NBA Jersey Number Rules: Positions & Numbers | Field Insider (2024)

Wearing the right number on your jersey is more than just a fashion statement. It’s an important part of being an NBA player that goes back to the beginning of professional basketball. Without it, you might not have been able to tell who was playing on which team! This blog post will teach you all about the rules for wearing numbers in the NBA. As well as some interesting facts about popular numbers and their history.

Contents hide

1.What Are The NBA Jersey Number Rules?

2.NBA Jersey Number Change Rules

4.Basketball Jersey Numbers By Position

5.Iconic NBA Jersey Numbers

6.Is The Number 69 Illegal In The NBA?

7.Conclusion

8.Here are Some of our Favourite Basketball Sneakers

What Are The NBA Jersey Number Rules?

As far as the NBA jersey number rules go, there aren’t many! NBA teams can choose what numbers their players will wear. There are only a few restrictions on which numbers you’re allowed to wear during NBA games.

The NBA allows fifteen different digits that include everything from 0-99, as well as 00! There are no restrictions put in place regarding which digit you need to wear so long as it falls within those ranges. This includes double-digit jerseys too such as No. 12 or No. 23 if they have them available on your team’s roster.

The NBA has changed some of its jersey number rules since it started way back in 1946 when they originally had no written rule about wearing specific digits. Or how many were required per team. The earliest recorded use of jerseys dates back even further though, as far as 1892 by Ellis College vs Irvington. Who wore the numbers of their players on their backs which were green for Irvington and white for Ellis.

NBA Jersey Number Rules: Positions & Numbers | Field Insider (1)

Does The NBA Allow Three-Digit Numbers?

In short, no! NBA number rules state that you can only wear one to two digits on your NBA jerseys. NBA players are not allowed to wear numbers higher than 99 for NBA games.

The NBA has attempted to make changes in the past but was met with a lot of pushback by fans. Those who were used to watching their favorite players wearing specific jersey numbers especially retired jerseys.

NBA Jersey Number Change Rules

What happens when a basketball player wants to change his/her number? NBA jersey number rules allow NBA players to change their jersey numbers as much as they like. Provided the player is wearing a number within the NBA’s range of digits.

If you want to see your favorite NBA player with another digit on his/her back, don’t fret! The NBA allows for a free agency which means any NBA team can sign that player. And determine what number he or she will wear next. This has happened before where retired jerseys are brought out of retirement by either current or former players who wore those specific digits while playing in the NBA.

Michael Jordan famously changed from 23 to 45 when he came out of retirement after three years away from basketball. But there have been others too including Kobe Bryant changing his No. 24 jersey at one point during his NBA career.

There is another jersey number rule that NBA players and fans need to know too: post-season rules determine how jerseys can be worn during play in the NBA Playoffs! Once a player has played on an NBA team for three years. He/she will have their number “unavailable”.

This means they cannot change it ahead of or during any NBA games. Such as playoffs unless there are extenuating circ*mstances. This was designed specifically so teams wouldn’t lose marketing power from retired numbers of former legends. Who wore those digits while playing in the NBA.

LeBron’s #6 and #23 Number Swaps

LeBron James started his career with the 23 for the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers but switched to #23 for his second year. He kept this number until he joined the Miami Heat where he changed from 23 to 6. He then went back to wearing his original NBA jersey number of 23 when he left Miami, joining the Cavs again.

LeBron is now wearing 6 again with the Lakers, the reason being that

Basketball Jersey Numbers By Position

NBA Jersey Number Rules: Positions & Numbers | Field Insider (2)

NBA jersey numbers have nothing to do with the positional play. NBA teams usually have a set of players who play the same position, and they wear similar numbers because it’s easier for referees to tell them apart on the court this way.

The NBA does not require specific number ranges to be worn by particular positions so you’ll notice that some guards could wear No. 0-25 while others may only wear higher digits such as No. 40 or larger depending on where their jersey falls within their team’s roster organization.

There are no rules about wearing certain numbers during NBA games but there are restrictions regarding what your shirt looks like with regards to advertisem*nts since those can’t interfere with rulebooks being read from across the court! This is why we say each player has a “jersey number” instead of simply “number” as NBA players wear jerseys with advertisem*nts on them.

Iconic NBA Jersey Numbers

The NBA has seen some iconic jersey numbers worn by players over the decades including No. 23, 24, and 45! There are many more like them too which NBA teams pay homage to by retiring their jerseys so that current or future basketball stars will never wear those digits again in any NBA game.

Those who have played for NBA teams include Michael Jordan (23), Kobe Bryant (24) Shaquille O’Neal (33), LeBron James (23/32), Magic Johnson (32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33), and many others.

Why Do NBA Teams Retire Jersey Numbers?

NBA teams also retire jersey numbers for those who have contributed significantly to a franchise whether they played on the team or not like Wilt Chamberlain (13) with Philadelphia 76ers, Bill Russell (six) with Boston Celtics, Jerry West (44) with Los Angeles Lakers, John Stockton (12) with Utah Jazz among others.

The NBA is home to some of basketball’s greatest players ever including Shaquille O’Neal (No. 33 retired by Miami Heat), Michael Jordan (23 retired by Chicago Bulls/Washington Wizards), and Kobe Bryant (24 retired by Los Angeles Lakers). There are many more great NBA legends whose jerseys will never be worn!

Is The Number 69 Illegal In The NBA?

The NBA’s “uniform rule” only prohibits specific advertisem*nts on jerseys that aren’t allowed during NBA games. Players can wear whatever numbers they’d like, but the NBA does not allow for 69 to be worn by any player in an NBA game since it is an offensive slang term! NBA players can wear jersey numbers in the 70s or 80s, but NBA referees will not allow 69 to be worn on NBA jerseys.

NBA Jersey Number Rules: Positions & Numbers | Field Insider (3)

Conclusion

The NBA Jersey Number Rules are not difficult, but you must understand them which will help avoid any confusion or issues during your next game day experience watching basketball at home or live on TV! Get ready to cheer on your favorite team and players as if nothing changed even though their jerseys may look slightly different than they did last season…

Here are Some of our Favourite Basketball Sneakers

Here we will be giving more of an opinion, rather than facts. Are the sneakers worth the price that they are being sold at? Should you upgrade from your current sneakers, depending on what boots you own? What features stand out on these sneakers? If any. Does it do the job? Speed, control, stability etc. Depending on your needs/preferences. We can also mention its durability, if we have collected enough data on the specific sneakers.

What did we expect vs. what we got. Is it maybe overrated/underrated?

Elite

Here’s our pick from the very best of the bunch.

Pro

On your way to the pro leagues? Here’s our pick.

Beginner

Want something to start with? Have a look at our pick.

NBA Jersey Number Rules: Positions & Numbers | Field Insider (2024)

FAQs

Can you wear 69 in NBA? ›

The #69 has been banned. No NBA player has ever worn the number 69, which is believed to be implicitly banned due to its sexual connotations; the NBA has never confirmed this. Dennis Rodman had allegedly requested the number 69 when he joined the Dallas Mavericks but was refused and instead wore 70.

What jersey numbers are not allowed in basketball? ›

Legal numbers are: 00, 0-5, 10-15, 20-25, 30-35, 40-45, 50-55. Team rosters may not include both 0, and 00.

What does 00 mean on a jersey? ›

0 isn't wearing a number at all. (And “00” would be doubly controversial.) In sports, players wearing “0” or “00” are uncommon. Most teams won't assign those numbers. Players usually have to request them, perhaps thinking that “0” or “00” will distinguish them and make them stand out.

What is the rarest number in the NBA? ›

In fact, the following numbers have never been worn: 58, 59, 64, 69, 74, 75, 78, 79, 80, 82, 87 and 97.

Why is 7 not allowed in basketball? ›

Why does the rule exist for college basketball players? Since officials are supposed to communicate the jersey number of a player who committed a foul using two hands to indicate the entire number, there are numbers like six that would cause confusion.

Can an NBA team have 0 and 00? ›

The rule about "0" and "00" does not apply to the NBA anymore but previously, in 2000, Utah Jazz center Greg Ostertag changed from "00" to "39" so Olden Polynice could wear No. 0 and in 2003, Washington Wizards center Brendan Haywood switched from No. 00 to No.

Is Number 0 allowed in basketball? ›

the back of the jersey. 3. Legal numbers are: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 00, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55. both numbers 0 and 00.

Can you have jersey number 0? ›

Share: Breaking away from years of tradition, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee has voted to now allow players to wear the number 0 as a jersey number. The range of acceptable numbers listed in Rule 1-4-3 was expanded from 1-99 to 0-99.

Can you wear 69 in the NFL? ›

In all three levels of American football (high school football, college football and professional football), players must wear a number from 1 to 99.

Why is there no number 6 in basketball? ›

in NBA history, the NBA honors Bill Russell by retiring his jersey number. The NBA has announced a retirement of the No. 6 jersey across the league in honor of the legendary NBA champion and civil rights pioneer Bill Russell, who passed away on 31st July at the age of 88.

What does the C mean on a jersey? ›

Pasadena. Farmer: Beginning in 2007, the NFL allowed teams to designate as many as six captains per season. Each of those players wears a “C” on the upper right corner of his chest. There are four stars underneath the C that designate the number of years of service as a captain.

Who wore double 0? ›

Robert Parish: The first to wear 00. The Hall of Fame big man was the first player in the history of the NBA to use the number when he entered the league in 1976 and would never wear another. Parish would play for 21 seasons, 1611 regular season games (all-time record) and 184 playoff games.

Is number 6 retired? ›

The NBA has retired Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey to honor his legacy on and off the court.

What is the most picked number? ›

7! Almost half of all people chose numbers between 1 and 10. The second-place number was 3, followed by 8, 4, 5, 13, 9, 6, 2, and 11, to round out the top ten choices. Interestingly, every number between 1 and 100 was chosen by someone: the number 39 has fans, as does 53, 62 or any of the others.

Has there ever been a number 99 in the NBA? ›

Number 99: George Mikan.

Can you clap in the NBA? ›

Clapping on a basketball court is once again allowed. So says the NBA.

What is an illegal 3 in basketball? ›

It is assessed when a member of the defending team spends more than three seconds in the free throw lane (also called the key, the 16-foot lane, or "the paint") while not actively guarding an opponent.

What does 7up mean in basketball? ›

Seven-up is a game for players who are accurate from 3-point line. The rules are very simple: Minimum number of players for this game is 3 and maximum is 8. The game has elimination system so when you get 7 points you are out.

Why is 9 not allowed in basketball? ›

It's been a rule in college ball for a long time. It's meant to make it easier for a ref to signal to the scorers table who a foul is on. Using only the first five digits and zero means a ref can use both hands to signal a number even if it's a two digit number.

Can you wear a retired number in the NBA? ›

Once a number is retired, no future player from the team may wear that number on their uniform, unless the player so-honored permits it; however, in many cases the number cannot be used at all.

Has there ever been an 0 and 82 team? ›

Now, each team plays about 3.5 games per week during the regular season which lasts about 165 days. So Has an NBA team ever gone 0-82 or 82-0? No team has ever won or lost all 82 games in a single season. The best record ever was 73 wins and 9 losses by the 2015-16 Golden State Warriors.

Who wears 00 in NBA? ›

00: Jordan Clarkson, Utah Jazz.

Can a player wear number 1? ›

The No. 1 shirt is most typically reserved for the first-choice goalkeeper at a club and is almost never given to any outfield player. Ex-Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas has famously worn the number, as well as the likes of Oliver Kahn and Gianluigi Buffon.

Can you be 00 in NBA? ›

There are only a few restrictions on which numbers you're allowed to wear during NBA games. The NBA allows fifteen different digits that include everything from 0-99, as well as 00! There are no restrictions put in place regarding which digit you need to wear so long as it falls within those ranges.

What is the least used jersey number? ›

The most worn number is 12 (380 times). Then it goes 11 (341), 20 (305), 15 (304), and 14 (301). The numbers 58, 59, 64, 69, 74, 75, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 87, 95, and 97 have never been worn.

Is 00 a valid jersey number? ›

The NBA only allows two digit numbers on the back of their Jersey. The NBA only allows numbers which have two digits. For instance you can have 00 however, you cannot have 000. Therefore, the numbers which NBA players can choose from are 00-99 (with the exception of number 69).

What number can a safety be? ›

Numbers 20 to 49 are worn by running backs, tight ends (who may wear a number between 40-49 when 80-89 are unavailable), cornerbacks and safeties. Numbers 50 to 59 are worn by linebackers and centers.

Is number 0 allowed in NFL? ›

Numbers 0 and 00 are no longer used, though they were issued in the NFL before the number standardization in 1973. Quarterback Johnny Clement, running back Johnny Olszewski, and safety Obert Logan all wore a single-0 jersey in the NFL.

Can a QB wear number 19? ›

The NFL has rules for jerseys. Players on the same team can't wear the same jersey number, for obvious reasons, and different positions are required to wear particular numbers. Quarterbacks, in particular, have to wear a number between #1 and #19.

Can you wear 0 in the MLB? ›

In Major League Baseball, players are allowed to wear zero as their uniform number (yes, it's a number. Also, it's even). It's rare, but it happens. Currently, there is one player in baseball who wears zero, and that's Adam Ottavino, pitcher for the Colorado Rockies.

Why can't college players wear 6 9? ›

The reason for this is, that there are only a finite amount of numbers that are eligible to be used in college basketball. Numbers 6-9 are not permitted because referees have to be able to call fouls on one hand. That means 20 numbers between 0-55 are not able to be used.

How much do NBA referees make? ›

The most recent estimations put NBA referees annual salaries between $180,000 and $550,000. Other projections put the base salary for new referees somewhere around $250,000.

What is the black 6 on NBA jerseys? ›

The No. 6 patch on NBA jerseys this season is a nod to Bill Russell's legacy on the court. The Boston Celtics legend amassed 11 NBA titles, five MVPs, 12 All-Star appearances and countless other accolades while rocking the No. 6 on his back from 1956-1969.

What does G mean in football? ›

In gridiron football, a guard (G), otherwise known as an offensive guard (OG), is a player who lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team on the line of scrimmage used primarily for blocking.

What does the gold captain patch mean? ›

The "C" patch

worn by the specific team). The number of gold stars on the patch represents the number of years that player has been named captain by a team. If he has been named captain for longer than four years, the "C" on the patch is gold.

Why do some athletes have AC on their jersey? ›

In 2007, the NFL instituted a program that allowed each team to designate up to six captains per season. Chosen players are regularly honored with a "C" on their jerseys, and stars on the patch are filled in for each year of service as a captain.

Who was first 0 in NBA? ›

A number on the rise. Though Woolridge's rookie season with the 1981-82 Bulls marked the first time an NBAer wore zero permanently, another Chicago player beat him to the numerical distinction by 34 years. Windy City-born guard Johnny Jorgensen donned No.

Who has the fastest double double? ›

NAMEDATEFG%
LeBron James12/6/202247.1
Jarrett Allen12/6/202278.6
Darius Garland12/6/202244.4
Bam Adebayo12/6/202256.3
16 more rows

Who is #1 in the NBA? ›

01 Giannis Antetokounmpo

Antetokounmpo reached the NBA mountaintop in 2021 by winning a championship and Finals MVP award.

Is 42 retired in all sports? ›

In 1997, Commissioner Bud Selig made sure Robinson's work would be honored for all time by permanently retiring his No. 42. In a ceremony before the April 15, 1997, game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Mets at Shea Stadium, Selig declared that No.

Is number 23 retired? ›

The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat retired the number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. Jordan never played for the Miami Heat. Jordan is one of the 14 people to have a number retired by two different teams.

Why did LeBron switch to 6? ›

Lakers News: LeBron James Plans To Honor Bill Russell's Legacy By Wearing No. 6. When former Boston Celtics legendary center Bill Russell passed away in July, the basketball world and the Los Angeles Lakers united in order to honor his legacy.

What are the 3 luckiest numbers? ›

The top 10 are: 11, 7, 17, 27,19, 23, 12,13, 9 and 18. So how do you pick lucky numbers? For those who use birthdays, five of the most commonly drawn numbers are more than 31, meaning they are not likely to have picked them. Another approach that is commonly used is to look for numbers that have not come up in a while.

What is the least liked number? ›

More than any other number, people seemed to pick 0 because they thought it was a clever thing to do, Bellos says. As for the world's “least favorite” number, that would be 110.

Why do people guess 7? ›

But we also have religious reasons for thinking that 7 is special – think: seven deadly sins and seventh heaven. In nature, you have the seven wonders of the world, seven colours of the rainbow, seven seas and seven continents.

Can a QB be number 99? ›

Quarterbacks, Kickers, and Punters: No change. As before, they may wear numbers 1-19. Running Backs: Can now wear numbers 1 to 49 and 80 to 89.

What is the highest jersey number in NBA? ›

No. 33 is the greatest number in NBA history, at least based on the above criteria.
...
What is the most decorated jersey number in NBA history?
No.Players
6Andrew Bogut, Walter Davis*, Julius Erving*, LeBron James, Avery Johnson*, Bill Russell*
8 more rows
Jun 9, 2021

Was Kobe ever a 99? ›

NBA 2K5 and 2K8 even had Bryant as 99s, a perfect rating and an appreciably rare one for players to receive. Below, check out Kobe Bryant's NBA 2K ratings through the years.

Can you be number 69 in pro sports? ›

Just two NHL players have ever worn it, no one in the history of the NBA ever has, and only a handful of major leaguers have ever done so. In the NFL, however, regulations stipulate that offensive linemen can only select a number between 60 and 79 and defensive lineman must pick one between 60 and 79 or 90 and 99.

Has any NBA player scored 69 points? ›

Here are Michael's stats in his high-scoring game: 69 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, and four steals. Notable: He shot a hot . 621 percent from the field making 23-37 field goal attempts. When he scored 69 points, it was an overtime thriller against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Who wanted to wear 69 in the NBA? ›

When Dennis Rodman signed with the Dallas Mavericks in 1999, he requested to wear No. 69. The team printed up a few jerseys which Mark Cuban still allegedly has. But the NBA vetoed the jersey number and Rodman settled on No.

Can I wear 69 football? ›

In all three levels of American football (high school football, college football and professional football), players must wear a number from 1 to 99.

Can you wear 0 in the NFL? ›

Numbers 0 and 00 are no longer used, though they were issued in the NFL before the number standardization in 1973. Quarterback Johnny Clement, running back Johnny Olszewski, and safety Obert Logan all wore a single-0 jersey in the NFL.

Why does Aaron Judge wear number 99? ›

Uniform. Judge has worn the unusual uniform number of 99 since it was given to him during 2016 spring training (higher numbers are typically given to young players who are not expected to make the final regular-season roster).

Can you wear 99 in the NHL? ›

Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 is retired throughout the NHL not only because he is considered the greatest player in League history, but because the number and his name are synonymous. Though there is no debate over who the best player to wear that number is, there are 98 other numbers with more than one worthy candidate.

Who scored 73 points in a game? ›

7. The number of players who have scored at least 70 points in an NBA game: Wilt Chamberlain (100, 78, 73, 73, 72, 70), Kobe Bryant (81), David Thompson (73), Donovan Mitchell (71), Elgin Baylor (71), David Robinson (71), Devin Booker (70).

Who scored 73 points in an NBA game? ›

Other than Chamberlain and Bryant, the only players in NBA history who have scored 70 points in an NBA game are David Thompson (73), Elgin Baylor (71), David Robinson (71), Donovan Mitchell (71) and Devin Booker (70). Chamberlain is the only player in NBA history with multiple 70-point games.

Has anyone got 100 points in NBA? ›

On March 2, 1962, Wilt Chamberlain tallied 100 points for the Warriors in a 169-147 win. Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points to set a single-game NBA record. NBA.com takes a look back at the top moments that define the history of the NBA.

Why couldn t Rodman wear 69? ›

Even though the NBA has never acknowledged this, most people guess it's probably due to its sexual overtones. The number is said to have been requested by Dennis Rodman when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1999, but it was denied by then-NBA commissioner David Stern.

Why is 69 famous? ›

In reference to the sex position, "69" has become an Internet meme, where users will respond to any occurrence of the number with the word "nice" and draw specific attention to it. This means to sarcastically imply that the reference to the sex position was intentional.

Who is 21 in the NBA? ›

Most iconic NBA numbers: #21 – Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

Can a QB wear 19? ›

The NFL has rules for jerseys. Players on the same team can't wear the same jersey number, for obvious reasons, and different positions are required to wear particular numbers. Quarterbacks, in particular, have to wear a number between #1 and #19.

Can a 50 year old play football? ›

Research says there's no reason why you shouldn't play football when you're over fifty - you might just have to adapt your technique. Walking football and similar variants could be the answer. There's no such thing as hanging up your boots in football these days.

Is 45 too old to play football? ›

Science has proven that you are never too old to play football. However, it won't come as a surprise that the risk of injuries increases as you get old, regardless of the sport you practice. In the case of football, the most common injuries as you get older are: ankle sprains.

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