NBA
Why did Michael Jordan wear number 23 with the Chicago Bulls?
Seen by many as the greatest of all time, Jordan used three numbers throughout his career: 12, 23 and 45.
The legend that is Michael Jordan turns 60 on Friday 17 February 2023, and his name will always be in the conversation about the best ever in NBA history.
Jordan’s numbers in the NBA
As well as being in the shortlist for GOAT, Jordan’s success goes beyond basketball and he remains one of the most recognizable faces in the sport in general. His scoring numbers support his claim and during his time as a player he was always characterized as one of the most decisive on the court and a great leader through the Chicago Bulls dynasty.
On his back, Jordan used three numbers throughout his career: 12, 23 and 45. There is no doubt, however, that the most emblematic was number 23.
It was Michael Jordan himself who was in charge of revealing the reason why he chose the mythical number a couple of years ago:
“My brother wore No. 45 which was my number,” he explained in an interview. “So when we was on the same team, we couldn’t wear the same number. So I chose half of what his jersey was, which was 22.5, which I would rather have 23.”