If You Can't Match The NBA Player To Their Number You Should Watch Curling Instead
- by Chris Roberts
- – on
- in Sports
A player's number primarily serves the purpose of identifying him or her on the court, ice, or field and is used to make tracking data during the course of a game that much easier. However, it represents much more than that. If you're good enough, the number can come to represent your entire brand and/or career. For instance, in the NHL, nobody is allowed to wear the No. 99 because it belongs to Wayne Gretzky. To wear the same number as the greatest player of all-time would be to disgrace his honor. However, in the NBA, No. 23 stands out for its use by Michael Jordan, the greatest to ever play the game. Yet, instead of being retired, that number is used by other - like LeBron James - to honor Jordan. In fact, a total of 17 players wore No. 23 during the 2017-18 regular season.
Additionally, every number up to No. 38 was wore by at least one player, while numbers 39, 47, 48, 49, 52, 53 - and a whole host of numbers beyond 60 - went unused. Utah's Jae Crowder wore Gretzky's No. 99, if you were wondering. Unlike in the NHL, NBA jerseys include the number on the front and back so they're more visible and known among fans, especially those who regularly purchase jerseys. Yet, you don't need to be a hardcore fan to guess these players from their number/jersey alone.
Who is this NBA player?
Originally selected by the Philadelphia 76ers third overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, this 7-foot native of Cameroon and University of Kansas alumnus missed the first two seasons of his career due to injuries and was limited to 31 games during the 2016-17 season, but proved himself an emerging talent by averaging 20.2 points, 2.5 blocks, and 7.8 rebounds per game in just over 25 minutes per game. The center played in 63 games this past season and improved upon last season's points, rebounds, and assist averages.
Who is this NBA player?
This player became the second-ever Canadian to be selected first overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. While he was chosen by the Cleveland Cavaliers, he didn't play a single game for the team as he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Kevin Love. He won the 2015 Rookie of the Year after averaging 16.9 points per game, but his play has stagnated since then and he has primarily become known as a volume shooter with an inconsistent stroke from three-point range.
Who is this NBA player?
This 26 year old Los Angeles, California native was regularly in the headlines during the 2017-18 season, despite the fact he only played nine games. He was cleared to play during the second half of the season by San Antonio Spurs' team doctors, but he refused to return to action. A seven-year veteran, he averaged a career-best 25.5 points per game during the 2016-17 season and won Defensive Player of the Year in each of the previous two seasons. He's also a two-time All-Star and recipient of the 2014 NBA Finals MVP.
Who is this NBA player?
Originally selected seventh overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2009 NBA Draft, this 30 year old guard known as the "Baby-Faced Assassin," among other nicknames, is a two-time NBA MVP, five-time All-Star, and two-time NBA Champion. He has led the league in free-throw percentage in four of his nine seasons in the league and led the league in points per game (30.1) during the 2015-16 season. He's also one of the best three-point shooters in the game with a career average of 44 percent from beyond the arc.
Who is this NBA player?
Named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team for the first time in his career this past season, this 6-foot-4 shooting guard also led the league in steals with 177 for an average of 2.4 per game. The former second overall pick of the Orlando Magic in the 2013 NBA Draft, he was dealt to the Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2016 offseason and traded again in this past offseason to the Indiana Pacers, where he was able to flourish. He recorded a career-best 23.1 points per game; his previous best was 17.9.
Who is this NBA player?
A fiery (pun fully intended) point guard with the Miami Heat, this 32 year old native of Slovenia is a one-time All-Star and recipient of the 2014 Most Improved Player Award, which he earned after recording 20.3 points and 5.9 assists per game, up from his previous season averages of 14.7 and 7.4. He recorded those figures with the Phoenix Suns and was dealt to the Heat the following year. Throughout 772 career regular season games, he is averaging 13.7 points, 4.8 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game.
Who is this NBA player?
This player's team, the Boston Celtics, is one win away from making the NBA Finals as of writing this, but he's been absent from the playoffs with a season-ending injury. A former first overall pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Duke University alumnus spent six seasons with the team, but demanded a trade following the 2016-17 season and was dealt to the Celtics, where he led the team in scoring with 24.4 points per game to go along with 5.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds.
Who is this NBA player?
Where to begin with this player's accolades? He's a four-time MVP, three-time NBA Finals MVP and three-time champion, 14-time All-Star, former Rookie of the Year, and widely considered one of the greatest players of all-time, depending on who you ask, and at least universally accepted as a top-three player of all-time. Selected first overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers, the 33 year old has a remarkable 27.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game average through 1,143 career regular season games.
Who is this NBA player?
Although somewhat of a lesser-known star, this 6-foot-11 center and University of Texas alumnus was named to the 2015-16 All-Rookie team following an impressive debut season with the Indiana Pacers in which he averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He averaged 14.5 points per game the following season and, while that average dropped to 12.7 in the 2017-18 season, he improved his three-point shooting and starting taking more shots from beyond the arc - 2.4 attempts per game as opposed to 1.4 the year prior.
Who is this NBA player?
This player's name is not only hard to spell, but hard to pronounce for the average fan, let alone announcer, hence his nickname of "The Greek Freak." The 6-foot-11, 222-pound power forward is capable of playing all positions on the court and, after a relatively slow star to his career, has emerged as one of the best players in the league. Selected 15th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, he averaged a career-best 26.9 points per game this past season, bringing his career average to 17.2 points. He also has career averages of 7.5 rebounds and 3.8 assists.
Who is this NBA player?
A 28 year old native of Palmdale, California, this 6-foot-9 small forward was selected 10th overall by the Indiana Pacers in the 2010 NBA Draft after playing for Cal State University. A five-time All-Star, he's also a three-time All-Defensive team player and winner of the 2013 Most Improved Player award; he averaged 21.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.9 steals per game that season. Through 527 career regular season games, PG13 (hint hint) is averaging 18.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.7 steals per game.
Who is this NBA player?
A four-time All-Star and three-time member of the NBA All-Defensive team, this 6-foot-8 shooting guard enjoyed a breakout season in 2014-15 and was named the league's Most Improved Player after averaging 20.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, all of which were significant increases from the year prior. Originally selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 30th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, he spent six seasons with the team before being dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2017 offseason.
Who is this NBA player?
This University of Louisville alumnus has only played one season in the NBA, but he's already established himself as one of the league's most exciting players and is, not surprisingly, a Rookie of the Year finalist. Selected 13th overall by the Denver Nuggets and subsequently traded to the Utah Jazz, he averaged an impressive 20.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game through 79 contests in his rookie season. He was even more impressive in 11 playoff games as he averaged 24.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game.
Who is this NBA player?
One of the most polarizing players in the league due to his unpopular decision to sign with the already-loaded Golden State Warriors in 2016, this 6-foot-9 small forward was originally selected second overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2007 NBA Draft and was the team's franchise player for nine seasons, eight of which it spent in Oklahoma City after relocating following the 2007-08 season. The nine-time All-Star led the league in scoring four different seasons and was named MVP in 2014 after averaging a career-best 32 points per game.
Who is this NBA player?
A 6-foot-4 point guard from Raleigh, North Carolina, this 27 year old was originally selected first overall by the Washington Wizards in the 2010 NBA Draft and has stayed with the Eastern Conference team his whole career. A five-time All-Star and member of the 2014-15 All-Defensive team, he has averaged at least 16 points and seven assists in all of his eight seasons in the league. He recorded his best statistical season in 2016-17, when he averaged career-highs in points (23.1), assists (10.7), and steals (2.0).
Who is this NBA player?
Affectionately nicknamed "Boogie," this 6-foot-11, 270-pound center was originally selected fifth overall by the Sacramento Kings in the 2010 NBA Draft and was named to the 2010-11 All-Rookie team after averaging 14.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. The 27 year old Mobile, Alabama native has since become a four-time All-Star and consistently scored more than 22 points per game since the 2013-14 season. He was dealt to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2017 after playing six-and-a-half seasons with the Kings.
Who is this NBA player?
An alumnus of Wake Forest University, this 6-foot, 175-pound point guard was selected fourth overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2005 NBA Draft and won Rookie of the Year following a season in which he averaged 16.1 points, 7.8 assists, and 5.1 rebounds per game. A crafty playmaker, he has since led the league in assists per game four times throughout his 13-year career. The nine-time All-Star and six-time steals leader played six seasons with New Orleans before being dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2011. He's currently in his first season with the Houston Rockets.
Who is this NBA player?
Regarded as one of the smoothest shooters in the NBA, especially from beyond the three-point line, this 37 year old one-time All-Star was originally selected 51st overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2003 NBA Draft out of Creighton University and subsequently dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers. He has since played for the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, Atlanta Hawks, and Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 9.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game through 1,104 career regular season games. He also boasts an impressive 43 percent career three-point shooting percentage.
Who is this NBA player?
A 29 year old native of Long Beach, California, this point guard was selected fourth overall by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 2008 NBA Draft, but never played a single game in Seattle as the team was relocated to Oklahoma City the following season. As a result, Seattle fans missed out on the opportunity to see one of the best players in the league hone his craft. After establishing himself as a scorer earlier in his career, he rounded out his game over the past few years and has now averaged back-to-back triple-doubles in the past two seasons, becoming the first player ever to accomplish the feat.
Who is this NBA player?
A 28 year old native of Compton, California, this 6-foot-7 shooting guard was selected ninth overall by the Toronto Raptors in the 2009 NBA Draft and has been with the team ever since. Whereas several big-name stars have left Toronto to sign elsewhere in their prime, this player has shown tremendous dedication and loyalty to the team and city, opting to re-sign there long-term instead of joining his hometown Los Angeles Lakers when the opportunity presented itself. The four-time All-Star is averaging 19.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game through 675 career regular season contests.
Who is this NBA player?
Known simply as "The Brow" for his unibrow, this five-time All-Star and three-time blocks leader is a 6-foot-10 center and power forward from Chicago, Illinois who played college basketball with the University of Kentucky. He was selected first overall by New Orleans in the 2012 NBA Draft and has been the franchise's cornerstone player ever since. The 25 year old veteran of six seasons has averaged an impressive 23.4 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, and 1.9 assists per game through 410 career regular season games.
Who is this NBA player?
Selected 11th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2011 NBA Draft, this 6-foot-7 shooting guard has become a core component of the team's championship-winning roster with his impressive defense and three-point shooting abilities. He was named to the 2011-12 All-Rookie team and has since become a four-time All-Star. He has averaged at least 20 points per game in each of the past four seasons and is now averaging 19.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game through 537 career regular season contests.
Who is this NBA player?
Known as "The Beard" because, well, you can see why even in the pixelated photo, this 28 year old dual guard is one of the best players in the league and is the likely recipient of the 2018 NBA MVP after finishing as a runner-up to Russell Westbrook the year prior. He was originally drafted third overall by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 2009 NBA Draft, but only played three seasons with the team before being dealt to the Houston Rockets in a lopsided traded that saw the Thunder receive bench players and draft picks used to take Steven Adams, Mitch McGary, and Alex Abrines.
Who is this NBA player?
A 13-time All-Star, this 7-foot power forward from Germany is turning 40 years old in June, but nonetheless plans to continue playing next season. He made his NBA debut during the 1998-99 season as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and has spent his entire career with the Western Conference team, leading it to two NBA Finals and a Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2011, when he was named NBA Finals MVP. After averaging 8.2 points per game as a rookie, he has averaged double digit point totals in each of the following 19 seasons and now has a career average of 21.2 points per game.
Who is this NBA player?
This 20 year old native of St. Louis, Missouri and Duke University alumnus is only one year into his NBA career, but has already earned high praise from some of the league's all-time greats. Selected third overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2017 NBA Draft, he was recently said by Celtics legend Paul Pierce as having the chance to become one of the franchise's all-time great players. He averaged 13.9 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game as a rookie in the regular season and has improved upon those numbers through 17 playoff games.
Who is this NBA player?
A 31 year old native of Memphis, Tennessee, this 6-foot-1 shooting guard was originally selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the 45th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. After averaging less than five points per game in each of his first two seasons, he has since averaged at least double digit points in each of the following 13 seasons, including this past season, when he averaged a career-high 22.6 points per game to go along with 5.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds. Predominantly a bench player throughout his career, he won the Sixth Man of the Year award in 2015 as a member of the Toronto Raptors.
Who is this NBA player?
Arguably the most annoying player in the league and one of the toughest to play against, this versatile 6-foot-7 small forward was selected 35th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 2012 NBA Draft and has since become a three-time All-Star, two-time NBA champion, and one-time Defensive Player of the Year. He also led the league in steals during the 2016-17 season. Aside from his talents on the court, he has a reputation for kicking people below the belt and is a frequent recipient of technical fouls.
Who is this NBA player?
A 22 year old native of New Jersey, this 7-foot center played at the University of Kentucky and was selected first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2015 NBA Draft. He won Rookie of the Year the following season after averaging 18.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game and followed that up with 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game the next season. He was named to the Western Conference All-Stars for the first time in his career this past season.
Who is this NBA player?
A two-time rebound champion and two-time All-Defensive team player, this 6-foot-11 center played college basketball with Texas A&M University and was selected by the Los Angeles Clippers with the 35th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft. The 29 year old averaged less than eight points per game in each of his first five seasons, but enjoyed a breakout year in 2013-14 and hasn't looked back. He averaged a career-high 15.0 rebounds per game in 2014-15 and now has a career average of 10.7 rebounds per game to go along with 9.4 points per game.
Who is this NBA player?
The host of a popular basketball podcast, this 26 year old Ohio native is an alumnus of Lehigh University who was selected 10th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2013 NBA Draft. He didn't make his NBA debut until January of the following year and, after averaging only 6.8 points per game in his sophomore season, broke through in 2015-16 with 20.8 points per game to go along with 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Not surprisingly, he was named Most Improved Player that season.
Who is this NBA player?
This 22 year old Latvian native was selected fourth overall by the New York Knicks in the 2015 NBA Draft, which prompted a viral moment in which one young Knicks fan was caught filming himself expressing his disgust at the selection. One year later, after the 7-foot-3 power forward proved himself a dynamic young player with promising potential, the kid had changed his tune and become the player's No. 1 fan. A one-time All-Star, he has averaged 17.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.3 assists per game through his first three seasons in the league.
Who is this NBA player?
A 32 year old native of Philadelphia and alumnus of Villanova University, this point guard was selected 24th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2006 NBA Draft and later played with the Houston Rockets before being dealt to the Toronto Raptors, where he blossomed into one of the league's most reliable point guards. He has been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team in each of the past four seasons and now has career averages of 14.4 points, 5.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game.
Who is this NBA player?
A 10-time All-Star, this 6-foot-8 power forward and New York native played for Syracuse University before being selected third overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 NBA Draft. The 33 year old averaged an impressive 21 points per game in his rookie season and maintained a streak of averaging at least 20 points for 15 seasons before averaging only 16.2 this past season in his first year as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder. He spent the previous six seasons with the New York Knicks.
Who is this NBA player?
The recipient of the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year award, this 32 year old native of Freehold, New Jersey was selected 18th overall by the New Orleans Hornets in the 2004 NBA Draft. He has since played for the Denver Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. Primarily known for his ability to go on hot - and cold - stretches during a game, he averaged a career-high 18.1 points per game during the 2012-13 season as a member of the Knicks and now boasts career averages of 12.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Who is this NBA player?
The eldest son of LaVar and most talented member of the Big Baller Brand, this 20 year old California native played for UCLA and was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft. Although he gained notoriety for his father's outspoken ways, he proved himself a talented playmaker this past season by averaging 7.2 assists per game to go along with 10.2 points and 6.9 rebounds through 52 games. He was named to the 2017-18 All-Rookie team.