Find out how many NBA players have had their jerseys retired and what the honour means.
2 minBy Chloe Merrell
Basketball
One of the greatest honours a basketball player in the NBA can receive is to have the number on their jersey retired by their team.
Retirement recognises that no other player from that franchise may wear the number again as a tribute to the greatness of the figure that once represented it.
Over the years multiple NBA teams have honoured representatives by retiring their numbers.
It is not just players who have had their numbers raised to the rafters, but also significant figures within the franchise such as coaches, executives and broadcasters.
To date, there are 14 players who have had their jerseys retired by multiple franchises: Pete Maravich, Nate Thurmond, Bob Lanier, Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Earl Monroe, Clyde Drexler, Oscar Robertson, Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O’Neal, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Dikembe Mutombo.
Bill Russell is the only player who has had his number retired league-wide.
During his playing career, the Boston Celtics legend became the most decorated champion in basketball history winning 11 NBA titles; five MVP awards and was inducted into the Basketball Ball of Fame in 2006.
