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Jersey numbers: basketball quiz

9 October 2026 · Ten stories about the numbers on players' backs and what they mean.

Quiz questions

  1. In December 2017 the Lakers retired two numbers in one night. The same player had worn both during his 20 seasons with the club. Who was he?

    • Kobe Bryant
    • Magic Johnson
    • Shaquille O'Neal
    • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    Answer

    Kobe Bryant wore 8 from 1996 to 2006 and 24 from 2006 to 2016. Both numbers now hang in the Lakers' rafters.

  2. LeBron James wore 23 in Cleveland, but in Miami, where he won his first two titles, he switched numbers. Which number did he wear for the Heat?

    • 3
    • 6
    • 32
    • 1
    Answer

    6. LeBron wore 6 in Miami from 2010 to 2014, while number 3 belonged to Dwyane Wade. He later wore 6 again for a spell with the Lakers.

  3. At Barcelona 1992 FIBA rules allowed only numbers 4 to 15, so Larry Bird could not wear his famous 33. Which number did he wear for the Dream Team?

    • 9
    • 15
    • 12
    • 7
    Answer

    7. Larry Bird wore 7, Michael Jordan 9 and Magic Johnson 15. FIBA later dropped the rule.

  4. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Patrick Ewing, Scottie Pippen and Alonzo Mourning. What links them?

    • All four were first overall picks in the draft
    • All four won Olympic gold
    • Each had his number 33 retired by his club
    • All four were named Finals MVP
    Answer

    Each had his number 33 retired by his club. Kareem's 33 hangs in Milwaukee and Los Angeles, Ewing's in New York, Pippen's in Chicago and Mourning's in Miami. Larry Bird's 33 is retired in Boston too.

  5. Three of these players were named NBA MVP while wearing number 13. Which one won his MVP in a different number?

    • Wilt Chamberlain
    • Steve Nash
    • James Harden
    • Dirk Nowitzki
    Answer

    Dirk Nowitzki was MVP in 2007 in his usual 41. Chamberlain won four MVPs in 13, Nash two with Phoenix and Harden one with Houston in 2018.

  6. Both the Sacramento Kings and the Orlando Magic have number 6 hanging in their rafters, and neither banner honours a player. Who is it for?

    • The six founding owners
    • The fans, known as the team's sixth man
    • The first six players in club history
    • The long-time arena announcer
    Answer

    Both clubs retired number 6 for their supporters, the team's 'sixth man'. Until Shaquille O'Neal's 32 went up in 2024, it was the only number the Magic had retired.

  7. This Celtics forward won seven titles in the 1950s and 60s. He asked the club not to retire his number 18 so that others could wear it, so Boston hung a banner with his nickname instead. Number 18 was later retired for Dave Cowens. Who was he?

    • Frank Ramsey
    • Tom Heinsohn
    • Jim Loscutoff
    • Tom Sanders
    Answer

    Jim Loscutoff was the team's enforcer. His banner simply reads 'LOSCY'.

  8. Robert Parish won three titles with Boston in the 1980s. Which of his numbers did the Celtics retire?

    • 0
    • 00
    • 11
    • 1
    Answer

    00. Robert Parish wore 00 for 14 seasons in Boston. The Celtics retired it in 1998.

  9. On 1 March 2019, before a EuroLeague game against Real Madrid, Barcelona retired number 11. He became the fifth Barça basketball player to be honoured this way, after Epi, Solozábal, Jiménez and Dueñas. Who is he?

    • Pau Gasol
    • Juan Carlos Navarro
    • Šarūnas Jasikevičius
    • Roger Grimau
    Answer

    Juan Carlos Navarro spent his whole European career at Barcelona, apart from one NBA season in Memphis. He won the EuroLeague in 2003 and 2010.

  10. Dennis Rodman wore 10 in Detroit and San Antonio, but in Chicago that number was retired for Bob Love. Which number did Rodman choose for the Bulls?

    • 73
    • 70
    • 1
    • 91
    Answer

    91. He took 91, because 9 + 1 = 10. Later he wore 73 with the Lakers and 70 with Dallas.

Previous quiz: Before they were stars (8 October 2026)

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