Image: Wiki Commons by Keith Allison
About This Quiz
American athletes are some of the most popular celebrities in the world, but their jerseys are just as popular. Tom Brady, LeBron James, Bryce Harper and Sidney Crosby all have jerseys that sell all over the world. Legends like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Peyton Manning and Derek Jeter have sold more jerseys than one can imagine. Sports jerseys are just as popular as sport itself.
Even before professional leagues popped up in the states, players were wearing jerseys. In the earliest days of Major League Baseball, jersey numbers were assigned based on your batting order, which is why then legendary jerseys worn by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig are numbered 3 and 4, respectively. The National Football League requires each player to wear a number based on position. Quarterbacks wear numbers 1 - 19, running backs wear 20 - 49 and so on. But in the NBA, any number from 0 to 99 is available for the taking.
Fans sit closer to basketball courts than they do baseball fields, and basketball players aren't covered in helmets and pads, so the numbering system can be a bit more lenient. Nevertheless, when the greatest NBA players leave behind a legacy, they do so by leaving behind their jersey. All fans can spot Magic Johnson's, Kobe Bryant's or Larry Bird's retired jersey hanging from the rafters. You may have no idea what Michael Jordan looks like, but you probably know he wore number 23. Do you think you can identify these current NBA stars if we blur out their faces?
LeBron James
LeBron James was on pace to be the best basketball player in the world ever since he was a sophomore in high school. He went on to win his first championship in Miami and his most notable in Cleveland. He's now on the Lakers in his latest quest for a ring.
Kevin Durant
Kawhi Leonard
Steph Curry
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LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Steph Curry
The Warriors won a championship in 2015, and Steph Curry won back-to-back MVP awards in 2015 and 2016. His second award was the first unanimous vote in the history of the league. He also led the league in scoring that year.
James Harden
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Kyle Kuzma
Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2012 draft. Although he's 6'10'' with a 7'6'' wingspan, he actually grew up playing point guard in high school. A growth spurt senior year sent his career on a different path.
Kyle Lowry
LeBron James
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Kevin Durant
Patrick Beverley
James Harden
James Harden started his career in O.K.C. alongside Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant, but the trio was never able to win a ring. They eventually split up and all have won MVP awards since. Harden and Westbrook reunited on the Houston Rockets in 2019.
Russell Westbrook
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LeBron James
Chris Paul
Kevin Durant
Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are the only players to win Finals MVP awards on two teams. Leonard and Abdul-Jabbar are the only two who have won on both eastern and western conference teams.
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Kyrie Irving
Kyrie Irving was an integral part of the 2016 Cavaliers team that dethroned the 73-win Golden State Warriors. He played one more season with the Cavs and then left for the Boston Celtics. His time in Boston came to an end after one season and he's now in Brooklyn.
Kevin Love
J.R. Smith
Tristan Thompson
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Kemba Walker
Chris Paul
Many basketball fans first heard of Chris Paul when he scored 61 points in a game in honor of his grandfather, who passed shortly before the game. The highlight of the game was when Paul purposely missed a free throw that would've given him 62 points.
Steph Curry
Klay Thompson
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Russell Westbrook
Oscar Robertson was the first and only player to average a triple-double for an entire season until Russell Westbrook did so in 2017. Westbrook averaged a triple-double for three seasons in a row. He also recorded 42 triple-doubles in a single season.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
James Harden
Ben Simmons
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Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic began his professional career in Serbia and was eventually drafted by the Denver Nuggets in 2014. He's been with the same team since his rookie season and made his first All-Star game in 2019.
Marc Gasol
Nikola Vucevic
Enes Kanter
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Steven Adams
Jayson Tatum
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis is simply referred to as the "Greek Freak," and he won the NBA MVP for the 2018-2019 season. He has famously spoken about growing up so poor that he and his brother had to share basketball shoes so they could both play.
James Harden
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Zion Williamson
Victor Oladipo
Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin became famous by winning the dunk contest in 2011 and starring in commercials alongside his teammates in Los Angeles. He was never able to bring the Clippers to the Finals and was eventually traded to the Detroit Pistons.
John Wall
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D'Angelo Russell
Kyrie Irving
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant had a chance at a championship when he and Russell Westbrook took on LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, but they couldn't pull it off. Durant eventually went to the Warriors, where he won a ring, and is now playing in Brooklyn.
Kawhi Leonard
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Nikola Jokic
Luka Doncic
Jonas Valanciunas
Kristaps Porzingis
Kristaps Porzingis was nicknamed the "Unicorn" because of his magical abilities. He's a 7'3'' center who can dribble like a point guard and shoot like a shooting guard. He started his career on the Knicks but is now playing for the Dallas Mavericks.
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Zion Williamson
Zion Williamson is the most hyped-up NBA rookie since LeBron James. Williamson showed a ton of potential while at Duke and was drafted number one overall by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2019. He started his rookie season on the injured list.
Markelle Fultz
Anthony Davis
LeBron James
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Kevin Love
After the J.R. Smith snafu and LeBron's departure, the Cleveland Cavaliers are in complete rebuilding mode. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson are returning champions, but the team has a lot of work to do to return to greatness.
J.R. Smith
Collin Sexton
Kyle Korver
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Lonzo Ball
Klay Thompson
CJ McCollum
Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is from Oakland and has played his entire career for the Portland Trail Blazers. Along with CJ McCollum, he makes up one of the best backcourt duos in the league. He started a rap beef with NBA legend Shaq at the beginning of the 2019 season.
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Manu Ginobli
Tony Parker
Nikola Vucevic
Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert began playing professionally in France in 2010 and was drafted by the Utah Jazz in 2013. At 7'1'' with a 7'9'' wingspan, he's one of the league's best defenders. He was the NBA's defensive player of the year in 2018 and 2019.
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Draymond Green
Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson suffered a major injury at the end of the 2018 - 2019 season and will miss the entire 2019-2020 season. His Splash brother, Steph Curry, is also expected to miss the entire season with a major injury.
Steph Curry
Kevin Durant
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Jayson Tatum
With Kyrie Irving's time in Boston complete, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are set to lead the team. Tatum was drafted behind Markelle Fultz and Lonzo Ball, but has gone on to have more success than those two
John Wall
Kemba Walker
Jaylen Brown
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Dwight Howard
Patrick Beverley
Paul George
Paul George shocked the NBA when he teamed up with Russell Westbrook in O.K.C. instead of going to his hometown of Los Angeles. A couple of seasons later and he's finally going home, but instead of joining the Lakers, he joins the Clippers alongside Kawhi Leonard.
John Wall
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Klay Thompson
Draymond Green
The Golden State Warriors have fallen from greatness and are expected to play the entire 2019-2020 season without a single returning all-star, except for Draymond Green. Durant left, and the Splash brothers are injured, leaving Green to carry much of the load.
Steph Curry
Kevin Durant
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Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2014 and has played with the franchise ever since. He nicknamed himself "The Process" because "Follow the Process" was the team's slogan at the time. He's a two-time NBA All-Star.
Ben Simmons
Jimmy Butler
Bradley Beal
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Kemba Walker
Kemba Walker spent three years at UConn where he won an NCAA Championship his junior year. He was drafted by Michael Jordan and played most of his career for the Charlotte Bobcats. In 2019 he was traded to the Boston Celtics.
Shabazz Napier
Kyle Lowry
Patrick Beverley
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Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons is one of the most gifted point guards in the league. With his height and wingspan, he's a threat to record a triple-double every night, and he's one of the best perimeter defenders in the league.
Luka Doncic
Kyrie Irving
Nikola Vucevic
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Dwight Howard
Victor Oladipo
Victor Oladipo is best known for his high-flying acrobatics, but he's also a two-time All-Star and a defensive specialist. He made the All-Defensive First Team in 2018, and was also voted the league's most improved player that year.
Kemba Walker
Trae Young
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LeBron James
Zion Williamson
Kevin Durant
Devin Booker
Devin Booker dropped 70 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics in 2017. Nobody had scored that many points in a single game since Kobe Bryant dropped 81 against the Toronto Raptors in 2006. Only a handful of players have ever scored 70 or more points in a game.
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Ben Simmons
Steven Adams
When Russell Westbrook was busy getting triple-doubles, Steven Adams was busy getting down and dirty against opposing teams. His bully ball tactics and tough style of play have given him a reputation around the league.
Rudy Gobert
Luka Doncic
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Lonzo Ball
Vince Carter
Trae Young
After a great season at Oklahoma and a ton of Steph Curry comparisons, Young lived up to the hype in his rookie year. He wasn't able to beat out Luka Doncic for the ROY award, but still displayed a ton of promise for the future.
Luka Doncic
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Lonzo Ball
Trae Young
Jaylen Brown
Luka Doncic
Luka Doncic and Trae Young were the two favorites to win the NBA ROY the year award, and Doncic ultimately came out on top. Both players have had phenomenal starts to the 2019-2020 season, and are paced to be all-stars.
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John Wall
John Wall has struggled to live up to his high expectations after being drafted No. 1 overall in the 2010 draft. He currently plays for the Washington Wizards, but has been plagued with injury throughout his career.
Bradley Beal
Karl-Anthony Towns
Anthony Davis
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LeBron James
Markelle Fultz
Lonzo Ball
Lonzo Ball came into the 2017 NBA season with high expectations and a huge target on his back. He was drafted by the Lakers but was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans a couple seasons later. His father, Lavar, is equally as famous.
Kyrie Irving
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Kawhi Leonard
Patrick Beverley
With the additions of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the Clippers and head coach Doc Rivers have a really good chance to win the 2020 NBA championship. Patrick Beverly has a perfect opportunity to be ranked as one of the league's best point guards.
Paul George
Kemba Walker
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Pau Gasol
Rudy Gobert
Luka Doncic
Marc Gasol
Marc Gasol won a championship in 2019 with the Toronto Raptors. His brother, Pau, won back-to-back championships with the LA Lakers in 2009 and 2010. Marc Gasol currently plays for the Raptors and his brother plays for the Trail Blazers.
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JJ Redick
JJ Redick is famously known for his days at Duke University, and although he never won a championship in college, he set several records and his number was retired in 2007. He was drafted in the first round of the 2006 draft and has found much success ever since.
Kyle Korver
Vince Carter
Kristaps Porzingis
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Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2011 and played most of his career with the team. He was then sent to Minnesota, signed with Philadelphia and is currently playing in Miami. He was voted the league's most improved player in 2015.
Paul George
Ben Simmons
Patrick Beverley
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Bradley Beal
Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas of the Wizards and Kay Felder of the Detroit Pistons are currently the shortest players in the NBA, both listed at 5'9''. The shortest NBA player ever was Muggsy Bogues at 5'3''. NBA dunk champion Spud Webb was listed at 5'7''.
John Wall
Kay Felder
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Anthony Davis
Karl-Anthony Towns
Karl-Anthony Towns played for one of the best Kentucky basketball teams ever, but they didn't win the championship. Towns was drafted number one overall in the 2015 draft and won Rookie of the Year that season. He currently plays for the Timberwolves.
John Wall
Draymond Green
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Chris Paul
Kyle Lowry
Kyle Lowry was a first-round draft pick in the 2006 draft and was selected by the Grizzlies. He then played a brief stint in Houston before finding his place in Toronto. He made five All-Star teams and won his first championship alongside Kawhi Leonard in 2019.
Jaylen Brown
Bradley Beal
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Kawhi Leonard
LeBron James
D'Angelo Russell
D'Angelo Russell began his career in Los Angeles playing for the Lakers. He had a lot of promise, but was eventually traded all the way to the Brooklyn Nets. He had a great year in Brooklyn, but was eventually traded all the way back to San Francisco the next year.
Kevin Durant
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Boban Marjonavich
Boban Marjonavich is both the tallest and heaviest current player in the NBA. He stands 7'4'' and weighs 290 pounds and currently plays center for the Dallas Mavericks. He's played for many teams over the past 10 years.
Kristaps Porzingis
Luka Doncic
Nikola Vucevic
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