Robert Parish was one of the first NBA players to popularize the number 00. At the same time, he is arguably the best player who has worn the number. Not many players have worn No.00, but there are still some good ones on the list. There are also some young players who can make the list in the future, like Jonathan Kuminga and Bennedict Mathurin. For now, let’s take a look at the best NBA players to wear jersey No.00.
Also Read: The Best NBA Players to Wear Jersey No.0
The Best NBA Players To Wear Jersey No.00
Robert Parish
The Chief is the NBA’s all-time leader in career games played. Through his first 20 seasons in the NBA, he never played in fewer than 72 games. Nine times he played in 80+ games, a true testament to his longevity and stellar play. Part of the Boston Celtics championship core of the 1980s, Parish is a four-time champion, the last one with the Chicago Bulls.
Praised for his defensive play, Parish finished averaging a double-double in 10 of his 21 seasons. All in all, he made the All-Star Game nine times and is part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team.
Greg Ostertag
The second center on the list of the best NBA players to wear jersey No.00 was not as famous as the Chief. But Greg Ostertag was instrumental in helping the Utah Jazz make it to the NBA Finals in consecutive years. He played 11 seasons in the league, earning a reputation for being a feisty, stellar defensive center.
Jordan Clarkson
The Number.00 is the third Jordan Clarkson has worn in his career. But right now, it is the number he has worn the longest, and the one he has found success. After being traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers to the Utah Jazz, Clarkson was named the Sixth Man of the Year in 2020-21. In the last few seasons with the Jazz, he has been one of the best bench contributors, averaging 20.8 points per game during the 2022-23 season.
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon is an NBA champion with the Denver Nuggets. But when he was wearing No.00 with the Orlando Magic, he was known as arguably the best dunker to never win a Slam Dunk Contest. Many fans believe he was robbed of at least one win. Gordon wowed the crowd with his creative dunks.
Once he was traded to the Denver Nuggets, Gordon found a fit for his skills. He is now a great complementary player and a valuable rotation player for a contending team.
Benoit Benjamin
Los Angeles Clippers fans remember Benoit Benjamin as one of their better players in the late 1980s. The team was officially renamed the Los Angeles Clippers before the 1984-85 season, and Benjamin was one of the better players in the 1980s. He was one of the top 10 rookies in his first season, and at his height, he averaged 16.4 points and 8.8 rebounds in 1988-89.
Kevin Duckworth
We finish off the list of the best NBA players to wear jersey No.00 with another player who was great during the 1980s. Kevin Duckworth was one of the first Most Improved Player winners, having won the award for the 1987-88 season. He made the All-Star team two times, in 1989 and 91, lasting 11 years in the league.
Honorable Mentions:
- OJ Mayo wore No.00 for one season in Milwaukee.
- Carmelo Anthony wore No.00 during his two seasons in Portland at the tail end of his career.
- Darrel Arthur was a decent role player in the late 2000s and early 2010s and wore No.00 for all of his nine seasons.
- Here is a fun fact: James Worthy wore No.00 for a game in December 1987 when his original 42 was lost at the dry cleaner.
Photo credit: © Peter Creveling-Imagn Images
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