To cut the grass under the Nets' feet, who had beaten them to it, the Raptors rushed to announce that Vince Carter's jersey retirement would take place on November 2.
After his entry into the Hall Of Fame, Vince Carter will become the 17th player in history to have his jersey retired in several franchises, and it will be at the Raptors then at the Nets. Seventeen is not many, but obviously we only find NBA legends there. And players, like Michael Jordan, Pete Maravich, Kobe Bryant or Bill Russell, even have their jerseys retired by franchises whose jersey they never wore.
Jersey retired in three franchises
Wilt Chamberlain – Warriors, Sixers, Lakers
A four-time MVP, “The 100-Point Man” played six years with the Warriors, when the franchise was in Philadelphia. Then he played four seasons with the Sixers, and five with the Lakers to finish his career. The Warriors retired his number 13 in 1999 after his death.
Pete Maravich – Hawks, Jazz, Pelicans
Like Wilt Chamberlain, the late Pete Maravich has his jersey retired by three franchises, but he never played for the Pelicans, who did not exist when he was playing in the NBA.
In 2002, the New Orleans franchise retired the number 7 he wore with the New Orleans Jazz. The Jazz, who moved to Utah in 1979, had done so previously. The Hawks have retired number 44 that “Pistol Pete” wore for four years in Atlanta.
Shaquille O'Neal – Lakers, Heat, Magic
In February, “Shaq” became the first player to have his jersey retired for the Magic, who he led to the Finals in 1995. A few years earlier, the two franchises with which he won the title had his jersey retired. For the Lakers, his No. 34 is retired to celebrate his three NBA championships and three Finals MVP trophies. In Miami, his No. 32 was raised to the ceiling in 2016 to commemorate the franchise's first title in 2006.
Jersey retired in two franchises
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar – Bucks, Lakers
The former NBA scoring leader played for two teams, and both retired his famous number 33. In detail, “KAJ” played six years for the Bucks, and 14 with the Lakers.
Charles Barkley – Sixers, Suns
Before leading the Suns to the finals, Charles Barkley wore the Sixers jersey for eight years. In each of the rooms, we find his number 34.
Clyde Drexler – Blazers, Rockets
University of Houston legend Clyde Drexler played just three and a half seasons with the Rockets, but he won a title there in 1995. Considered one of the best players in Portland history, he has his number 22 retired at the Rose Garden.
Julius Erving – Nets, Sixers
The one nicknamed “Dr. J.” has the distinction of having his jersey retired in two teams, but in two different leagues! While they were playing his last season in Philadelphia, the Nets retired his number 32 for his exploits in… ABA: two titles and three MVP trophies. A few years later, the Sixers would retire his number 6 with an NBA championship title (1983) and an MVP trophy (1981) as his record.
Bob Lanier – Pistons, Bucks
The first overall pick in the 1970 draft, Bob Lanier was one of the few who could play eye to eye with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain. A seven-time All-Star, he saw his number 16 retired by the Pistons, where he was an All-Star seven times in 10 years, and then the Bucks, whom he led to the conference finals in 1983 and 1984.
Moses Malone – Rockets, Sixers
He's one of the most underrated centers in history, and yet he was a three-time MVP, and with two different franchises. A huge rebounder, he's part of that line of great centers who played for the Rockets, where his number 24 is retired. In Philly, with whom he won the title in 1983, it's his number 2 that's on the ceiling.
Earl Monroe – Wizards, Knicks
He played for the Bullets, but it was the Wizards who retired his number 10 in 2007. Rookie Of The Year in Washington, he led the Bullets to the NBA finals in 1971. It was in New York that “The Pearl” became a legend with a final in 1972, then the title in 1973. At Madison Square Garden, his number 15 was retired.
Dikembe Mutombo – Nuggets, Hawks
Considered one of the best defenders in history, Dikemebe Mutombo has rarely been very far in the playoffs, even if he played in the Finals once, with the Sixers in 2001, but he has collected selections to the All-Star Game and trophies for best defender. He has four, like Ben Wallace and Rudy Gobert.
Oscar Robertson – Kings, Bucks
He did not wear the Kings jersey but that of the Royals under the number 14, and they played at the time in Cincinnati. The franchise will then move to Kansas City to become the Kings, before settling in Sacramento. King of the “triple double” with the Royals, “Big O” will join the Bucks at the end of his career, and it is alongside Kareem Abdul-Jabbar that he will win the title in 1971.
Nate Thurmond – Warriors, Cavaliers
With his 17.4 points and 16.9 rebounds, Nate Thurmond is a Warriors legend, and he is one of the handful of players to have achieved a “quadruple double” in his career. At the end of his career, he returned home to Ohio to wear the Cavaliers jersey. In San Francisco as in Cleveland, his number 42 was retired.
The “anomalies”
Michael Jordan – Bulls, Heat
That Michael Jordan's jersey is retired at the Bulls is obviously a given. On the other hand, his number 23 is also retired in Miami even though he never wore the Heat jersey. The explanation is signed Pat Rileyand it was in 2003 during Michael Jordan's last visit, in the colors of the Wizards. “In honor of your greatness, Michael, and for all that you have done for the game of basketball, not only for the NBA but for all the fans around the world, we want to honor you tonight by hanging your jersey forever, number 23, from the ceiling of American Airlines Arena. No player will ever wear number 23 for the Miami Heat here again. You are the best.”
Kobe Bryant – Lakers, Mavericks
Same situation for Kobe Bryant, although the reason is unfortunately more tragic. While his numbers 8 and 24 are retired in Los Angeles, the Mavericks reacted to his death in 2020 by retiring his number 24. “Kobe's legacy transcends basketball, and our franchise has decided that no one will wear No. 24 on the Dallas Mavericks again.” Mark Cuban explained.
Bill Russell – Celtics, all NBA franchises
Following the announcement of Bill Russell's passing in July 2022, the NBA decided to retire the number 6 from ALL NBA franchises. The winningest player in history and a civil rights pioneer, Bill Russell was previously celebrated by the Celtics in 1972.
