The National Football League will now allow players to wear number zero for the first time ever according to Ben Morse of CNN on Wednesday. The number zero has been a popular number among players in the National Basketball Association over the years. In the history of the NBA, 137 players have worn number zero. Let’s take a look at the top six all-time.
1) Damian Lillard–Portland Trail Blazers
The Trail Blazers point guard from Oakland, California has worn zero for Portland since 2013. Nicknamed Sub Zero, Lillard is Portland’s all-time leader in three-points made (2387), free throws (4427), free throw percentage (.895), points (19376), and points per game (25.2). On February 26, in a 131-114 Portland win over Houston, Lillard had a 71-point game, the most by a NBA player this season.
2) Russell Westbrook–Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers point guard has worn number zero for four teams–the Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets. What Westbrook is known for over the years has been triple doubles. He has the most ever with 198.
3) Jayson Tatum–Boston Celtics
The Celtics four-time All-Star has worn number zero in Boston since 2018. In 2022-23, Tatum is having a career season as he is averaging career-highs in points (30.1), rebounds (8.9), and assists (4.7).
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4) Kevin Love–Cleveland Cavaliers
The native of Santa Monica, California wore number zero with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2015 to 2023. While Love wore zero, he won the 2016 NBA Finals, and was a two-time NBA All-Star (2017 and 2018).
5) Andre Drummond–Detroit Pistons
The native of Mount Vernon, New York wore number zero with the Detroit Pistons from 2014 to 2020, and while with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022. The two-time All-Star with the Pistons (2016 and 2018), Drummond led the NBA in rebounds per game on four occasions.
6) Gilbert Arenas–Washington Wizards
The native of Tampa, Florida was nicknamed Agent Zero. He wore the number with the Golden State Warriors in 2002 and 2003, and with the Washington Wizards from 2004 to 2010. While with the Wizards, Arenas was an All-Star for three straight seasons from 2005 to 2007.
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I'm an avid sports enthusiast with a particular focus on basketball and the NBA. My deep understanding of the game goes beyond casual fandom, and I've closely followed the careers of various players mentioned in the article. Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned:
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NFL Allowing Number Zero:
- The article mentions that the National Football League (NFL) will permit players to wear the number zero for the first time. This is a significant change in the uniform numbering system in the NFL.
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Number Zero in NBA:
- The article highlights the popularity of the number zero in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Over the years, 137 NBA players have worn the number, indicating its significance and appeal among basketball players.
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Top Six NBA Players Wearing Number Zero:
- Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers): Known as "Sub Zero," Lillard is the all-time leader in various statistical categories for the Trail Blazers, including three-pointers made, free throws, and points.
- Russell Westbrook (Los Angeles Clippers): Westbrook, a point guard, has worn number zero for four different NBA teams and is renowned for his impressive number of triple doubles.
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics): A four-time All-Star, Tatum has been wearing number zero for the Boston Celtics since 2018, and the article highlights his outstanding performance in the 2022-23 season.
- Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers): Love wore number zero during his tenure with the Cleveland Cavaliers, winning the NBA Finals in 2016 and earning two NBA All-Star selections.
- Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons): Drummond, a two-time All-Star with the Detroit Pistons, wore number zero during his time with the team and briefly with the Brooklyn Nets in 2022.
- Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards): Nicknamed "Agent Zero," Arenas wore the number with the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards, earning All-Star selections during his time with the Wizards.
The article provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of the number zero in both the NFL and NBA, along with detailed insights into the careers of notable NBA players who have embraced this number.
