All the active NBA players who have already done enough to have their jerseys retired
Getting your jersey retired is one of the top honors that can be bestowed on an NBA player. What’s interesting about that, though, is that different franchises have different barometers for the level of career that warrants getting your jersey retired.
Regardless, some active players are already locks to have their jerseys not just by their current teams, but by their former teams, too.
In NBA history, only Wilt Chamberlain has had the honor of having his number retired by three different clubs. However, we believe two active players could eventually join him on that list.
Below, check out the current NBA players deserving of jersey retirements one day.
Giannis Antetokounmpo: Bucks
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Bucks: 22.0 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 4.6 apg, 53.4 FG% in 10 seasons
On a clear path to finish his career on the pantheon of the very all-time greats in NBA history, Giannis Antetokounmpo has been all Milwaukee in his NBA career, even choosing to sign an extension with the Bucks rather than test free agency. Even if he leaves Milwaukee later in his career, after multiple MVPs and a championship victory, his jersey retirement with the Bucks is a lock.
Bradley Beal: Wizards
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Wizards: 22.1 ppg, 4.2 apg, 4.1 rpg, 45.7 FG% in 11 seasons
Bradley Beal has been nothing but loyal to the Washington Wizards despite turmoil and speculation about his future with the franchise. With Beal, who’s the all-time leader in three-pointers made and second in all-time points for the franchise, the Wizards have made the playoffs five times, getting past the first round three times. Washington has rewarded him handsomely, making him one of the highest-paid players in league history.
Devin Booker: Suns
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Stats with Suns: 23.6 ppg, 4.7 apg, 3.9 rpg, 45.7 FG% in eight seasons
Sticking with the Phoenix Suns despite having little talent around him early on in his career, Devin Booker has blossomed into one of the best shooting guards of his era with Phoenix and played a major role in the franchise turning things around to become contenders.
Mike Conley: Grizzlies
Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Grizzlies: 14.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.7 apg, 44.1 FG% in 12 seasons
One of the most underrated point guards of his time, Mike Conley helped lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a lot of success during his time there. With Memphis being a small-market franchise, it would be surprising if the Grizzlies didn’t retire his jersey once he hangs up his sneakers, even if he never made an All-Star team during his time there. Conley leads the Grizzlies’ franchise in all-time games played, points, assists and steals, making him a Memphis basketball legend through and through.
Stephen Curry: Warriors
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Stats with Warriors: 24.4 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 6.5 apg, 47.5 FG% in 14 seasons
One of the greatest players of all time, this one is an absolute no-brainer. Stephen Curry has four championships and two league MVP awards to his name so far, all of which were earned during his illustrious time with the Golden State Warriors.
Anthony Davis: Pelicans
Stats with Pelicans: 23.7 ppg, 10.5 rpg, 2.4 bpg, 51.7 FG% in seven seasons
This one is tricky because of the way it ended, with Anthony Davis sitting out, demanding a trade and forcing his way to the Los Angeles Lakers. However, if cooler heads eventually prevail, Davis does deserve to have his jersey retired by the New Orleans Pelicans, as he is the greatest player to don their colors in their history.
DeMar DeRozan: Raptors
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Stats with Raptors: 19.7 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 44.8 FG% in nine seasons
DeMar DeRozan remains a beloved figure with the Toronto Raptors, scoring a whole lot of points and leading the Canadian franchise to a ton of regular-season success during his nine seasons there. DeRozan sits at the top of the mountain as far as scorers in Raptors history, ranking first overall in points scored for all Toronto players.
Luka Doncic: Mavericks
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Mavericks: 26.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 8.0 apg, 46.0 FG% in five seasons
We can’t tell the future, but it would be shocking if this one doesn’t end with Luka Doncic getting his jersey retired by the Dallas Mavericks, as he is on a clear path to the Hall of Fame. We’re confident in saying that despite how young he still is. Plus, the Mavericks have Derek Harper’s and Brad Davis’ jerseys retired. No offense to those guys, but Doncic is on a different level. What’s more, Doncic already has three 1st Team All-NBA nods, leaving him one away from tying Dirk Nowitzki for the most all-time in Mavericks history, a feat he is likely to accomplish this year.
Kevin Durant: Warriors, Thunder
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Stats with Warriors: 25.8 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.4 apg, 52.4 FG% in three seasons
Stats with Thunder: 27.4 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 3.7 apg, 48.3 FG% in nine seasons
Right now, it’s likelier Kevin Durant gets his jersey retired by the Oklahoma City Thunder than the Golden State Warriors, but we fully expect both to happen, as he is one of the league’s all-time greatest players who enjoyed many great years with both franchises. Durant led the Warriors to two championships in three years, and it could have been three had he not blown out his Achilles in the 2019 Finals against Toronto. He won Finals MVP for both, a sore spot for Warriors fans biased towards Curry. With the Thunder, Durant reached the Finals once and the Western Conference Finals four times. He is the Thunder’s all-time leader in three-pointers and points per game (27.4) while sitting third in total points scored.
Joel Embiid: 76ers
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Stats with 76ers: 26.2 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 52.4 FG% in seven seasons
After a brief spell in the NBA where it appeared the center position as we knew it would be phased out, Joel Embiid – along with another big man on the Denver Nuggets – exploded onto the scene, finishing second in MVP voting multiple times and establishing himself as one of the best big men the league has seen. He’s been very loyal to the Philadelphia 76ers, too, which he’ll be rewarded with by surely having his jersey retired by them one day.
Paul George: Pacers
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Pacers: 18.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.2 apg, 52.4 FG% in seven seasons
Things may not have ended all that great, but Paul George had one of the best careers in Indiana Pacers history, becoming a force who performed at an elite level on both offense and defense while getting to the Eastern Conference Finals multiple times, falling short of reaching the Finals due to a certain super team on South Beach.
Rudy Gobert: Jazz
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Jazz: 12.4 ppg, 11.7 rpg, 2.2 bpg, 65.3 FG% in nine seasons
They were never quite able to get over the hump in the playoffs, but Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz had a lot of success together, becoming one of the best regular-season teams during the French center’s time there. A shot-blocking, rebounding force, Gobert even developed a reliable offensive game as a finisher out of the pick-and-roll for the Jazz.
Draymond Green: Warriors
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Stats with Warriors: 8.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 5.5 apg, 44.3 FG% in 11 seasons
A Defensive Player of the Year, a multiple-time champion and the heartbeat of the Golden State Warriors dynasty, at least defensively, Draymond Green will without a doubt have his jersey retired by the franchise after he retires, even if he finishes his career with another team.
Blake Griffin: Clippers
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Clippers: 21.6 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 51.2 FG% in eight seasons
It may not be remembered because of how his career has gone since leaving, but with the Los Angeles Clippers, Blake Griffin was one of the best power forwards in the game, making five All-Star teams from 2010-11 to 2014-15 thanks to his elite scoring, rebounding and solid playmaking, as well his highlight-reel dunks. With a franchise lacking in proud history like the Clippers, that leaves little doubt Griffin will have his jersey retired there. The Clippers were must-watch television during Griffin’s time there and he didn’t leave of his own volition, rather getting traded after re-signing with the team. How’s that for loyalty?
James Harden: Rockets
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Stats with Rockets: 29.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 7.7 apg, 44.3 FG% in nine seasons
He may not be the most popular figure there right now but James Harden produced at a level unseen for a Houston Rockets player since the days of Hakeem Olajuwon, even being named league MVP in 2017-18. And although it never ended in a title and even if Harden did force his way out, eventually, the Rockets will retire his jersey.
Udonis Haslem: Heat
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Stats with Heat: 7.5 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, 44.3 FG% in 20 seasons
From undrafted to a three-time champion and the franchise’s all-time leading rebounder, Udonis Haslem is the prototypical diamond in the rough for the Heat, a team that has become renowned for developing non-elite prospects into high-level contributors. Haslem was one of the first but certainly not the last for the Heat. And though he hasn’t contributed much on the court for much of his recent career, Haslem is still hugely respected not just in the Heat locker room, but in the city itself for his off-court contributions to his community.
Al Horford: Hawks
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Stats with Hawks: 14.3 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.7 apg, 53.5 FG% in nine seasons
In other franchises, this one might not be such a sure thing, but the Atlanta Hawks don’t exactly have a crazy history of all-time players rocking their colors, especially recently. So we believe Al Horford, the best player on a few really good Hawks teams in the late 2000s and early ’10s, did enough to get jersey retirement consideration by Atlanta.
Andre Iguodala: Warriors
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Stats with Warriors: 7.0 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 48.0 FG% in seven seasons
Transitioning seamlessly from All-Star to awesome role player, Andre Iguodala even won a Finals MVP during his tenure with the Warriors, mostly thanks to his defense against a GOAT candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers. When a team wins as much as the Warriors have lately, that will get multiple players’ jerseys retired, and Iguodala without a doubt did enough to get that honor from Golden State.
Kyrie Irving: Cavaliers
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Cavaliers: 21.6 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 5.6 apg, 45.7 FG% in six seasons
Barring something crazy and unforeseen happening, which unfortunately can’t be ruled out when discussing this player, Kyrie Irving surely did enough in normal circumstances to get his jersey retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers, sticking with the franchise through rough years after being selected No. 1 overall in 2011, eventually hitting the championship-sealing shot in Game 7 of the 2016 Finals to bring home an elusive title to the city of Cleveland.
LeBron James: Cavaliers, Lakers, Heat
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Cavaliers: 27.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 7.3 apg, 49.2 FG% in 11 seasons
Stats with Heat: 26.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 6.7 apg, 54.3 FG% in four seasons
Stats with Lakers: 26.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 8.2 apg, 50.7 FG% in five seasons
If LeBron James does end up getting his jersey retired by all three of the Cavaliers, Lakers and Miami Heat, which we fully expect to happen, since he won league MVP with two of those teams and brought home at least one championship to all three, he would become just the second NBA player ever to have his jersey retired by three franchises, joining Chamberlain (Warriors, 76ers, Lakers) on the list. However, there’s one player later on our list who we think could receive the same distinction.
Nikola Jokic: Nuggets
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Nuggets: 19.7 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 6.3 apg, 54.4 FG% in eight seasons
With two league MVP awards to his name already during his tenure with the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic already has the resume to have his jersey retired by the team, even if he were to leave tomorrow. Jokic has become one of the most unique centers we have ever seen during his time in Denver, scoring from all three levels, creating plays at an elite rate and boasting an impossible-to-stop post-game. It’ll be interesting to see how much team success Jokic will have had in Denver when it’s all said and done, but either way, he’s already done enough.
Kawhi Leonard: Spurs, Raptors
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Spurs: 16.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, 49.5 FG% in seven seasons
Stats with Raptors: 26.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 49.6 FG% in one season
Neither of these seem like total locks right now, but as time passes, it will get all the likelier that Kawhi Leonard gets his number retired by both the Raptors and San Antonio Spurs. With San Antonio, Leonard won a Finals MVP and two Defensive Player of the Year awards. Toronto is the unlikelier of the two, but the fact Leonard led the Raptors to the lone championship in their history makes us think he’ll get his number retired there, too, even though he was only there for one season.
Damian Lillard: Trail Blazers
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Blazers: 24.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 6.7 apg, 43.7 FG% in 11 seasons
Loyalty and years of clutch, elite player will undoubtedly get Damian Lillard’s number retired with the Portland Trail Blazers, even if they never manage to get to the Finals together. Lillard has led an era of stability and good regular-season success during his time in the Pacific Northwest.
Kevin Love: Cavaliers
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Cavaliers: 16.2 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 43.1 FG% in nine seasons
Whether or not Kevin Love did want out following the Cavaliers’ championship run and eventual teardown matters not, as the fact of the matter is Love did stick around long enough to enjoy this new era of success for the franchise. Even if he was the third fiddle, Love was an important part of the Cavaliers’ lone NBA championship, making him a lock to get his number retired there.
Kyle Lowry: Raptors
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Stats with Raptors: 17.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 7.1 apg, 42.5 FG% in nine seasons
The franchise’s all-time GOAT in Toronto, Kyle Lowry is a beloved figure for Raptors fans still, even if he did end up leaving to join the Heat in free agency, a decision Toronto didn’t try all that hard to prevent. Lowry led a long time of success for the Raptors, eventually culminating in the 2019 championship for the Canadian club. Lowry is the Raptors’ all-time leader in assists and steals.
CJ McCollum: Trail Blazers
Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Blazers: 19.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.4 apg, 45.3 FG% in nine seasons
A well-liked figure in Portland, CJ McCollum turned into a star shooting guard with the Blazers, forming a nasty 1-2 backcourt with Lillard. The duo should one day have their jerseys hanging in the rafters there.
Khris Middleton: Bucks
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Bucks: 17.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.9 apg, 45.9 FG% in nine seasons
Developed in Milwaukee into a championship sidekick alongside Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton’s star-level scoring and title-winning contributions for the Bucks in 2020-21 will surely be enough for him to get his jersey retired with the Bucks.
Chris Paul: Pelicans, Clippers, Suns
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Pelicans: 18.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 9.9 apg, 47.1 FG% in six seasons
Stats with Clippers: 18.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 9.8 apg, 47.5 FG% in six seasons
Stats with Suns: 15.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 9.8 apg, 49.1 FG% in nine seasons
If Chris Paul were to achieve this honor, he’d join Chamberlain and potentially James as the only three players to have their jerseys retired by three franchises. For New Orleans, Paul was great right away, with the team boasting a 55.5 win percentage with him, up from 42.8 percent without him, per our research back in 2020. He was so good for New Orleans, he came close to beating Kobe Bryant for league MVP in 2007-08, finishing with 894 points to Bryant’s 1,110. Paul’s impact on winning was even larger with L.A., with the Clippers having a 68.5 win percentage during the CP3 era, up from 37.9 percent prior to him (research before 2020). The Phoenix one is the least of a lock, but Paul likewise helped turn the Suns into contenders right away, helping lead the franchise to the 2021 Finals.
Derrick Rose: Bulls
Stats with Bulls: 19.7 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 6.2 apg, 44.8 FG% in seven seasons
His MVP run of 2010-11 along with his beloved status in Bulls lore, Derrick Rose seems like a pretty safe bet to have his jersey retired in Chicago one day, even if the legitimacy of his lone MVP award can be questioned a bit. Injuries robbed him of what could have been an even more illustrious career with the Bulls.
Jayson Tatum: Celtics
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Celtics: 21.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.1 apg, 45.7 FG% in six seasons
For a franchise as proud as the Boston Celtics, it’s hard to get your number retired without a championship, as Reggie Lewis is the franchise’s only retired number without a title to his name. However, Jayson Tatum seems well on his way to earning that status, even if a championship never comes. Plus, it’s hard not to see Tatum winning at least one title in Boston considering the level the team has performed at since he got there.
Klay Thompson: Warriors
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Warriors: 19.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.3 apg, 45.6 FG% in 12 seasons
Although injuries robbed him of what should have been an extended prime, Klay Thompson – one of the best shooters the league has ever seen – has done more than enough for a jersey retirement to be in the cards once he retires. A one-franchise player so far, Thompson is a Warriors legend already, through and through.
Karl-Anthony Towns: Timberwolves
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Stats with Timberwolves: 23.1 ppg, 11.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 52.7 FG% in eight seasons
This one requires projecting a rosy future as the Minnesota Timberwolves are experiencing some turmoil now after the Gobert trade. However, purely from a production standpoint, Karl-Anthony Towns looks like another player whose jersey could get retired by his current team, as the former No. 1 pick has been a star since getting to Minnesota. Making this one even more questionable is the fact that Minnesota has yet to retire Kevin Garnett’s number, the franchise’s greatest player ever, partly due to how he left. If something similar goes down with Towns – and we have no reason to believe it will… yet – this one could get even less likely.
John Wall: Wizards
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Stats with Wizards: 19.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 9.2 apg, 43.3 FG% in nine seasons
Loyal and extremely productive, John Wall was one of the best point guards in the game during his time with the Washington Wizards. Injuries robbed him of what could have been an even more productive tenure in DC. Wall ranks first in both all-time assists and steals for the Wizards.
Russell Westbrook: Thunder
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Stats with Thunder: 23.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 8.4 apg, 43.4 FG% in 11 seasons
A triple-double machine that had the Oklahoma City Thunder in playoff contention every year even after Durant left, Russell Westbrook will go down as one of the best players in franchise history, and a without-a-doubt recipient of a jersey retirement one day in the future. Westbrook left Oklahoma City as the Thunder’s all-time leading scorer.
Trae Young: Hawks
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Stats with Hawks: 25.4 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 9.1 apg, 43.7 FG% in five seasons
Trae Young has become nothing short of a superstar with the Hawks as an elite scorer and playmaker. Even if the deep playoff success never comes, which it very well could, Young looks well on his way to getting his number retired in Atlanta.
