{"id":142100,"date":"2025-05-27T08:30:07","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T12:30:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=142100"},"modified":"2025-05-29T19:19:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T23:19:05","slug":"best-nba-players-to-wear-jersey-no-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/27\/best-nba-players-to-wear-jersey-no-0\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best NBA Players to Wear Jersey No. 0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Most NBA fans might not remember <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/woolror01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Orlando Woolridge<\/a>, but prior to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jordami01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michael Jordan<\/a> era, he was the marquee player for the Chicago Bulls. And he was the <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.thescore.com\/nba\/news\/1903387\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">first player in NBA history<\/a> to wear #0 on his jersey permanently. Considered one of the most gifted dunkers in professional basketball, he was also a good scorer, averaging 20+ in four seasons. Since then, the number zero has had some great players, and some that one day might make the list. For example, current players wearing #0 include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/holidaa01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aaron Holiday<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/blackan01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Anthony Black<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wellsja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaylen Wells<\/a>. With that in mind, let\u2019s take a look at the best NBA players to wear <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/friv\/numbers.cgi?number=0\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jersey No.0<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>The Best NBA Players to Wear Jersey No. 0<\/h2>\n<h3>Gilbert Arenas<\/h3>\n<p>Known as Agent Zero, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/a\/arenagi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Gilbert Arenas<\/a> chose the number to prove people wrong. He was drafted 31st overall and had a lot of doubters in his early days. Yet, he won Most Improved Player in his second season and had a brief period of utter dominance. At his height, he averaged 29.3 points per game at a time when teams were scoring less than 100 points. He made three All-Star teams, but after the infamous locker room incident, his career went downhill. Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards fans remember the battles between him and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jamesle01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">LeBron James<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Kevin Love<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/loveke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Love<\/a> has worn Number 0 and Number 42 during his career. Many people remember him for the number 0, the jersey he wore during his Cleveland Cavaliers days. Love was a double-double machine in Minnesota, but the team was not going anywhere. Once he got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, he became a champion and made the Finals four years in a row. He no longer wears No.0, but still remains one of the best NBA players to wear jersey No.0.<\/p>\n<h3>Russell Westbrook<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/westbru01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Russell Westbrook<\/a> has worn No.0 for most of his career. He didn\u2019t have it during his Wizards days, and now with the Denver Nuggets. Westbrook is arguably a top-five point guard of all time. He is one of three players to average a triple-double for a full season, alongside <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jokicni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Jokic<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/roberos01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Oscar Robertson<\/a>. Many will point to his chaotic play in the playoffs as the reason he doesn\u2019t have a title. But Westbrook is a former MVP and one of the most recognizable players in the league.<\/p>\n<h3>Damian Lillard<\/h3>\n<p>Here is another legendary point guard without a championship title. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lillada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Damian Lillard<\/a> is a true legend of the league and was named to the NBA\u2019s 75th Anniversary Team. A future Hall of Famer, Lillard deserves to be on the list. And he has not worn any other jersey besides #0. Aside from his rookie season, he has 12 consecutive seasons of averaging 20+ points.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_142130\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-142130\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-142130\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/05\/USATSI_26034412_168414264_lowres-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-142130\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) drives for the basket against Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) in the first quarter during game four of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Lillard left the game early in the in the first quarter with an injury. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>Jayson Tatum<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tatumja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jayson Tatum<\/a> is the second player on our list of best NBA players to wear jersey No.0 and win a title. He might go down as the greatest player to ever wear No.0. He is on a six-year streak of making the All-Star team. He is also on a four-year streak for making the All-NBA first team. His <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/13\/celtics-rebuild-after-jayson-tatum-injury\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">injury<\/a> will probably stop the streak, but nobody should doubt that Tatum will come back stronger. He is only 26 years old and already an NBA champion.<\/p>\n<h3>Tyrese Haliburton<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/halibty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyrese Haliburton<\/a> is another bright young star wearing No.0. Still only 24 years old, he has a good chance to make it to the NBA Finals this year and maybe win it. Considered <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/05\/24\/how-team-usa-humbled-tyrese-haliburton-and-fueled-him\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">overrated<\/a> by his peers, Tyrese is proving that he can be the best player on a contending team. His Indiana Pacers have made it to the NBA Eastern Conference Finals two years in a row.<\/p>\n<h3>Andre Drummond<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/drumman01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andre Drummond<\/a> has said he is the best rebounding big man, and he might have a point there. He has led the league in rebounding four times and in offensive rebounds seven times. In fact, he had a streak from his second season up until 2019-20 when he led the league in offensive rebounds.<\/p>\n<p>He has worn other jersey numbers, but most fans recognize him for the No.0 during his Detroit Pistons days.<\/p>\n<h3>Tyrese Maxey<\/h3>\n<p>The league is in great hands with young players like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/maxeyty01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyrese Maxey<\/a>, Halliburton, and Tatum, who are wearing No.0. Maxey is still very young and has a great upside. Some can argue he was the best player on the Philadelphia 76ers this season.<\/p>\n<p>If the Sixers ever get healthy, Maxey can help them make it to the promised land. He won the Most Improved Player in the 2023-24 season and made his first All-Star appearance.<\/p>\n<h3>Honorable Mentions:<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bradlav01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Avery Bradley<\/a>: Made the All-Defensive team two times.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/divindo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Donte DiVincenzo<\/a>: One of the better role players in the league.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/t\/teaguje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jeff Teague<\/a>: Played 12 seasons, part of some of the best Atlanta Hawks teams.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/y\/youngni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nick Young<\/a>: Maybe the most polarizing player on the list, he wore No.0 during his Lakers days.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Photo credit: \u00a9 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most NBA fans might not remember Orlando Woolridge, but prior to the Michael Jordan era, he was the marquee player for the Chicago Bulls. And he was the first player in NBA history to wear #0 on his jersey permanently. Considered one of the most gifted dunkers in professional basketball, he was also a good [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5291,"featured_media":142129,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,4,62,3],"tags":[341,187,1944,798,227,53,2607,2478],"class_list":["post-142100","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-hawks","category-nba","category-news","tag-andre-drummond","tag-damian-lillard","tag-gilbert-arenas","tag-jayson-tatum","tag-kevin-love","tag-russell-westbrook","tag-tyrese-haliburton","tag-tyrese-maxey"],"modified_by":"Kayla Fonte","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142100","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5291"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142100"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142100\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142548,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142100\/revisions\/142548"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142100"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142100"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142100"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}