9 points per game, 0.9 points per game, 0.1 points per game
Years in service: 2005-2010, 2013-2016
Kevin Martin, a phenomenally brilliant scorer whose job it was to get baskets, earned his income by shooting from the outside and slashing to the basket. Martin, a 6’7″ guard, had a height advantage over most of his opponents and considered averaging 20 points per game to be second nature to him. That’s why he had seven seasons in which he averaged more than 20 points each game.
K-Mart was never named to an All-Star Team since he was just concerned about scoring, although he excelled in that capacity. Martin would have been an all-time great 6th man in many aspects if teams had looked of him as a fire-starter off the bench throughout the most of his career. Kevin Martin is a top-10 player to have ever worn #23, a number he wore for ten seasons throughout his career, due to his scoring abilities.
Jason Richardson (nine)
17.1 points per game, 5.0 points per game, 2.7 points per game, 1.2 points per game, 0.4 points per game
Wearing Years: 2002-2015
Jason Richardson is one of the most enthralling NBA players ever. Throughout his NBA career, Richardson was a capable shooter and defender, but his agility was his most valuable asset. Richardson was a walking highlight reel, exploding off his feet for jams possibly faster than anybody in history. Richardson has a long list of noteworthy dunks, but his efforts in the Dunk Contest in 2002 and 2003 had to be his best.
J-Rich averaged 17.1 points per game in his career, shooting 37.0 percent from three-point range. Richardson could get hot in an instant as a member of the Warriors and Suns, and he had no difficulty shooting his shots when he was in the zone. Throughout his NBA career, the shooting guard was dynamic, confident, and a fan favorite, which is why he is one of the finest players to wear #23.
Marcus Camby (#8)
9.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG, 9.5 PPG, 9.8 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 SPG, 2.4 BPG
Years in service: 1999-2013
Marcus Camby wore #23 on and off for over 13 seasons, but it was the number with which he was most associated. Marcus Camby, a shot-blocking center who was a monster in the paint, led the NBA in blocks four times and was named to four All-Defensive Teams. The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year was a force in the paint, blocking weak jumpers at the rim, and igniting his team’s fast break.
Camby made an impression as a starter with the New York Knicks before moving on to the Denver Nuggets as a defensive standout. Between 2006 and 2008, he led the NBA in blocks three times in a row, averaging over 3.0 per game. He was a 6’11” lanky big man who relished the opportunity to make an impact on defense, making him the eighth best player to wear #23 in franchise history.
Draymond Green (#7)
8.8 points per game, 6.9 points per game, 5.4 points per game, 1.4 points per game, 1.0 points per game
Years of use: 2013–2022.
Because of his defensive flexibility, Draymond Green, a three-time NBA champion and previous Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the finest players to wear #23 on the court. Despite playing alongside Hall of Famers like as Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Klay Thompson, Draymond Green was the defensive backbone and outspoken captain of his championship teams.
Green didn’t need to score a lot of points to be successful, but he could (according to Green) defend every position on the court at an outstanding level. Even if his teammates were amazing offensive players, his numbers do not jump off the page, but he does the small things that help teams win games. The Golden State Warriors dynasty may not have been as successful as it was in the end if it hadn’t been for Draymond Green.
Mark Aguirre is number six on the list.
20.0 points per game, 5.0 points per game, 3.1 points per game, 0.7 points per game, 0.3 points per game
1989-1992 (Years Worn)
Mark Aguirre was a 6’6″ small forward who was an extraordinarily dominating scorer. He was a three-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion. The forward is one of the best Dallas Mavericks players of all time, averaging over 22 points per game for six consecutive seasons, four of which he averaged over 25 points per game. Aguirre made his first All-Star appearance in his third season, averaging 29.5 points per game, 5.9 rebounds per game, and 4.5 assists per game.
Even though Mark Aguirre won back-to-back championships with the Pistons as a role player, he was a superb offensive player before that. Aguirre’s 29.5 points per game average in his third season was the greatest in Mavericks history for a regular season, making him one of the top six players to ever wear #23.
Calvin Murphy is number five.
17.9 points per game, 2.1 points per game, 4.4 points per game, 1.5 points per game, 0.1 points per game
Years in service: 1971-1983
Calvin Murphy, one of the finest players in Houston Rockets history, defied the odds at 5’9″ to dominate the NBA’s guard position. Murphy is a Hall of Famer because he was a one-of-a-kind small guy who never backed down from any opponent throughout his whole time with the Rockets. Because of his extraordinary speed, skill, shooting, and ball-handling abilities, he scored over 17,000 points throughout his career.
Murphy is an all-time outstanding free-throw shooter, hitting 95.8% and 92.0 percent in his last two seasons, respectively, to lead the league. Calvin was a one-of-a-kind offensive talent who shot to fame when the Rockets moved from San Diego to Houston following his rookie season. The former No. 18 overall selection was not expected to be as good as he turned out to be, and he is one of the best players to ever wear the number 23.
Lou Hudson is number four.
20.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 20.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.3 BPG, 20.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG,
1967-1979 (Years Worn)
Lou Hudson, a 6-time All-Star and powerful shooting guard, is one of the most underappreciated players who wore the number 23. In reality, Hudson was the only owner of the number until Michael Jordan made it famous. If he had played today, the 6’5″ shooting guard would have been a formidable 3-point shooter with his flawless swing from the outside. But, perhaps most notably, Hudson accomplished this despite wearing the #23 numerals on his jersey for his entire career.
Hudson was never inducted into the Hall of Fame despite making six All-Star teams and averaging more than 20 points per game seven times throughout his career. In that way, the shooting guard’s lack of playoff success worked against him, despite the fact that he accomplished everything else so well. Hudson also had seasons when he averaged 26.8 points per game, 24.7 points per game, and 27.1 points per game, demonstrating his superior ability to score baskets. Lou Hudson is one of the finest players to ever wear #23, even though many don’t know who he is.
Anthony Davis, No. 3
23.9 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.4 SPG, 2.3 BPG throughout his career
Wearing Years: 2013-2019
Anthony Davis has the potential to be the best power forward in NBA history. Consider what he contributes to the game. The big guy can score both inside and outside the paint, has good ball handling skills, can pass, and is a dominating defender. Davis, in a nutshell, is a guard trapped within a huge man’s body. Any if his leadership abilities (or lack thereof) have hampered his career from taking off even more, his effect as a double-double threat is undeniable.
Davis wore #23 for the most of his career until the 2020 season, when he handed it over to a certain superstar small forward. During his seven seasons with the Pelicans, the 6’10” center was a powerful force, averaging 23.7 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He was an MVP-caliber player despite his lack of playoff success. Davis helped the Lakers win their 17th title after being traded to them, alongside the second-greatest player to ever wear #23.
LeBron James, No. 2
27.0 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG throughout his career
Years in service: 2004-2010, 2015-2021
LeBron James is the current owner of the #23 jersey, which he has made his own. In his debut season, the King donned #23 and dubbed himself “The Chosen One.” Unsurprisingly, James would win Rookie of the Year before exploding into one of the top ten athletes of all time. Before donning #6 with the Miami Heat and earning his first NBA championships, James would be the best Cavaliers player ever (2 MVPs).
When he returned to Cleveland, James wore #23 once again and won his third title. James seemed to be set to wear the #23 jersey indefinitely, however he just switched to #6 ahead of this season. LeBron James has won it all: four championships, four Finals MVPs, four MVPs, 17 All-Star Teams, and 17 All-NBA Teams. Before he retires, he’ll strive to win ring #5 because the only thing left for The King to do is catch up with the ghost of the greatest player to ever wear #23: Michael Jordan.
Michael Jordan is number one.
30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 30.1 PPG, 6.2 RPG,
Years in service: 1985-1998, 2002-2003
Michael Jordan, unsurprisingly, is the GOAT of all players that wore the number 23. Jordan is, without a doubt, the GOAT. No player had as much of an influence on the game as Michael did, and the documentary “The Last Dance” was necessary to show younger viewers just how brilliant the former Chicago Bulls star was. Jordan’s achievements as a professional basketball player include six NBA championships, six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, and ten scoring crowns.
MJ was also named Defensive Player of the Year and was a member of 14 All-Star Teams and 9 All-Defensive Teams. Michael also had the best PPG average of any player and was a fantastic two-way player. Jordan shone the brightest in a 90s period that featured Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Karl Malone, among others; he is the guy that everyone remembers as the finest to wear #23.
Next
Michael Jordan’s Statue’s Backstory: “The Very Best There Has Ever Been. The Very Best There Will Ever Be.”
LeBron James and Stephen Curry are the most recent active players to come close to breaking all-time records.
Can Kobe, Curry, and Durant beat Jordan, Kawhi, and Duncan? Offensive Superstars vs. Defensive Superstars: Can Kobe, Curry, and Durant Beat Jordan, Kawhi, and Duncan?
GOAT Squad is an acronym for “Greatest Of All Time.” Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, by position
NBA Finals MVPs by Position: This Is A Small Forward League
The “famous number 23 athletes” is a list of 10 of the best NBA players who have worn the no. 23 jersey. Michael Jordan and LeBron James made history by wearing that jersey.
Related Tags
- famous female number 23 athletes
- best players to wear 23
- legendary athlete nickname 23
- what was michael jordan’s nickname
- michael jordan number 23