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List of NBA retired numbers

As a way to honor key contributors including players, coaches, fans, broadcasters and announcers, National Basketball Association (NBA) teams often retire their jersey numbers, win totals, or microphones. In the case of jersey numbers, they are usually no longer available for future players to wear, although they can ask for permission from players whose jerseys are retired. Teams usually display these numbers by hanging banners on the rafters inside their home arena. As of 2026, only the Los Angeles Clippers do not have any retired numbers. Two players have had their numbers retired by teams they did not play for, and only one player (Bill Russell) had his number retired league wide.

List

Key:

<span style="background:#ffb;">&nbsp;†&nbsp;</span>
Inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame
<span style="background:#cfecec;">&nbsp;‡&nbsp;</span>
Number retired league-wide
<span style="background:#eccfec;">&nbsp;*&nbsp;</span>
Number to be retired in the future

Honored numbers

Cleveland has introduced in 2019 a Wall of Honor, which honors former players and other personnel.

Phoenix also previously honored numbers from 1999 until 2023 during their Ring of Honor ceremonies.

Chicago has introduced a Ring of Honor in January 2024, with all of the previously retired numbers and banners, plus other significant personnel in Bulls' history, as well as one full team.

The Lakers have also honored their most notable players during the stint of the franchise in Minneapolis. Although their numbers are displayed on the banners, only the No. 22 and No. 34 are officially retired, since they were retired for Elgin Baylor and Shaquille O'Neal respectively. George Mikan was also promoted from being an honored number for his time with the Minneapolis Lakers to being retired by the Los Angeles Lakers properly on October 30, 2022.

One player, multiple teams

A handful of players who had notable careers for multiple teams have had their numbers retired by each team. Bill Russell (whose number was retired league-wide), Michael Jordan, and Pete Maravich had their numbers retired by teams they never played for.

  • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had his no. 33 retired by both the Bucks and Lakers.
  • Wilt Chamberlain had his no. 13 retired by the Warriors, 76ers, and Lakers. To date, he is one of only three players to have his jersey retired by 3 different teams, alongside Pete Maravich and Shaquille O'Neal.
  • Charles Barkley had his no. 34 retired by both the 76ers and Suns.
  • Vince Carter had his no. 15 jersey retired by the Raptors and the Nets.
  • Clyde Drexler had his no. 22 retired by both the Trail Blazers and Rockets.
  • Julius Erving had his no. 32 retired by the Nets, and his no. 6 retired by the 76ers.
  • Elvin Hayes had his no. 11 retired by the Wizards, and his no. 44 by the Rockets.
  • Michael Jordan had his no. 23 retired by both the Bulls and Heat. Jordan is one of three players to have his jersey retired by a team he never played for.
  • Bob Lanier had his no. 16 retired by both the Pistons and Bucks.
  • Pete Maravich had his no. 44 retired by the Hawks, while his no. 7 is retired by both the Jazz and Pelicans. Maravich is one of three players to have his jersey retired by three different teams, alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Shaquille O'Neal.
  • Moses Malone has his no. 24 retired by the Rockets, while his no. 2 is retired by the 76ers.
  • Earl Monroe had his no. 15 retired by the Knicks, and his no. 10 by the Wizards.
  • Dikembe Mutombo had his no. 55 retired by both the Nuggets and Hawks.
  • Shaquille O'Neal had his no. 34 retired by the Lakers, and his no. 32 by both the Heat and the Magic. O'Neal is one of three players to have his jersey retired by three different teams, alongside Wilt Chamberlain and Pete Maravich.
  • Dennis Rodman had his no. 10 retired by the Pistons, and his no. 91 appears in the Bulls' Ring of Honor .
  • Oscar Robertson had his no. 14 retired by the Kings, and his no. 1 by the Bucks.
  • On August 11, 2022, 12 days after his death, Bill Russell had his no. 6 retired league-wide, the first and thus far only NBA player to receive the honor. Russell had previously had his number retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972.
  • Jerry Sloan had his no. 4 retired by the Bulls, and no. 1,223 by the Jazz, signifying his total victories as their coach.
  • Nate Thurmond had his no. 42 retired by both the Warriors and Cavaliers.
  • Lenny Wilkens had his no. 19 retired by the Sonics, and his name appears in the Cavaliers' Wall of Honor.

One team, multiple players

The following numbers have been retired by a single team in honor of multiple players:

One player, one team, multiple numbers

The following numbers have been retired by a single team in honor of one player:

  • Los Angeles Lakers' nos. 8 and 24 retired for Kobe Bryant in 2017.

See also

Notes

References

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