When Oscar Robertson was traded from the Cincinnati Royals to the Milwaukee Bucks, he switched his jersey number from 14 to 1. In 1971, he won his first and only championship wearing No.1, making him one of the first great players to wear this number. Today, we will look at some of the best NBA players to wear jersey No.1. In several years, young players like Amen Thompson and LaMelo Ball have a chance to make this list. Right now, they do not have the achievements and long careers. Let’s take a look.
Also Read: The Best NBA Players To Wear Jersey No.00, Jersey No.0, Jersey No.2
The Best NBA Players To Wear Jersey No.1
Chauncey Billups
Chauncey Billups was the engine of the Detroit Pistons for much of the 2000s. That team made it to six straight conference finals. The team was known for their defense, and their ability to execute at all times. His biggest achievement was winning the NBA Finals MVP in 2004, as the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers. A five-time All-Star, Billups also finished fifth in MVP voting in 2005-06.
Devin Booker
We often forget that Devin Booker is now a 10-year veteran. During his first few years in the league, Booker was on lowly Phoenix Suns teams that couldn’t make it out of the lottery. But once the team improved, Booker helped them make the Finals.
One of the better scorers in the league, Booker has averaged 25+ points in seven straight seasons. He has made the All-Star team four times.
Chris Bosh
Chris Bosh wore two numbers during his career, No.4 and No.1. While he was a great player in Toronto wearing No.4, he won two championships as No.1 with the Miami Heat. He was one of the first stretch-big men. His ability to hit outside shots transformed the way teams constructed their roster. Bosh was a lethal third option on the Heat, and one could say he made one of the biggest plays in NBA Finals history. While many people remember the Ray Allen three to even up the series with the Spurs in the 2013 NBA Finals, it was Bosh who got the offensive rebound.
Anfernee ‘Penny’ Hardaway
Penny Hardaway was one of the most explosive players in the 1990s. Playing for the Orlando Magic alongside Shaquille O’Neal, Hardaway was a menace. Following his rookie season, he had three straight seasons of averaging 20+ plus points before injuries derailed his career. He lasted several more years, but he never got his explosiveness back. During his best days, he was a perennial All-Star, MVP candidate, and All-NBA first-team member.
Tracy McGrady
Among the best NBA players to wear jersey No.1, we have to mention Tracy McGrady. During the early 2000s, McGrady was one of the best scorers in the game, but he too had injuries throughout his career. Despite injuries, McGrady made the All-Star team seven times. He led the league in scoring two times, averaging 32.1 points in 2002-03, at a time when teams were averaging between 90 and 100 points.
Derrick Rose
The youngest MVP in league history was a dominant force for the Chicago Bulls in the 2010s. Derrick Rose is one of the more inspiring stories in the NBA. Despite two major injuries, he managed to last 15 years in the league. He wore other numbers throughout his career, but most fans remember him for his Bulls days. That was the uniform he wore when he won Rookie of the Year and MVP.
Amar’e Stoudemire
We finish off the list of the best NBA players to wear jersey No.1 with another Rookie of the Year winner. Amar’e Stoudemire was one of the top 10-15 players during the 2010s, making the All-Star team six times, and an All-NBA team five times. Part of one of the most fascinating teams, the seven seconds or less Phoenix Suns, Stoudemire was a dominant force inside.
Honorable Mentions:
- Stephen Jackson moved around and played for multiple teams. He was one of the best gritty role players, winning a title with the Spurs in 2003.
- Trevor Ariza, another gritty role player, and one of the early 3-and-D guys, won a title with the Lakers in 2009.
- Zion Williamson has to make honorable mentions based on his potential. Without injuries, he could easily be one of the best players with a No.1 jersey.
- Muggsy Bogues might not have an All-Star resume, but he was one of the shortest players in the league. And having the monsters steal your skills for a fictional basketball game in Space Jam has to account for something, right?
Photo credit: © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
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