Complete list of retired numbers in the NBA

Numerous NBA teams have honored their most representative figures by retiring the shirt numbers they wore. Once the numbers have been withdrawn, the North American league does not allow those numbers to be worn again as a way of paying tribute to the great figures who stood out in the competition. The complete list of shirt numbers that are now out of circulation follows below - in order from the teams with most titles to those with the least.

Boston Celtics

Robert Parish (00), Walter Brown (1), 'Red' Auerbach (2), Dennis Johnson (3), Kevin Garnett (5), Bill Russell (6), JoJo White (10), Bob Cousy (14), Tom Heinsohn (15), Tom Sanders (16), John Havlicek (17), Dave Cowens (18), Don Nelson (19), Bill Sharman (21), Ed Macauley (22), Frank Ramsey (23), Sam Jones (24), K.C. Jones (25), Cedric Maxwell (31), Kevin McHale (32), Larry Bird (33), Paul Piece (34), Reggie Lewis (35)

- Jim Loscutoffn (18, previously retired by him)

- Johnny Most (mention as communicator)

Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant (8 and 24), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Elgin Bayler (22), Gail Goodrich (25), 'Magic' Johnson (32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33), Shaquille O'Neal (34), James Worthy (42), Jerry West (44), Jamaal Wilkes (52)

- Chick Hearn (mention as communicator)

Golden State Warriors

Wilt Chamberlain (13), Tom Meschery (14), Al Attles (16), Chris Mullin (17), Rick Barry (24), Nate Thurmond (42)

Chicago Bulls

Jerry Sloan (4), Bob Love (10), Michael Jordan (23), Scottie Pippen (33)

- Phil Jackson (mention as coach)

- Jerry Krause (mention as director)

San Antonio Spurs

Johnny Moore (00), Avery Johnson (6), Tony Parker (9), James Silas (13), Manu Ginobili (20), Tim Duncan (21), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44), David Robinson (fifty)

- Bruce Bowen (12, previously retired by him)

Detroit Pistons

Chauncey Billups (1), Chuck Daly (2), Ben Wallace (3), Joe Dumars (4), Dennis Rodman (10), Isiah Thomas (11), Vinnie Johnson (15), Bob Lanier (16), Dave Bing (21), Richard Hamilton (32), Bill Laimbeer (40)

- William Davidson (mention as manager)

Miami Heat

Chris Bosh (1), Dwyane Wade (3), Tim Hardaway (10), Michael Jordan (23), Shaquille O'Neal (32), Alonzo Mourning (33),

- Dan Marino (13, previously retired by him)

Philadelphia 76ers

Moses Malone (2), Allen Iverson (3), Julius Erving (6), Mo Cheeks (10), Wilt Chamberlain (13), Hal Greer (15), Bobby Jones (24), Billy Cunningham (32), Charles Barkley (3. 4)

Houston Rockets

Yao Ming (11), Clyde Drexler (22), Calvin Murphy (23), Moses Malone (24), Hakeem Olajuwon (34), Rudy Tomjanovic (45)

- Carroll Dawson (mention as director)

New York Knicks

Walt Frazier (10), Dick Barnett (12), Earl Monroe (15), Dick McGuire (15), Willis Reed (19), Dave DeBusschere (22), Bill Bradley (24), Pat Ewing (33), Red Holzman (613)

Milwaukee Bucks

Oscar Robertson (1), Junior Bridgeman (2), Sidney Moncrief (4), Marques Johnson (8), Jon McGlocklin (14), Bob Lanier (16), Brian Winters (32), Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (33)

Atlanta Hawks

Bob Pettit (9), Dominique Wilkins (21), Lou Hudson (21), Jason Collier (40), Pete Maravich (44), Dikembe Mutombo (55)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Bingo Smith (7), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (11), Larry Nance Mark Price (25), Austin Carr (34), Nate Thurmond (42), Brad Daugherty (43)

- Larry Nance (22, previously retired by him)

- Joe Tait (mention as communicator)

Dallas Mavericks

Derek Harper (12), Brad Davis (15), Rolando Blackman (22), Dirk Nowitzki (41)

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Oklahoma City Thunder

Gus Williams (1), Nick Collison (4), Nate McMillan (10), Lenny Wilkens (19), Spencer Haywood (24), Fred Brown (32), Jack Sikma (43)

Portland Trail Blazers

David Twardzik (13), Lionel Hollins (14), Larry Steele (15), Maurice Lucas (20), Clyde Drexler (22), Bob Gross (30), Bill Walton (32), Lloyd Neal (36), Geoff Petrie (45), Jack Ramsay (77)

- Larry Weinberg (1, previously retired by him)

Sacramento Kings

'Tiny' Archibald (1), Mitch Richmond (2), Chris Webber (4), Bob Davies (11), Maurice Stokes (12), Oscar Robertson (14), Peja Stojakovic (16), Vlade Divac (21), Jack Twyman (27), Sam Lacey (44)

Washington Wizards

Earl Monroe (10), Elvin Hayes (11), Gus Johnson (25), Wes Unseld (41), Phil Chenier (45)

Brooklyn Nets

Drazen Petrovic (3), Jason Kidd (5), John Williamson (23), Bill Melchionni (25), Julius Erving (32), Buck Williams (52)

- Wendell Ladner (4, previously retired by him)

Charlotte Hornets

Bobby Phills (13)

Denver Nuggets

Alex English (2), Fat Lever (12), David Thompson (33), Byron Beck (40), Dan Issel (44), Dikembe Mutombo (55), Doug Moe (432)

Indiana Pacers

George McGinnis (30), Reggie Miller (31), Mel Daniels (34), Roger Brown (35), 'Slick' Leonard (529)

Memphis Grizzlies

Zach Randolph (50)

Minnesota Timberwolves

Malik Sealy (2)

New Orleans Pelicans

Pete Maravich (7)

Phoenix Suns

Dick van Arsdale (5), Walter Davis (6), Kevin Johnson (7), Dan Majerle (9), Steve Nash (13), Tom Chambers (24), Charles Barkley (34), Connie Hawkins (42), Paul Westphal (44), Cotton Fitzsimmons (832)

- Alvan Adams (15, previously retired by him)

- Joe Proski (mention as coach)

Utah Jazz

Frank Layden (1), Adrian Dantley (4), Pete Maravich (7), John Stockton (12), Jeff Hornacek (14), Karl Malone (32), Darrell Griffith (35), Mark Eaton (53), Jerry Sloan (1223).

Remembering the late Bill Russell

On 11 August, the NBA announced that the No. 6 jersey would be permanently retired across the league in honor of the legendary champion and civil rights pioneer Bill Russell, who passed away on 31 July at the age of 88. Nobody has worn No. 6 for the Boston Celtics, whom Russell both played for his whole career and coached, since the legend’s final season, 1968-69. The Celtics retired Russell’s No. 6 in 1972. Over 250 players have worn the No. 6 shirt in NBA history but the number has effectively been withdrawn as a sign of respect.

The Lakers recently announced that they will retire the number 16 worn by former player Pau Gasol. The franchise will hold a special ceremony on 7 March 2023 to honor the Spaniard and officially withdraw his old number.