Michael Jordan is the greatest player in NBA history, and everyone knows that he wore the No. 23. How many fans bought that jersey? Maybe all the other jersey sales in NBA history couldn't match the amount of MJ jerseys sold.
23 is the most famous number in the world, and many young players want to wear that number because of Michael Jordan. According to Basketball Reference, 219 players have worn the No. 23 in NBA and ABA history, but only one of them was MJ.
A while ago, it was rumored that the NBA would retire the No. 23, so no other player in the NBA going forward could wear it as their jersey number. But they didn't, so players continue to wear that famous number to this day.
Even LeBron James wanted all players to surrender 23:
"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," said James, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn't Michael Jordan first.
"He can't get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette adorns the NBA's logo], and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."
The NBA has never retired a number similar to what Major League Baseball did with Jackie Robinson's No. 42 and what the NHL did with Wayne Gretzky's No. 99, and it has never considered doing so, putting the matter in the category of uncharted territory.
"Retiring a player's number is a decision that has always been made by the teams," league spokesman Tim Frank said Friday.
Check the Top 15 players who have worn the No. 23 since Michael Jordan retired.
15. Ruben Patterson
Career Stats: 10.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2006-2008
Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
14. Derek Anderson
Career Stats: 12.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 1998-1999, 2006-2007
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13. Ersan Ilyasova
Career Stats: 11.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2015-2016
Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
12. Marcus Thornton
Career Stats: 13.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2010-2014
Image via Hoop Zone
11. Quentin Richardson
Career Stats: 10.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2005-2009
10. Louis Williams
Career Stats: 11.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2005-2012
Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
9. JR Smith
Career Stats: 13.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2004-2006
Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images
8. Wesley Matthews
Career Stats: 14.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2009-2010, 2015-?
Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
7. Kevin Martin
Career Stats: 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2004-2010, 2012-2014
6. Jason Richardson
Career Stats: 17.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2001-2014
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
5. Draymond Green
Career Stats: 9.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2012-?
4. Ron Artest
Career Stats: 13.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2002-2004
REUTERS/Ray Stubblebine JPS/SV
3. Marcus Camby
Career Stats: 9.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 1998-2013
2. Anthony Davis
Career Stats: 22.4 points, 10.2 rebounds, 2.5 blocks
Years He Wore No. 23: 2012-?
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1. LeBron James
Career Stats: 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.0 assists
Years He Wore No. 23: 2003-2010, 2014-?
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