Who needs their jersey retired?
Gary Payton on Dime #9When Gary Payton was asked at Sunday’s Seahawks/Packers game if he’d agree to having his #20 Sonics jersey retired by the Oklahoma City Thunder, he gave a clear-cut Whitney Houston-ish “Hell to the naw” that made me proud to be from the 206.
“I didn’t play in Oklahoma, so it wouldn’t be anything that I’m looking forward to because I didn’t play for the Oklahoma Thunder,” GP told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “I don’t think that Oklahoma should get the benefits of seeing me raise my number. I think these people here are the people who have seen me and made me who I am.”
Whenever my city does regain an NBA franchise, GP will have his number raised to the rafters of the brand-new/renovated arena; if it were up to me, the ceremony would take place before the “new” Sonics’ first game. Soon after that, Shawn Kemp should follow The Glove and have his #40 retired. And other than play-by-play man Kevin Calabro, I can’t think of anyone else who’s worthy of joining the other retired numbers in Seattle: #1 Gus Williams, #10 Nate McMillan, #19 Lenny Wilkens, #24 Spencer Haywood, #32 “Downtown” Fred Brown, #43 Jack Sikma, and longtime announcer Bob Blackburn.
Looking at your favorite team, whose number is missing from the rafters that should be up there? What about current players who you think will eventually make their way to retired-number status? Here’s an updated list of players/figures who are recognized by their respective NBA teams:
HAWKS — #9 Bob Pettit, #21 Dominique Wilkins, #23 Lou Hudson, #40 Jason Collier, Ted Turner (#17)
CELTICS — #00 Robert Parish, #3 Dennis Johnson, #6 Bill Russell, #10 Jo Jo White, #14 Bob Cousy, #15 Tommy Heinsohn, #16 Satch Sanders, #17 John Havlicek, #18 Dave Cowens, #19 Don Nelson, #21 Bill Sharman, #22 Ed Macauley, #23 Frank Ramsey, #24 Sam Jones, #25 K.C. Jones, #31 Cornbread Maxwell, #32 Kevin McHale, #33 Larry Bird, #35 Reggie Lewis, Walter A. Brown (#1), Red Auerbach (#2), Jim Loscutoff, Johnny Most.
BOBCATS — None.
BULLS — #4 Jerry Sloan, #10 Bob Love, #23 Michael Jordan, #33 Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, Jerry Krause.
CAVALIERS — #7 Bingo Smith, #22 Larry Nance, #25 Mark Price, #34 Austin Carr, #42 Nate Thurmond, #43 Brad Daugherty.
MAVERICKS — #15 Brad Davis, #22 Rolando Blackman.
NUGGETS — #2 Alex English, #33 David Thompson, #40 Byron Beck, #44 Dan Issel, Doug Moe (#432)
PISTONS — #4 Joe Dumars, #11 Isiah Thomas, #15 Vinnie Johnson, #16 Bob Lanier, #21 Dave Bing, #40 Bill Laimbeer, William Davidson, Chuck Daly (#2).
WARRIORS — #13 Wilt Chamberlain, #14 Tom Meschery, #16 Al Attles, #24 Rick Barry, #42 Nate Thurmond.
ROCKETS — #22 Clyde Drexler, #23 Calvin Murphy, #24 Moses Malone, #34 Hakeem Olajuwon, #45 Rudy Tomjanovich, Carroll Dawson.
PACERS — #30 George McGinnis, #31 Reggie Miller, #34 Mel Daniels, #35 Roger Brown, Bobby “Slick” Leonard (#529).
CLIPPERS — None.
LAKERS — #13 Wilt Chamberlain, #22 Elgin Baylor, #25 Gail Goodrich, #32 Magic Johnson, #33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, #42 James Worthy, #44 Jerry West, Chick Hearn. (The Lakers have also honored — but not retired — members of the old Minneapolis Lakers: #17 Jim Pollard, #19 Vern Mikkelsen, #22 Slater Martin, #34 Clyde Lovellette, #99 George Mikan and John Kundla.)
GRIZZLIES — None.
HEAT — #23 Michael Jordan (for his “contributions”)
BUCKS — #1 Oscar Robertson, #2 Junior Bridgeman, #4 Sidney Moncrief, #14 Jon McGlocklin, #16 Bob Lanier, #32 Brian Winters, #33 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
TIMBERWOLVES — #2 Malik Sealy.
NETS — #3 Drazen Petrovic, #4 Wendell Ladner, #23 John Williamson, #25 Bill Melchionni, #32 Julius Erving, #52 Buck Williams.
HORNETS — #7 Pete Maravich (for his time with the New Orleans Jazz), #13 Bobby Phills.
KNICKS — #10 Walt Frazier, #12 Dick Barnett, #15 Earl Monroe, #15 Dick McGuire, #19 Willis Reed, #22 Dave DeBusschere, #24 Bill Bradley, #33 Patrick Ewing, Red Holzman (#613).
THUNDER — None.
MAGIC — #6 “The Fans”
76ERS — #6 Julius Erving, #10 Maurice Cheeks, #13 Wilt Chamberlain, #15 Hal Greer, #24 Bobby Jones, #32 Billy Cunningham, #34 Charles Barkley, Dave Zinkoff.
SUNS — #5 Dick Van Arsdale, #6 Walter Davis, #7 Kevin Johnson, #9 Dan Majerle, #24 Tom Chambers, #33 Alvan Adams, #34 Charles Barkley, #42 Connie Hawkins, #44 Paul Westphal, Cotton Fitzsimmons (#832), Joe Proski.
TRAIL BLAZERS — #13 Dave Twardzik, #14 Lionel Hollins, #15 Larry Steele, #20 Maurice Lucas, #22 Clyde Drexler, #32 Bill Walton, #36 Lloyd Neal, #45 Geoff Petrie, Jack Ramsay (#77), Larry Weinberg (#1).
KINGS — #1 Nate Archibald, #2 Mitch Richmond, #6 “The Fans of Sacramento,” #11 Bob Davies, #12 Maurice Stokes, #14 Oscar Robertson, #27 Jack Twyman, #44 Sam Lacey.
SPURS — #00 Johnny Moore, #6 Avery Johnson, #13 James Silas, #32 Sean Elliott, #44 George Gervin, #50 David Robinson.
RAPTORS — None.
JAZZ — #4 Adrian Dantley, #7 Pete Maravich, #12 John Stockton, #14 Jeff Hornacek, #32 Karl Malone, #35 Darrell Griffith, #53 Mark Eaton, Frank Layden (#1).
WIZARDS — #10 Earl Monroe, #11 Elvin Hayes, #25 Gus Johnson, #41 Wes Unseld.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:40 pm
sans says:
For the Cavs it would be World B. Free and Terrell Brandon.
TB took the Cavs to the playoffs, as the only legit player on the squad not counting Big Z, 4 years in a row, averaging 20 and 11 in that time, for a squad that only scored 80 per under Mike Fratello. World was legit scorer, 18 a night for his career, but will ultimately be thought of as a nutjob moreso than as a ridiculously skilled, HOF caliber basketball player. Don’t give me any Steph in the Hall arguments, let’s get World in there.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
sans says:
Oh, and Rex Chapman should be there for the Suns, just for the playoff game where he hit the game winner, plus the 7 or 8 3’s he hit before that (didn’t he set a playoff record?).
October 14th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
fallinup says:
MAGIC — #6 “The Fans”, #6 “The Fans of Sacramento,”……lame.
Are the Utah Jazz waiting for Jerry Sloan to die before they recognize him? The man’s only been there for 155 friggin years now! Give him some damn props.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Franchise Baller says:
seahwaks/pacers??
October 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
AY says:
my clippers should retire bob mcadoo. and the sonics, if they ever come back, wouldn’t retire dennis johnson, their only finals mvp? chris mullin and tim hardaway for the warriors, and i know this sounds crazy, but shaq for orlando because he saved them from going out of business. same for vince carter in toronto.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
webbie352 says:
michael jordan ( for contributions?) like money wise?
October 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Sam I Am says:
Timberwolves – Kevin Garnett / Me
Magic – Anfernee Hardaway
October 14th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
David Brandon says:
@fallinup,
dont hate cause your los angeles sparks dont have any…. lol
October 14th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
srb says:
celtics should retire #34 on opening night.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
loons says:
I still think its bs that the Knicks haven’t properly recognized some of the players from the 90s. Oakley should get the honor. The fact that Eddy Curry is wearing his #34 makes me sick. I’m not sure Starks gets one, but at least he is in the conversation. Same with Allan Houston, but at the very least, Jeffries shouldn’t be dirtying up good old #20. Great topic.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Brown says:
Warriors – Mullin and Hardaway.
Raptors – Vince Carter (eventually, after he retires and the fans stop hating him).
October 14th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
GEE...you smell that? says:
The Spurs or any team that won a championship with the help of any illegal calls made from Tim Donaghy should retire his ref shirt.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
J Tok says:
John Starks is an absolute shoe in for the Knicks
Allan Houston did his work for us too to be retired.
and Chris Dudley because it’s Chris Dudley
October 14th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
J 694 says:
Dragon Tarlac – Bulls
October 14th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
dukesman2000 says:
@ Austin,
All that effort you put into research and writing that article are wasted by you discrediting Dennis Rodman
October 14th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
PWeezy says:
Magic – D. Armstrong, Penny, Shaq, 3D Scott, Nick anderson and skiles
October 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Scott says:
I would add Damon Stoudamire’s #20 to VC’s #15 for the Raps.
While Damon wasn’t a true superstar in his career, for the few years he played in TO, he was a star, and more importantly the only thing that came close to a star for our expansion franchise at the time.
Damon was the original foundation of the franchise, plus he won the Rookie of the Year award.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
dapro says:
@LMAO @14
Damn that was funny but it pissed me off at the same time
You must live in the Chi, one of the worst picks ever but what you know about Dickey Simpkins
October 14th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Austin Burton says:
@dukesman — What did I do to Rodman?
October 14th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
dapro says:
for the record
KG needs to retired by the Celts and Minny
Shaq should be retired by the Magic and Lakers
Tmac should go down as a Rocket and Magic
These players transformed or carried an organization for years and were traded away while still effective.
Those respective franchises should still honor those players
Rodman needs recognition too
October 14th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Zach says:
I think the NBA should do like baseball did with Jackie Robinson and retire #23 across the league. Anyone that is wearing it now can keep it til they retire but no one new should be able to wear it.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Celts Fan says:
Amen Zach.
@AB, am I getting senile? Didn’t Reignman rock #42, not 40? (and yes, he and GP HAVE TO be retired whenever Memphis gets out there.)
Celts need to retire 34 and 5 (21 needs to be in Minny too)
October 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Chaos says:
gotta go with:
Warriors: tim hardaway and chris mullin(one of the most exciting teams of theior time)
Clippers: Bob macadoo (he was an assassin)
October 14th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Celts Fan — No, Kemp was #40. Hypothetical: Would you still retire KG’s number if he only wins the one championship and retires in 2013 without another Finals appearance? And what about Ray?
October 14th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
@ Post 9 what has Paul Pierce done to deserve his Jersey getting retired on opening night? Did he make 10 All Star appearances? Did he make the All NBA team more than 5 times? He’s a Celtic for crying out loud, he needs to accomplish a lot more than he has to have his jersey retired.
I know the Celts die hards are all giddy but back in the day that maybe would’ve bought him a cup of coffee.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
rodnets says:
Thundersonics should retire no jersey, they already “retired” a whole franchise from seattle.
October 14th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
barons beard says:
Sixers need to retire AI’s number 3
Warriors – Mullen and Timmy Hardaway
And the Knicks need to retire Houston’s #20, Spree’s #8 and Jerome James. Not his number, just him. Oh, and Dick Bavetta’s ref’s jersey!!
October 14th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Joe says:
Blazers – Terry Porter
October 14th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
BitterSeattlite says:
LMAO @ 26, trust!
I detest the OKC Thunder. I can’t wait until the ‘new franchise’ smell wears off in a few years, toss in the fact that the economy is shit and you’ll only have a few wealthy oil types at the games.
Apparently the ‘Commissioning a Professional Sports Association for Dumbies’ book has a chapter about relocating entire franchises from thriving metropolitan areas to lesser markets with no middle class.
SWEET! I agree! OKC, retire the sonics as a franchise and put that shit in your rafters.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
rodnets says:
I bet you 10 Grand that the Comish want to retire Tim Donaghy’s jersey
October 14th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
ZACH says:
Glen Rice needs his jersey retired by the Hornets (I am pretty sure that he is their alltime leading scorer) He won his championship in LA but he was a top 10 player in his prime with the Hornets. Is there anyone that was more underrated in his prime than G Money? And haters look up his stats before you say he wasn’t.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
I’m thinking Oklahoma shoud get to retire Frank Brickowski. Fair, no?
October 14th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
Austin Burton says:
They can have Jim McIlvaine, but Seattle is keeping Steve Scheffler.
October 14th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Meica says:
I think Zo and Glenn Rice need their numbers retired for Charlotte.
Also, and I know he only played three seasons for the Bulls, Dennis Rodman should have his number retired there.
And frankly, I’m surprised Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp didn’t have their numbers retired before the franchise folded!
October 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
J$ul says:
i agree with post #5, AY, Dennis Johnson for the sonics
October 14th, 2008 at 7:32 pm
smity far away says:
jerry krause should be snatched down. he’s the reason we don’t have at least 8 chips (98-99, 99-2000)
and i would put rodman up there for the bulls (not that anyone is going to pick number 91 to wear anyway though…) (except for artest…)
October 14th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
me says:
#2 in sacramento for mitch richmond
October 14th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
Marvin says:
DENNIS RODMAN should be either on pistons or bulls retired #’s. Just give the guy a break even though he had off and on court issues you just can’t say that he did not contribute a lot to his team winning.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Austin Burton says:
I still wanna know what dukesman (#15) thinks I did wrong to Rodman.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
ugly_fish says:
Raptors:
Eric Montross #00
Jerome Moiso #6
Robert Archibald #13
Micheal “Yogi” Stewart #4
Jelani McCoy #6
Nate Huffman #7
October 14th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
rootsradical says:
steve nash for the suns. 2 MVPs in two years, turned the franchise around blah blah.
yinka dare for the nets.
October 14th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
rootsradical says:
i posted yinka dare as a joke. i didn’t realize he had passed away. ouch.
does this make me a bad person
October 14th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
flyp says:
@27: Couldn’t agree more.Face of a franchise (and a generation) for many years. And they were successful at the time too.
I suppose Vince Carter should get his #15 retired… but only 10 or so years after he retires. By then, we Raptor fans might have forgiven him.
October 14th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
Celts Fan says:
KG changed the entire face of the franchise and his acquisition earned a title. If he plays 5-7 more years (unless he gets burnt out or hurt, is basically a certainty) he’ll end up putting up ridiculous #s either way (top 40 career in 5 stats already!) KG RAN the D. Pierce took care of the scoring/clutchness, KG turned a horrid defensive team into a monster, defense won us the title (ask LeBron and Kobe.) You put that # in the rafters.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:28 am
heartbreaker85 says:
give rodman his damn props, id retire his jersey with the bulls, since that’s where he won 3 rings and rebounding titles, besting his detroit by 1.
plus, rodman wasn’t rodman yet til he hit the spurs then went crazy with the bulls.
did you see that movie he did with van damme? damn.
and just like shaq said in his first game w the heat @ the lakers to snoop, jack and everyone at courtside after a dunk,
“i built this ****!”
iverson needs his props when he’s done. vc too.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:00 am
WEST says:
NO WAY should Vince have his #15 retired.
He quit on the Raptors and on the city of Toronto.
You don’t retire a player like his jesey.
October 15th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Ashlov says:
Alonzo Mourning, straight up. If Zo wouldn’t have gone down with the kidney problem, he’d be the league leader is blocked shots, period.
That, and he was an animal in the NBA Finals, blocking shots all over the place in that crucial last game. I’ve never seen anyone as intense as Zo, and I’m comforted by the fact that he’s in better shape than 95% of most young NBA players, so he’ll play til he’s 40.
The Heat’s center situation would be far less worrisome if Zo was ready to play.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Lady Luck says:
Rodman with the Bulls and Detroit. Zo for sure when he retires it should be immediate.
I also agree with the league wide #23 retirement. He took the NBA to a whole new level. Respect.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Willis says:
for the Kings:
Vlades # 21
and
Cwebbs # 4
and Theus # 24
October 15th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Demonik says:
Great discussion topic, I want to ask what makes one worthy of having their jersey retired? Tragedy and championships should be the major reasons for retiring of jersey numbers. VC Raptors and Shaq Magic are examples of jerseys that should be honored and remembered but not retired.
My picks:
Lakers – Kobe and Shaq, Coop-a-loop, AC
Warriors – Can’t forget Mitch Richmond and the fabled RUN TMC crew.
Sonics (RIP) – Glove and Reign Man
Heat – Zo, DWade (Jordan? WTF weak!)
Bulls – Worm, HoGrant
Spurs – Ginobilli, Parker
Pistons – Rip, Chauncy, Sheed, Worm
Cavs – King
Clippers – Clipper Darrel, and that old guy that rocks the old San Diego Clippers warrm-ups
October 15th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
doc says:
AI in Philly.Shaq and Kob in LA.Odom and Pau in Boston.
October 16th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Z says:
Alvin Williams for the Raps, he was the heart and soul of that team and that crossover was nasty
October 17th, 2008 at 9:54 am
josh tha roc says:
hahaha funny ish doc.
January 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
sope says:
Phoenix Suns:
#13 – Steve Nash – a no brainer, 2-time MVP
#31 – Shawn Marion – in the top 5 for nearly every Suns stat and #2 for boards, steals, and minutes played
#22 – Larry Nance – Best player on Suns for 6 of his 7 seasons, Suns leader in blocks, 3rd in boards, 1st ever slam dunk champ
Al McCoy – Suns broadcaster since 1972, anyone who grew up in PHX will never forget “Shazaam,” “Wham Bam Slam,” “Zing Go the Strings!”
It’s still too early in his career to tell, but Amar’e Stoudemire will almost certainly make it too. How many more times he changes his number (#32, #1) or the spelling of his name (Amare, Amaré, Amar’e) is a little less certain.
April 5th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
bullet says:
Orlando – Anfernee Hardaway. No doubt about that!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Grizzly says:
Orlando – Penny Hardaway & Nick Anderson
Dallas – Micheal Finley & Jason Kidd
Phoenix – Jason Kidd
Sacramento – Mike Bibby, Peja, Chris Webber, & Bobby Jackson
Seattle – Dale Ellis, Gary AND Kemp
New Jersey – Jason Kidd
Toronto – Vince Carter
Philly – Allen Iverson
Knicks – Latrell Sprewell & Allen Houston
Pacers – Jalen Rose & Jermaine O’Neil
Minnesota – Kevin Garnett
Hornets – Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, & Alonzo Mourning
Memphis – Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Bulls – Horace Grant & Rodman
December 13th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
FitnessGuy1984 says:
I usually dont take the time to post comments, however it is difficult to find actual infomation on this subject today. You did a wonderful job in this post and I am going to take the time to read the rest of your posts. Keep up the great work!