Blog Archives
NBA: Raised and Retired Numbers by Team
The Boston Celtics Have So Many Championship Banners in the Rafters, They Have to Squeeze Their Similarly Numerous Retired Numbers Into Little Boxes
Sports List of the Day NBA fans – here is your personal list of all the league’s retired “numbers” – and those not officially retired that hang in the rafters anyway.
Let me explain.
Some numbers are outright retired. You’ll never see another Boston Celtic wear No. 33 again (Larry Bird) or another Los Angeles Laker wear No. 32 (Magic Johnson).
But you might see a Philadelphia 76er wearing No. 2 (Moses Malone) or a Los Angeles Laker wearing No. 99 (George Mikan).
In the far right column, there are explanations for quirks like the above, the proper team name for whom the player’s number is retired (ex: Atlanta vs. St. Louis Hawks) and other explanatory notes.
The Boston Celtics have the most retired “numbers” or jerseys, followed by the Los Angeles Lakers. Few things make greater sense.
Several players have their numbers retired by more than one team. Wilt Chamberlain is the only player to have his number retired by three franchises (Warriors, 76ers, Lakers).
Those with two are: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Bucks, Lakers); Charles Barkley (76ers, Suns); Clyde Drexler (Trail Blazers, Rockets); Bob Lanier (Pistons, Bucks); Oscar Robertson (Kings, Bucks); Earl Monroe (Knicks, Wizards); Moses Malone (76ers, Rockets); Julius Erving (76ers, Nets); Nate Thurmond (Cavaliers, Warriors); Pete Maravich (Jazz, Hornets) and Michael Jordan (Bulls, Heat).
Oh, and both the Magic and Kings have both retired the No. 6 in honor of the fans. I wonder if the Kings will keep it retired when they move to Seattle (zing).
Asterisks denote players who died while actively a members of their team. Their numbers are retired in memory.
Follow @VinGetz| BOSTON CELTICS (23) | |||
| 00 | Robert Parish | C | |
| 1 | Walter Brown | Founder | |
| 2 | Red Auerbach | Head Coach | |
| 3 | Dennis Johnson | G | |
| 6 | Bill Russell | C | |
| 10 | Jo Jo White | G | |
| 14 | Bob Cousy | G | |
| 15 | Tom Heinsohn | F | |
| 16 | Tom Sanders | F | |
| 17 | John Havlicek | F-G | |
| 18 | Dave Cowens | C | |
| 19 | Don Nelson | F | |
| 21 | Bill Sharman | G | |
| 22 | Ed Macauley | C | |
| 23 | Frank Ramsey | G | |
| 24 | Sam Jones | G | |
| 25 | K.C. Jones | G | |
| 31 | Cedric Maxwell | F | |
| 32 | Kevin McHale | F | |
| 33 | Larry Bird | F | |
| 35 | Reggie Lewis* | G | |
| LOSCY | Jim Loscutoff | F | Same Number as Cowens (18) |
| Mic | Johnny Most | Broadcaster | |
| LOS ANGELES LAKERS (16) | |||
| 13 | Wilt Chamberlain | C | |
| 17 | Jim Pollard | F | Minneapolis. Raised, not officially retired. |
| 19 | Vern Mikkelsen | F | Minneapolis. Raised, not officially retired. |
| 22 | Elgin Baylor | F | Minneapolis / Los Angeles |
| 22 | Slater Martin | G | Minneapolis. Raised, not officially retired. |
| 25 | Gail Goodrich | G | |
| 32 | Magic Johnson | G | |
| 33 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | C | |
| 34 | Clyde Lovellette | C | Minneapolis. Raised, not officially retired. |
| 34 | Shaquille O’Neal | C | |
| 42 | James Worthy | F | |
| 44 | Jerry West | G | |
| 52 | Jamaal Wilkes | F | |
| 99 | George Mikan | C | Minneapolis. Raised, not officially retired. |
| JK | John Kundla | Head Coach | Minneapolis |
| Mic | Chick Hearn | Broadcaster | |
| PHOENIX SUNS (13) | |||
| 5 | Dick Van Arsdale | G | |
| 6 | Walter Davis | G-F | |
| 7 | Kevin Johnson | G | Raised, not officially retired |
| 9 | Dan Majerle | G-F | Raised, not officially retired |
| 24 | Tom Chambers | F | Raised, not officially retired |
| 33 | Alvan Adams | C-F | |
| 34 | Charles Barkley | F | Raised, not officially retired |
| 42 | Connie Hawkins | F | |
| 44 | Paul Westphal | G | |
| JC | Jerry Colangelo | Executive | |
| JM | John MacLeod | Head Coach | |
| JP | Joe Proski | Trainer | |
| 832 | Cotton Fitzsimmons | Head Coach | NBA Wins |
| PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (12) | |||
| 1 | Larry Weinberg | Founder | |
| 13 | Dave Twardzik | G | |
| 14 | Lionel Hollins | G | |
| 15 | Larry Steele | G | |
| 20 | Maurice Lucas | F | |
| 22 | Clyde Drexler | G | |
| 30 | Bob Gross | F | |
| 30 | Terry Porter | G | |
| 32 | Bill Walton | C | |
| 36 | Lloyd Neal | F-C | |
| 45 | Geoff Petrie | G | |
| 77 | Jack Ramsay | Head Coach | Year of NBA Championship (1976-77) |
| DETROIT PISTONS (10) | |||
| 2 | Chuck Daly | Head Coach | |
| 4 | joe Dumars | G | |
| 10 | Dennis Rodman | F | |
| 11 | Isiah Thomas | G | |
| 15 | Vinnie Johnson | G | |
| 16 | Bob Lanier | C | |
| 21 | Dave Bing | G | |
| 40 | Bill Laimbeer | C | |
| JM | Jack McCloskey | GM | |
| WD | William Davidson | Owner | |
| SACRAMENTO KINGS (10) | |||
| 1 | Tiny Archibald | G | Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha / K.C. |
| 2 | Mitch Richmond | G | |
| 4 | Chris Webber | F | |
| 6 | The Fans | “The Sixth Man” | |
| 11 | Bob Davies | G | Rochester Royals |
| 12 | Maurice Stokes | F-C | Rochester Royals / Cincinnati Royals |
| 14 | Oscar Robertson | G | Cincinnati Royals |
| 21 | Vlade Divac | C | |
| 27 | Jack Twyman | F-G | |
| 44 | Sam Lacey | C | Cincinnati Royals / Kansas City-Omaha / K.C. |
| UTAH JAZZ (10) | |||
| 1 | Frank Layden | Head Coach | |
| 4 | Adrian Dantley | F | |
| 7 | Pete Maravich | G | New Orleans / Utah |
| 9 | Larry Miller | Owner | |
| 12 | John Stockton | G | |
| 14 | Jeff Hornacek | G | |
| 32 | Karl Malone | F | |
| 35 | Darrell Griffith | G | |
| 53 | Mark Eaton | C | |
| Mic | Hot Rod Hundley | Broadcaster | |
| NEW YORK KNICKS (9) | |||
| 10 | Walt Frazier | G | |
| 12 | Dick Barnett | G | |
| 15 | Dick McGuire | G | |
| 15 | Earl Monroe | G | |
| 19 | Willis Reed | C-F | |
| 22 | Dave DeBusschere | F | |
| 24 | Bill Bradley | F | |
| 33 | Patrick Ewing | C | |
| 613 | Red Holzman | Head Coach | Knicks Wins |
| PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (9) | |||
| 2 | Moses Malone | C | Not officially retired. |
| 6 | Julius Erving | F | |
| 10 | Maurice Cheeks | G | |
| 13 | Wilt Chamberlain | C | |
| 15 | Hal Greer | G | Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia |
| 24 | Bobby Jones | F | |
| 32 | Billy Cunningham | F | |
| 34 | Charles Barkley | F | |
| Mic | Dave Zinkoff | PA Announcer | |
| MILWAUKEE BUCKS (7) | |||
| 1 | Oscar Robertson | G | |
| 2 | Junior Bridgeman | F-G | |
| 4 | Sidney Moncrief | G | |
| 14 | Jon McGlocklin | G | |
| 16 | Bob Lanier | C | |
| 32 | Brian Winters | G | |
| 33 | Kareem Abdul-Jabbar | C | |
| OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (7) | |||
| 1 | Gus Williams | G | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 10 | Nate McMillan | G | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 19 | Lenny Wilkens | G | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 24 | Spencer Haywood | F | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 32 | Fred Brown | G | Seattle SuperSonics |
| 43 | Jack Sikma | C | Seattle SuperSonics |
| Mic | Bob Blackburn | Broadcaster | Seattle SuperSonics |
| SAN ANTONIO SPURS (7) | |||
| 00 | Johnny Moore | G | |
| 6 | Avery Johnson | G | |
| 12 | Bruce Bowen | F | |
| 13 | James Silas | G | San Antonio Spurs (ABA/NBA) |
| 32 | Sean Elliot | F | |
| 44 | George Gervin | G-F | San Antonio Spurs (ABA/NBA) |
| 50 | David Robinson | C | |
| BROOKLYN NETS (6) | |||
| 3 | Drazen Petrovic* | G | New Jersey |
| 4 | Wendell Ladner* | F | New York (ABA) |
| 23 | John Williamson | G | New York (ABA) / New Jersey |
| 25 | Bill Melchionni | G | New York (ABA) |
| 32 | Julius Erving | F | New York (ABA) |
| 52 | Buck Williams | F-C | New Jersey |
| CHICAGO BULLS (6) | |||
| 4 | Jerry Sloan | G | |
| 10 | Bob Love | F | |
| 23 | Michael Jordan | G | |
| 33 | Scottie Pippen | F | |
| JK | Jerry Krause | GM | |
| PJ | Phil Jackson | Head Coach | |
| CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (6) | |||
| 7 | Bingo Smith | F-G | |
| 22 | Larry Nance | F | |
| 25 | Mark Price | G | |
| 34 | Austin Carr | G | |
| 42 | Nate Thurmond | C | |
| 43 | Brad Daugherty | C | |
| GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (6) | |||
| 13 | Wilt Chamberlain | C | Philadelphia / San Francisco |
| 14 | Tom Meschery | F | Philadelphia / San Francisco |
| 16 | Al Attles | G | Philadelphia / San Francisco |
| 17 | Chris Mullin | F-G | |
| 24 | Rick Barry | F | San Francisco / Golden State |
| 42 | Nate Thurmond | C-F | San Francisco / Golden State |
| HOUSTON ROCKETS (6) | |||
| 22 | Clyde Drexler | G | |
| 23 | Calvin Murphy | G | San Diego / Houston |
| 24 | Moses Malone | C | |
| 34 | Hakeem Olajuwon | C | |
| 45 | Rudy Tomjanovich | F | San Diego / Houston |
| CD | Carroll Dawson | AC / GM | |
| ATLANTA HAWKS (5) | |||
| 9 | Bob Pettit | F | Milwaukee / St. Louis |
| 17 | Ted Turner | Owner | |
| 21 | Dominique Wilkins | F | |
| 23 | Lou Hudson | F-G | St. Louis / Atlanta |
| 40 | Jason Collier* | C | |
| DENVER NUGGETS (5) | |||
| 2 | Alex English | F | |
| 33 | David Thompson | G | |
| 40 | Byron Beck | C-F | Denver Nuggets (ABA) |
| 44 | Dan Issel | C-F | |
| 432 | Doug Moe | Coach | Nuggets Wins |
| INDIANA PACERS (5) | |||
| 30 | George McGinnis | F | Indiana Pacers (ABA/NBA) |
| 31 | Reggie Miller | G | |
| 34 | Mel Daniels | C | Indiana Pacers (ABA) |
| 35 | Roger Brown | F | Indiana Pacers (ABA) |
| 529 | Slick Leonard | Head Coach | Indiana Pacers (ABA/NBA); Pacers Wins (ABA/NBA) |
| MIAMI HEAT (4) | |||
| 10 | Tim Hardaway | G | |
| 13 | Dan Marino | QB | Makes no sense to me. |
| 23 | Michael Jordan | G | Another odd honor. |
| 33 | Alonzo Mourning | C | |
| WASHINGTON WIZARDS (4) | |||
| 10 | Earl Monroe | G | Baltimore Bullets |
| 11 | Elvin Hayes | F | Baltimore, Capital, Washington Bullets |
| 25 | Gus Johnson | F | Balimore Bullets |
| 41 | Wes Unseld | C | Baltimore, Capital, Washington Bullets |
| DALLAS MAVERICKS (2) | |||
| 15 | Brad Davis | G | |
| 22 | Rolando Blackman | G | |
| NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (2) | |||
| 7 | Pete Maravich | G | Played for LSU and New Orleans Jazz |
| 13 | Bobby Phills* | G | Charlotte |
| MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (1) | |||
| 2 | Malik Sealy* | G | |
| ORLANDO MAGIC (1) | |||
| 6 | The Fans | “The Sixth Man” | |
| CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (0) | |||
| None | |||
| LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (0) | |||
| None | |||
| MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (0) | |||
| None | |||
| TORONTO RAPTORS (0) | |||
| None | |||
Photo: boards.sportslogos.net
NBA: L.A. Lakers, Boston Celtics and Teams with the Most Playoff Appearances
The Lakers (Minneapolis, Los Angeles) Have Made the Postseason 92% of their History
While the Boston Celtics have the most NBA titles of all time, just edging out the Lakers‘ franchise 17-16, it’s the Lakers who have packed for the postseason more than any other team in NBA history.
Those two franchises, plus the 76ers (who were originally the Syracuse Nationals), Hawks (originally out of St. Louis), Knicks, Pistons and Warriors have been around from the beginnings of pro ball and, for the most part, dominate today’s list.
The Warriors fall from grace is striking. Excepting a title in 1975, the franchise never really achieved the heights of its early days in Philadelphia.
Here are all NBA franchises’ number of playoff appearances, including 2012.
I’ve added percent of times in a franchise’s history that it made the postseason, evening the field a bit. How about those San Antonio Spurs.
Follow me on Twitter @VinGetz.
| TEAM | 1st YEAR | YEARS | PLAYOFFS | PLAYOFF PCT |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1949 | 64 | 59 | 92.19% |
| Boston Celtics | 1947 | 66 | 50 | 75.76% |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1950 | 63 | 47 | 74.60% |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1950 | 63 | 41 | 65.08% |
| New York Knicks | 1947 | 66 | 41 | 62.12% |
| Detroit Pistons | 1949 | 64 | 40 | 62.50% |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1968 | 36 | 32 | 88.89% |
| Chicago Bulls | 1967 | 46 | 31 | 67.39% |
| Phoenix Suns | 1969 | 44 | 29 | 65.91% |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1971 | 42 | 29 | 69.05% |
| Sacramento Kings | 1949 | 64 | 29 | 45.31% |
| Golden State Warriors | 1947 | 66 | 28 | 42.42% |
| Houston Rockets | 1968 | 45 | 26 | 57.78% |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1969 | 44 | 26 | 59.09% |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1968 | 45 | 25 | 55.56% |
| Washington Wizards | 1962 | 51 | 25 | 49.02% |
| Utah Jazz | 1975 | 38 | 25 | 65.79% |
| Denver Nuggets | 1968 | 36 | 23 | 63.89% |
| Indiana Pacers | 1968 | 36 | 20 | 55.56% |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1971 | 42 | 18 | 42.86% |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1981 | 32 | 18 | 56.25% |
| New Jersey Nets | 1968 | 36 | 16 | 44.44% |
| Miami Heat | 1989 | 24 | 16 | 66.67% |
| Orlando Magic | 1990 | 23 | 14 | 60.87% |
| New Orleans Hornets | 1989 | 24 | 12 | 50.00% |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1971 | 42 | 8 | 19.05% |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 1990 | 23 | 8 | 34.78% |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1996 | 17 | 5 | 29.41% |
| Toronto Raptors | 1996 | 17 | 5 | 29.41% |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 2005 | 8 | 1 | 12.50% |
Photo: lakers.topbuzz.com
Number and Year of NBA Championships Per Team
The Boston Celtics Have Won the Most NBA Championships (celtics.com)
The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers, between them, have won more than 50% of all NBA Championships. That’s 33 of the 65 Finals ever played.
Michael Jordan‘s Bulls come in third with six titles. Tim Duncan‘s San Antonio Spurs are next with four.
Are those the Golden State Warriors tied for fifth all time? Yes, that perenially terrible team the last four decades or so actually has three rings – two from when they were back East in Philly.
If you add up the titles below, you come up with 64. That’s because the defunct “Baltimore Bullets,” not related to the current Washington Wizards, won it in all in 1948.
For a look at the results of every NBA Finals, check out my source, pataky.net
| Boston Celtics | 1947 | 17 | 1957, 1959-1966, 1968, 1969, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1984, 1986, 2008 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 1949 | 16 | Minneapolis: 1949, 1950, 1952-1954; L.A.: 1972, 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2000-2002, 2009, 2010 |
| Chicago Bulls | 1967 | 6 | 1991-1993, 1996-1998 |
| San Antonio Spurs | 1968 | 4 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007 |
| Detroit Pistons | 1949 | 3 | 1989, 1990, 2004 |
| Golden State Warriors | 1947 | 3 | Philadelphia: 1947, 1956; G.S.: 1975 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 1950 | 3 | Syracuse Nationals: 1955; Phil.: 1967, 1983 |
| Houston Rockets | 1968 | 2 | 1994, 1995 |
| New York Knicks | 1947 | 2 | 1970, 1973 |
| Atlanta Hawks | 1950 | 1 | St. Louis: 1958 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 1981 | 1 | 2011 |
| Miami Heat | 1989 | 1 | 2006 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 1969 | 1 | 1971 |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | 1968 | 1 | Seattle SuperSonics: 1979 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 1971 | 1 | 1977 |
| Sacramento Kings | 1949 | 1 | Rochester Royals: 1951 |
| Washington Wizards | 1962 | 1 | Washington Bullets: 1978 |
| Indiana Pacers | 1968 | 0 | (ABA: 1970, 1972, 1973) |
| New Jersey Nets | 1968 | 0 | (ABA New York: 1974, 1976) |
| Charlotte Bobcats | 2005 | 0 | |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 1971 | 0 | |
| Denver Nuggets | 1968 | 0 | |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 1971 | 0 | |
| Memphis Grizzlies | 1996 | 0 | |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 1990 | 0 | |
| New Orleans Hornets | 1989 | 0 | |
| Orlando Magic | 1990 | 0 | |
| Phoenix Suns | 1969 | 0 | |
| Toronto Raptors | 1996 | 0 | |
| Utah Jazz | 1975 | 0 |
