With the NBA season still suspended indefinitely, May is frivolity month here at Basketball Lists. We begin today with a tribute to the number zero, and the 19 greatest players that have donned it on their NBA jersey over the years.
19) Aaron Gordon
Following in the footsteps of fellow Arizona Wildcat Gilbert Arenas, Gordon adopted zero as his jersey when he reached the NBA (he was #11 in college). He went with double zero, claiming that it represented how wide fans' eyes would be when they watched him play. This is certainly true of anyone watching his incredible Slam Dunk Contest performances but for Orlando fans, the #4 overall pick in 2014 has been a bit of a disappointment so far, with a career average of 12.7 points per game and just one playoff appearance in five years.
18) Jayson Tatum
17) Avery Bradley
#0 was Bradley's jersey during his time at Texas and he carried it over to the Celtics when they drafted him in the first round in 2010. A solid wing defender and long range shooter, he was a key element of the late "Big Three" era and the early Brad Stevens era but was part of a Boston back court log jam heading into the '17-'18 season. The team traded Bradley to the Pistons in the summer of 2017 for Marcus Morris to open up more playing time for Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown. It also freed up the jersey #0, which the then rookie Tatum quickly claimed. It was the number he had worn while at Duke but because of Bradley's initial presence on the roster, Tatum had resigned to wearing #11 until the trade happened. Bradley was forced to drop #0 for #22 in Detroit in deference to Andre Drummond.
17) Avery Bradley
#0 was Bradley's jersey during his time at Texas and he carried it over to the Celtics when they drafted him in the first round in 2010. A solid wing defender and long range shooter, he was a key element of the late "Big Three" era and the early Brad Stevens era but was part of a Boston back court log jam heading into the '17-'18 season. The team traded Bradley to the Pistons in the summer of 2017 for Marcus Morris to open up more playing time for Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown. It also freed up the jersey #0, which the then rookie Tatum quickly claimed. It was the number he had worn while at Duke but because of Bradley's initial presence on the roster, Tatum had resigned to wearing #11 until the trade happened. Bradley was forced to drop #0 for #22 in Detroit in deference to Andre Drummond.
16) C.J. Miles
#34 was Miles' original NBA number with the Jazz, a carryover from his prep days at Skyline High School in Dallas, which retired his jersey upon his graduation. He switched to #0 when he signed with the Cavaliers in 2013 and retained it through later stops with the Pacers and Raptors. #0 was the jersey on Miles' back when he netted a career high 13.5 points per game for Indiana in '13-'14, and when he was part of the '18-'19 Raptors title team but was traded mid-season to the Grizzlies for Marc Gasol (Toronto declined presenting him with a ring). When Miles was traded to the Wizards in 2019 he returned to #34, stating publicly that he was doing it out of respect to local #0 legend Gilbert Arenas.
#34 was Miles' original NBA number with the Jazz, a carryover from his prep days at Skyline High School in Dallas, which retired his jersey upon his graduation. He switched to #0 when he signed with the Cavaliers in 2013 and retained it through later stops with the Pacers and Raptors. #0 was the jersey on Miles' back when he netted a career high 13.5 points per game for Indiana in '13-'14, and when he was part of the '18-'19 Raptors title team but was traded mid-season to the Grizzlies for Marc Gasol (Toronto declined presenting him with a ring). When Miles was traded to the Wizards in 2019 he returned to #34, stating publicly that he was doing it out of respect to local #0 legend Gilbert Arenas.
15) Greg Ostertag
At 7'2", Ostertag just edges out Robert Parish as the tallest man ever to don double zeroes in the NBA. A big, goofy, laid-back Texan, Ostertag was an easily recognizable staple of the Jazz lineups in the late '90s and early '00s. Never one to take basketball too seriously, he would often show up to training camp out of shape, usually drawing the ire of his regimented teammate Karl Malone, who supposedly once joked that Ostertag's jersey expanded from "00" to "OO" in the summer. He wore zeroes in nine of his 11 NBA seasons, taking a two-year break in '99-'00 and '00-'01 when he switched to #39 out of respect for Utah signing veteran #0 wearer Olden Polynice as a free agent.
At 7'2", Ostertag just edges out Robert Parish as the tallest man ever to don double zeroes in the NBA. A big, goofy, laid-back Texan, Ostertag was an easily recognizable staple of the Jazz lineups in the late '90s and early '00s. Never one to take basketball too seriously, he would often show up to training camp out of shape, usually drawing the ire of his regimented teammate Karl Malone, who supposedly once joked that Ostertag's jersey expanded from "00" to "OO" in the summer. He wore zeroes in nine of his 11 NBA seasons, taking a two-year break in '99-'00 and '00-'01 when he switched to #39 out of respect for Utah signing veteran #0 wearer Olden Polynice as a free agent.
14) Aaron Brooks
When Gilbert Arenas rose up to stardom in the NBA in the mid '00s, a generation of similarly overlooked college players drew inspiration from his rags-to-riches story and donned #0 in the NCAA in tribute and aspiration. One of the most high profile examples was Brooks, who came from humble, undersized beginnings growing up to Seattle to All-American status while wearing #0 at Oregon. He was able to keep the jersey number in his first four seasons in the NBA, split between the Rockets and Suns, plus in later stints with the Nuggets, Bulls, and Pacers. A jitterbug point guard with a quick first step, Brooks struggled with consistency throughout his pro career but did have some terrific moments early on, especially in '09-'10 when he averaged 19.6 points per game as Houston's starting point guard.
When Gilbert Arenas rose up to stardom in the NBA in the mid '00s, a generation of similarly overlooked college players drew inspiration from his rags-to-riches story and donned #0 in the NCAA in tribute and aspiration. One of the most high profile examples was Brooks, who came from humble, undersized beginnings growing up to Seattle to All-American status while wearing #0 at Oregon. He was able to keep the jersey number in his first four seasons in the NBA, split between the Rockets and Suns, plus in later stints with the Nuggets, Bulls, and Pacers. A jitterbug point guard with a quick first step, Brooks struggled with consistency throughout his pro career but did have some terrific moments early on, especially in '09-'10 when he averaged 19.6 points per game as Houston's starting point guard.
13) Olden Polynice
When Polynice started wearing #0 in '90-'91 for the Sonics, replacing his previous choice of #23, he became just the second player in the NBA with that jersey number, joining Orlando Woolridge. Why the change for Polynice? Well, his new coach in Seattle in '90-'91 was K.C. Jones, who had previously guided the Celtics to two NBA championships. One of his top players was legendary center Robert Parish, who famously wore #00, and Polynice joked to Jones that maybe he could play half as well as Parish. In return, Jones suggested wearing half the jersey, and thus Polynice took on #0. He would actually soon be traded during the '90-'91 season, but stuck with #0 in stops with the Clippers, Pistons, Kings, and Jazz.
When Polynice started wearing #0 in '90-'91 for the Sonics, replacing his previous choice of #23, he became just the second player in the NBA with that jersey number, joining Orlando Woolridge. Why the change for Polynice? Well, his new coach in Seattle in '90-'91 was K.C. Jones, who had previously guided the Celtics to two NBA championships. One of his top players was legendary center Robert Parish, who famously wore #00, and Polynice joked to Jones that maybe he could play half as well as Parish. In return, Jones suggested wearing half the jersey, and thus Polynice took on #0. He would actually soon be traded during the '90-'91 season, but stuck with #0 in stops with the Clippers, Pistons, Kings, and Jazz.
12) Benoit Benjamin
The double zeroes on his chest and back became a cruel reminder of what Clippers fans thought of Benjamin after a disappointing start to his career. Drafted third overall in 1985 after a star turn at Creighton (where he also donned #00), Benjamin failed to live up to expectations in L.A., regularly missing time due to injury and averaging just 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his first five seasons. He was mercifully traded to the Sonics in 1991 (for fellow zero wearer Olden Polynice) and held the double zeroes through most of the rest of his career. As a journeyman, he managed to become the first player in Clippers, Cavaliers, 76ers, Sonics, Grizzlies, and Nets history to wear #00, and the second in Lakers history after Calvin Garrett.
The double zeroes on his chest and back became a cruel reminder of what Clippers fans thought of Benjamin after a disappointing start to his career. Drafted third overall in 1985 after a star turn at Creighton (where he also donned #00), Benjamin failed to live up to expectations in L.A., regularly missing time due to injury and averaging just 13.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his first five seasons. He was mercifully traded to the Sonics in 1991 (for fellow zero wearer Olden Polynice) and held the double zeroes through most of the rest of his career. As a journeyman, he managed to become the first player in Clippers, Cavaliers, 76ers, Sonics, Grizzlies, and Nets history to wear #00, and the second in Lakers history after Calvin Garrett.
11) Johnny Moore
Only two NBA teams have retired the jersey #0 or #00: the Celtics, for Robert Parish, and the Spurs, for Moore, their oft overlooked franchise legend. Drafted in the second round by Seattle in 1979, Moore was unable to make that squad and instead became an unlikely signing of the Spurs a year later. There, he teamed up as a dynamic back court with George Gervin, leading the NBA in assists per game in '81-'82 and finishing second in the category in '82-'83 and third in '84-'85. His career was unfortunately cut short in 1985 when he diagnosed with a rare form of meningitis, but Moore did return long enough to play most of the '89-'90 season with San Antonio, meaning he bridged the gap between Gervin and David Robinson.
Only two NBA teams have retired the jersey #0 or #00: the Celtics, for Robert Parish, and the Spurs, for Moore, their oft overlooked franchise legend. Drafted in the second round by Seattle in 1979, Moore was unable to make that squad and instead became an unlikely signing of the Spurs a year later. There, he teamed up as a dynamic back court with George Gervin, leading the NBA in assists per game in '81-'82 and finishing second in the category in '82-'83 and third in '84-'85. His career was unfortunately cut short in 1985 when he diagnosed with a rare form of meningitis, but Moore did return long enough to play most of the '89-'90 season with San Antonio, meaning he bridged the gap between Gervin and David Robinson.
10) Kevin Duckworth
There was a bit of a controversy when Carmelo Anthony adopted the jersey #00 upon signing with the Trail Blazers for the '19-'20 season. For most Blazers fans, that jersey number is forever synonymous with Duckworth, a franchise legend and longtime team ambassador who passed away tragically from heart failure at age 44 in 2008. Originally #54 with the Spurs, Duckworth switched to double zeroes when Portland traded for him during his rookie season. He became a cornerstone at center for the team for six years, which included NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. He was named Most Improved Player in '87-'88, and in 1989 became just the second player after Robert Parish to don #00 in an All-Star Game.
There was a bit of a controversy when Carmelo Anthony adopted the jersey #00 upon signing with the Trail Blazers for the '19-'20 season. For most Blazers fans, that jersey number is forever synonymous with Duckworth, a franchise legend and longtime team ambassador who passed away tragically from heart failure at age 44 in 2008. Originally #54 with the Spurs, Duckworth switched to double zeroes when Portland traded for him during his rookie season. He became a cornerstone at center for the team for six years, which included NBA Finals appearances in 1990 and 1992. He was named Most Improved Player in '87-'88, and in 1989 became just the second player after Robert Parish to don #00 in an All-Star Game.
9) Orlando Woolridge
#0 has become quite popular as a jersey choice in the NBA today, but for the first 45 years of league history, its only representative was Woolridge. Technically, Woolridge was the second player in NBA history to wear #0, as Noble Jorgensen had donned it for one game for the Chicago Stags in 1947. While at Notre Dame, Woolridge actually wore #32 but when he was drafted by the Bulls in 1982, that jersey was already claimed by James Wilkes. Thus, Woolridge switched to #0 both to stand out from the crowd and in honor of his nickname, "O." His game did most of the talking from there, as he became one of the most exciting pure scorers of the '80s for the Bulls, Nets, and Lakers. It wasn't until 1991 when another #0 emerged, his good friend Olden Polynice.
#0 has become quite popular as a jersey choice in the NBA today, but for the first 45 years of league history, its only representative was Woolridge. Technically, Woolridge was the second player in NBA history to wear #0, as Noble Jorgensen had donned it for one game for the Chicago Stags in 1947. While at Notre Dame, Woolridge actually wore #32 but when he was drafted by the Bulls in 1982, that jersey was already claimed by James Wilkes. Thus, Woolridge switched to #0 both to stand out from the crowd and in honor of his nickname, "O." His game did most of the talking from there, as he became one of the most exciting pure scorers of the '80s for the Bulls, Nets, and Lakers. It wasn't until 1991 when another #0 emerged, his good friend Olden Polynice.
8) Drew Gooden
Traded six times during his career, Gooden ultimately played for 10 NBA franchises and wore #0 for four of them. But it wasn't always easy securing his preferred number. When he was traded to the Cavaliers in 2004, Jeff McInnis refused to give up #0, ultimately agreeing to relent if Gooden paid him $25,000 for the rights. Instead of coughing up the money, Gooden combined his favorite number 0, with his second favorite, 9, and became #90, a jersey he would also don for the Bulls, Kings, Spurs, Mavericks, and Wizards. While he switched numbers often in the NBA, Gooden was #0 in his entire time at Kansas and the school retired that jersey in his honor in 2003.
Traded six times during his career, Gooden ultimately played for 10 NBA franchises and wore #0 for four of them. But it wasn't always easy securing his preferred number. When he was traded to the Cavaliers in 2004, Jeff McInnis refused to give up #0, ultimately agreeing to relent if Gooden paid him $25,000 for the rights. Instead of coughing up the money, Gooden combined his favorite number 0, with his second favorite, 9, and became #90, a jersey he would also don for the Bulls, Kings, Spurs, Mavericks, and Wizards. While he switched numbers often in the NBA, Gooden was #0 in his entire time at Kansas and the school retired that jersey in his honor in 2003.
7) Andre Drummond
His NBA career started off wearing #1 for the Pistons and his jersey now reads #3 for the Cavs, but for six-plus seasons in between, Drummond was one of the league's best #0 wearers. He was actually #12 at UConn but couldn't carry it over when the Pistons drafted ninth overall in 2012, as it already belonged to veteran guard Will Bynum. Drummond stuck with #1 for just his rookie season though, as a franchise legend who had previously donned that number made a much ballyhooed return in '13-'14. Chauncey Billups wore #1 for Detroit for six seasons, during which time the team reached at least the Conference Finals every year, and won the title in 2004 with Billups earning Finals MVP honors. When he was traded to the Nuggets in 2008, it was in exchange for another #1, Allen Iverson, who was a major disappointment for Pistons fans in his one season with the team. Billups' return as a free agent in 2013 allowed him to retire as a Piston wearing #1 as Drummond graciously switched to #0 to accommodate it. When Drummond was traded to the Cavs in 2020, #0 was already taken by Kevin Love and #1 by Dante Exum, so he adopted #3.
His NBA career started off wearing #1 for the Pistons and his jersey now reads #3 for the Cavs, but for six-plus seasons in between, Drummond was one of the league's best #0 wearers. He was actually #12 at UConn but couldn't carry it over when the Pistons drafted ninth overall in 2012, as it already belonged to veteran guard Will Bynum. Drummond stuck with #1 for just his rookie season though, as a franchise legend who had previously donned that number made a much ballyhooed return in '13-'14. Chauncey Billups wore #1 for Detroit for six seasons, during which time the team reached at least the Conference Finals every year, and won the title in 2004 with Billups earning Finals MVP honors. When he was traded to the Nuggets in 2008, it was in exchange for another #1, Allen Iverson, who was a major disappointment for Pistons fans in his one season with the team. Billups' return as a free agent in 2013 allowed him to retire as a Piston wearing #1 as Drummond graciously switched to #0 to accommodate it. When Drummond was traded to the Cavs in 2020, #0 was already taken by Kevin Love and #1 by Dante Exum, so he adopted #3.
6) Jeff Teague
Part of that late '00s generation of NCAA stars who adopted #0 as an acknowledgement of their perceived starting from nothing, Teague continued with the jersey from Wake Forest to the Hawks after they drafted him in the first round in 2009. In 2015, he became just the fourth player in NBA history to wear #0 in an All-Star Game, following in the footsteps of Gilbert Arenas and joining his fellow All-Star honorees that year, Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook. Teague had to briefly give up #0 in deference to C.J. Miles when he was traded to the Pacers in 2016, but reclaimed it with the Timberwolves for the '17-'18 season. When he returned to the Hawks via trade in 2020, young point guard Brandon Goodwin had taken over #0, so Teague adopted #00 for the first time.
Part of that late '00s generation of NCAA stars who adopted #0 as an acknowledgement of their perceived starting from nothing, Teague continued with the jersey from Wake Forest to the Hawks after they drafted him in the first round in 2009. In 2015, he became just the fourth player in NBA history to wear #0 in an All-Star Game, following in the footsteps of Gilbert Arenas and joining his fellow All-Star honorees that year, Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook. Teague had to briefly give up #0 in deference to C.J. Miles when he was traded to the Pacers in 2016, but reclaimed it with the Timberwolves for the '17-'18 season. When he returned to the Hawks via trade in 2020, young point guard Brandon Goodwin had taken over #0, so Teague adopted #00 for the first time.
5) Gilbert Arenas
Though he's not in the top spot on this list, Arenas is still the first player most people recollect when they think of jersey #0. It was not only a stitching on his uniform but an ethos for the three-time All-Star, as he adopted it at Arizona after supposedly hearing a scout predict that he'd play zero minutes in the NBA (as notably recounted in a 2007 Adidas commercial). It even became the basis of his most memorable nickname, "Agent Zero," and served as inspiration to a generation of stars that hit the college ranks while Arenas was tearing up NBA opponents. He was one of just four players wearing #0 in his '01-'02 rookie season with the Warriors, but by the time Arenas finished up his career with the Grizzlies in 2012 there were 11 #0 wearers. In the '19-'20 season, that number had grown to 23 out of 30 franchises featuring a #0 jersey, including current or former All-Stars Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, D'Angelo Russell, Jeff Teague, Andre Drummond, Kevin Love, and Jayson Tatum.
Though he's not in the top spot on this list, Arenas is still the first player most people recollect when they think of jersey #0. It was not only a stitching on his uniform but an ethos for the three-time All-Star, as he adopted it at Arizona after supposedly hearing a scout predict that he'd play zero minutes in the NBA (as notably recounted in a 2007 Adidas commercial). It even became the basis of his most memorable nickname, "Agent Zero," and served as inspiration to a generation of stars that hit the college ranks while Arenas was tearing up NBA opponents. He was one of just four players wearing #0 in his '01-'02 rookie season with the Warriors, but by the time Arenas finished up his career with the Grizzlies in 2012 there were 11 #0 wearers. In the '19-'20 season, that number had grown to 23 out of 30 franchises featuring a #0 jersey, including current or former All-Stars Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, D'Angelo Russell, Jeff Teague, Andre Drummond, Kevin Love, and Jayson Tatum.
4) Damian Lillard
Though it appears on his Blazers jersey as #0, in Lillard's mind he's wearing the letter "O," which he chose in honor of his birthplace of Oakland and his college town of Ogden, Utah (home of Weber State). It also represents his current home state of Oregon, where Lillard has blossomed into one of the NBA's biggest stars. He became the first player wearing #0 or #00 to be named Rookie of the Year in '12-'13 and his five All-Star appearances are third amongst zeroes, trailing only Russell Westbrook and Robert Parish. He also holds a unique distinction as the only #0 to team up with two different #00 wearers, having done so with Enes Kanter in '18-'19 and Carmelo Anthony in '19-'20.
Though it appears on his Blazers jersey as #0, in Lillard's mind he's wearing the letter "O," which he chose in honor of his birthplace of Oakland and his college town of Ogden, Utah (home of Weber State). It also represents his current home state of Oregon, where Lillard has blossomed into one of the NBA's biggest stars. He became the first player wearing #0 or #00 to be named Rookie of the Year in '12-'13 and his five All-Star appearances are third amongst zeroes, trailing only Russell Westbrook and Robert Parish. He also holds a unique distinction as the only #0 to team up with two different #00 wearers, having done so with Enes Kanter in '18-'19 and Carmelo Anthony in '19-'20.
3) Kevin Love
#42 was Love's number with the Timberwolves and at UCLA (where he had to receive special permission from Bruins legend Walt Hazzard to use it) but he couldn't carry it over to the Cavaliers because it was retired in honor of Nate Thurmond. His inspiration for adopting #0 after Cleveland traded for him in 2014 was a memory of receiving that number in a youth league because all the other jerseys had already been taken. Similar to Damian Lillard, #0 was also a nod to the letter "O," representing Love's home state of Oregon. Technically, it also kind of worked as an "O" for Ohio, home of the Cavs, and Love worked out well for the state as he helped bring the first major pro title to the city of Cleveland in over half a century in 2016.
#42 was Love's number with the Timberwolves and at UCLA (where he had to receive special permission from Bruins legend Walt Hazzard to use it) but he couldn't carry it over to the Cavaliers because it was retired in honor of Nate Thurmond. His inspiration for adopting #0 after Cleveland traded for him in 2014 was a memory of receiving that number in a youth league because all the other jerseys had already been taken. Similar to Damian Lillard, #0 was also a nod to the letter "O," representing Love's home state of Oregon. Technically, it also kind of worked as an "O" for Ohio, home of the Cavs, and Love worked out well for the state as he helped bring the first major pro title to the city of Cleveland in over half a century in 2016.
2) Robert Parish
While #0 has become quite popular in the NBA today, #00 is still an elusive choice, with only five representatives in the '19-'20 season. In fact, only 39 players in NBA history have ever slipped on a #00 jersey, and Parish is by far the greatest and most memorable to do it. Ever soft-spoken and concise, Parish was once asked why he chose #00 and simply responded that it was the only jersey left for him to pick when he joined the basketball team at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. His nine All-Star appearances ties him with Russell Westbrook for the most by a player wearing #0 or #00 and along with the Spurs' Johnny Moore, he's the only #0 or #00 to have his jersey retired.
While #0 has become quite popular in the NBA today, #00 is still an elusive choice, with only five representatives in the '19-'20 season. In fact, only 39 players in NBA history have ever slipped on a #00 jersey, and Parish is by far the greatest and most memorable to do it. Ever soft-spoken and concise, Parish was once asked why he chose #00 and simply responded that it was the only jersey left for him to pick when he joined the basketball team at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. His nine All-Star appearances ties him with Russell Westbrook for the most by a player wearing #0 or #00 and along with the Spurs' Johnny Moore, he's the only #0 or #00 to have his jersey retired.
1) Russell Westbrook
He chose #0 at UCLA to indicate a "fresh start," as Westbrook had been disappointingly lightly recruited out of high school. It's served as a lucky number for him ever since, from his star turn with the Bruins to his becoming an NBA MVP, scoring champion, and only second players in history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Westbrook also became the first NBA player to wear #0 while representing the U.S. at the Olympics when he was part of the gold medal winning team in 2012. Assuming he keeps up for at least one more season at this level, he will soon surpass Robert Parish for the most All-Star appearances for a #0 or #00, and he's already the only such player to be named MVP.
He chose #0 at UCLA to indicate a "fresh start," as Westbrook had been disappointingly lightly recruited out of high school. It's served as a lucky number for him ever since, from his star turn with the Bruins to his becoming an NBA MVP, scoring champion, and only second players in history to average a triple-double for an entire season. Westbrook also became the first NBA player to wear #0 while representing the U.S. at the Olympics when he was part of the gold medal winning team in 2012. Assuming he keeps up for at least one more season at this level, he will soon surpass Robert Parish for the most All-Star appearances for a #0 or #00, and he's already the only such player to be named MVP.