Why is number 23 so popular in basketball?

As a coach in basketball, one of my duties was to hand out jerseys. The most requested jersey number from players has always been the number 23. I have had players fight over this jersey number over the years, in which it had to be decided by a coin flip, rock paper scissors, or a shootout. It’s like this jersey number has magical powers or something.

Why is the number 23 so popular in basketball? In the NBA the number 23 is an accomplished number with 6 teams retiring the number 23 and with two of the best players of all time, Michael Jordan and Lebron James wearing the number. It’s no wonder it’s a sought-after number amongst basketball players. Jersey numbers are chosen mostly because players love to pick the number of their favorite player.

For some players wearing a different number than they are used to feels really awkward and different to a player. Many players chose numbers that have sentimental value to them. Whether it’s their favorite player or their favorite number, some players fall in love with the number and are attached to it.

 

Why the Number 23 is so popular in basketball?

They say that if you look good you will play good. They say if you wear a certain basketball shoe made by your favorite player that you will play just like him, well that’s what the commercials suggest.

I’m guessing that if you wear your favorite player’s number also you will play that way too.

Number 23 in my opinion should be retired in the NBA, no player should be able to wear for what Michael Jordan has done for the game of basketball.

He’s also known as the best player in the world.

The number 23 is popular because the two best players in basketball history both wear number 23.

This number has been popular from the time Michael Jordan entered the league in 1983 until he retired the third time in 2003.

This is where Lebron James was already named and crowned the King of basketball shortly after highschool.

Lebron James entered the league wearing number 23 the year Jordan retired for the third time.

Lebron would eventually change his number and said that no one should be allowed to wear the number 23.

While he played on the Miami Heat he wore the number 6, only to switch back when he returned to Cleveland.

Lebron may have worn the number 23 on the Heat but it was retired by the Miami Heat organization. More on this later…

Many players pay tribute to Michael Jordan by wearing his number. It is a number that they identify with when they play basketball.

The number 23 is a popular number and over the years has shown to be an accomplished number.

There are 12 players who currently wear the number 23 in the NBA.

Looks like not all players play like Michael Jordan just by wearing his number. It is interesting though that players who do pick their number usually are connected with the number in a certain way.

Whether it means something to them or they feel it brings them good luck. It’s as if it’s apart of their identity and who they are on the basketball court.

The number represents their name also, you can always associate a number with a name.

I always wondered if players would play worse for one game if they wore a different number? Would they forget mid-game? Maybe.

But if they had a bad game, would they blame it on the number? ……hmm…

Why did Michael Jordan choose number 23?

It is said that Michael Jordan was always competing for his father’s attention against his older brother Larry Jordan.

When Michael made his school basketball team he wore the number 23 because it was half the number Larry wore in baseball which was number 45, he was always trying to be like his brother.

When Michael Jordan’s father passed away in 1993, the number 23 was even more significant to Jordan as he said it was the number his father saw him play in.

Shortly after his father’s passing Jordan would wear the number 45 trying to chase his second dream of playing baseball for the Major Leagues, something he and his father always talked about.

Jordan wears 45

When Jordan decided to quit playing baseball and decided to play basketball once again, he continued to wear his baseball Jersey number for the remainder of the season in 1995.

Jordan played 27 games with the number 45 before switching back to his original number of 23.

The number 45 was just like the number 23, everyone had to have that number, and jersey sales were at an all-time high for Jordan when he returned to the game he loved.

Retiring the Number 23

The Chicago Bulls retired Michael Jordan’s Number in 1994 the first time then again in 1999.

Although Chicago wasn’t the first to retire the number 23 jersey into the rafters, another team had also done so and Jordan hadn’t even played for the team.

The Miami Heat honored Michael Jordan in retiring his number 23 in 2003. Even though Michael never played for Miami, the organization felt it was necessary for what Jordan had accomplished for the game of basketball and its fans.

No player from the Miami Heat is allowed to wear that number ever.

Jordan had also played for the Washington Wizards from 2001 to 2003, The Wizards have yet to retire his Jersey.

Other Players that wore the Number 23 and retired their number:

Atlanta Hawks – Lou Hudson

Boston Celtics – Frank Ramsey

Houston Rockets – Calvin Murphy

New Jersey Nets – John Williamson

Lebron James wears #23

Every kid who grows up watching the NBA and playing basketball wants to play in the National Basketball Association.

Kids often want to wear their favorite player’s number thinking they will play just like them on the court. Lebron James grew up watching Jordan and wearing number 23 ever since he could remember.

Lebron James is quoted saying the reason why he wears number 23 is because of Michael Jordan. Jordan was someone James idolized as a kid and wanted to play like.

I am not sure how true this story is but LeBron James wanted to be like Mike so badly that he hoped he would stop growing at 6 feet 6 inches tall.

Lebron now 6 feet 8 inches, wanted to play like Mike, Dunk like Mike and shoot like Mike.

Although Lebron is trying to make his own legacy and is doing a very good job doing so I think he probably had no idea he would be this good or maybe he did, but I feel like he should have chosen a different number.

Just my opinion.

Is Number 23 the most popular number in the NBA?

If we take a look at the 2020/21 NBA season, No #23 is actually not the most popular in the NBA and it’s not even close, this could be being an NBA star, most players want to start their own legacy and know that #23 is Jordan’s or Lebron’s number.

Number eight and number 3 are tied for first for the most worn numbers in the NBA with 22 players each. Number zero (if you consider that a number) and number 5 are second with 21 players wearing them.

Taking 3rd place is number one.