NBA player’s jersey numbers have always been an important thing. And why wouldn’t they be important? Jersey numbers are the ones that represent a player other than the team itself. A player is remembered for the jersey number he wore all his life. You can take the example of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lebron James, and Michael Jordan as how famous they are because of their jersey numbers. They are now called mainly by their Jersey Numbers irrespective of their teams. No matter how big of a team you play for, your jersey number is what you will remember all of your life. But what about the NBA players playing in the 2020-21 season? How many jersey numbers are there?
There are currently 61 assigned shirt numbers to many different players in NBA. Different numbers have different amounts of players, and there is no specific amount allocated to each number.
There can be some complications to understand how the jersey numbers work in NBA. That is why you will have to dive into the details to have a better overview of all the things. So let’s check out what those things are and how many players there are in each number.
Also Read: Do You Know BB Players Wear New Shoes In Every Game?
Can a player go with any Jersey Number he wants in NBA?
Well, it indeed is a dream of many players to pick any jersey number they want, and well, NBA allows the players to do so. This means that any NBA player can choose any number as per their preferences and keep it for them for their whole career. But one important and crucial thing to note here is that the number should not be picked by any current teammate or squad member as it will not be possible to pick it. Other than that, you are free to go with any number you want.
Is there any limit on picking the number for your jersey?
Yes! It is indeed stated that you can pick any number you want, but there is a limit provided by NBA that should be followed by every single player playing in the league. The number that the player is going to pick should be in double figures or a single Figure. The number can’t be triple-figure, four-figure, and so on.
If we talk about the specific limit, then the limit goes from 00 till 99. But yes, there is one number that you can still not pick from this limit, even if it is a double-figure. Let’s check what that number is.
What is the specific double-figure number that can’t be picked in NBA?
There is a specific number that is not allowed to pick in NBA, and you will really find it funny after checking out its reason. The number that is disallowed to pick in NBA is 69. There is no particular or official reason stated by NBA, but the only reason that is justifiable here is that because of the sexual position intended with this number. Most people find it funny, and this number, in general, is considered unethical. But it is really weird to exclude it in the professional games as there should not be discrimination in the numbers on the basis of made-up intents.
Different players have also tried to pick this number as their jersey number, but they had to eventually change it and choose another one because NBA did not allow it. So, it is what it is! If 69 is your lucky number and you want to go for it while playing in NBA, you might feel unlucky due to the restrictions.
List of all numbers and amount o players who have chosen it in NBA 2020-21!
Well, yes, now is the time to know what numbers have been taken in the NBA 2020-21 and how many players are there in a single number. As I have stated earlier, there are currently 61 assigned numbers for the NBA 2020-21, so it might seem boring to you to read them all. That is why it is also better to grab a coffee first.
- 6 Players have chosen the jersey number 00.
- 23 Players have chosen the jersey number 0.
- 21 Players have chosen jersey number 1.
- 22 Players have chosen jersey number 2.
- 24 Players have chosen jersey number 3.
- 21 Players have chosen the jersey number 4.
- 25 Players have chosen the jersey number 5.
- 14 Players have chosen the jersey number 6.
- 21 Players have chosen the jersey number 7.
- 23 Players have chosen the jersey number 8.
- 22 Players have chosen the jersey number 9.
- 18 Players have chosen the jersey number 10.
- 17 Players have chosen the jersey number 11.
- 16 Players have chosen the jersey number 12.
- 14 Players have chosen the jersey number 13.
- 17 Players have chosen the jersey number 14.
- 15 Players have chosen the jersey number 15.
- 7 Players have chosen the jersey number 16.
- 11 Players have chosen the jersey number 17.
- 7 Players have chosen the jersey number 18.
- 5 Players have chosen the jersey number 19.
- 14 Players have chosen the jersey number 20.
- 14 Players have chosen the jersey number 21.
- 18 Players have chosen the jersey number 22.
- 13 Players have chosen the jersey number 23.
- 13 Players have chosen the jersey number 24.
- 16 Players have chosen the jersey number 25.
- 5 Players have chosen the jersey number 26.
- 5 Players have chosen the jersey number 27.
- 3 Players have chosen the jersey number 28.
- 8 Players have chosen the jersey number 30.
- 9 Players have chosen the jersey number 31.
- 5 Players have chosen the jersey number 32.
- 13 Players have chosen the jersey number 33.
- 3 Players have chosen the jersey number 34.
- 5 Players have chosen the jersey number 35.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 36.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 37.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 38.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 39.
- 4 Players have chosen the jersey number 40.
- 4 Players have chosen the jersey number 41.
- 3 Players have chosen the jersey number 42.
- 3 Players have chosen the jersey number 43.
- 7 Players have chosen the jersey number 44.
- 3 Players have chosen the jersey number 45.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 46.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 50.
- 3 Players have chosen the jersey number 51.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 54.
- 6 Players have chosen the jersey number 55.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 66.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 67.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 70.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 77.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 81.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 88.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 91.
- Only 1 Player has chosen the jersey number 94.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 95.
- 2 Players have chosen the jersey number 99.
So these are all the jersey numbers that have been registered in this NBA session. You can see that some numbers have got a massive amount of players and some numbers have got only 1. It usually happens with the numbers closer to 100.
Now have you decided which jersey number you are going to choose? If you are confused, you can take a look at the numbers picked by some of the greatest basketball players to make it easier for you to pick one of them!
Jersey Numbers of the Best Basketball Players!
Here are some of the best basketball players, along with their jersey numbers!
1- Lebron James
The jersey number of Lebron James is 23, and it is also one of the most famous numbers in the basketball world. Lebron also changed his number multiple times due to specific reasons, but 23 remained his best one.
2- Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant used to play with the numbers 24 and 33. But 24 was his official number as he played with this with his NBA team. Kobe is unfortunately not with us anymore, but his performance has left a massive mark on all of us.
3- Michael Jordan
Jordan has also played with several numbers, but 23 remains his best one, and he is also admired and known for this specific number.
4- Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon played for Houston Rockets and used the jersey number 34.
5- Tim Duncan
The career Tim ended back in 2016, but he used only one number throughout his career. That number was 21!
The Verdict
There are hundreds of players participating in the NBA 2020-21 season, and it is impossible to remember them all along with their jersey numbers. But you can take a look and see which number is the most popular in this season and how many players have opted for it. But do remember that the numbers may vary in case a player retires or a current player replaces his number with someone else’s.
I have been playing basketball for more than a decade now, and my passion and enthusiasm for it drove me to write about it. I am Ahmed, a professional basketball player and a fan who has now become a writer to help fellow basketball players and enthusiasts to opt for the best possible basketball accessories and essentials. Stay tuned to feast yourself with the content you might not have seen anywhere else.