Retired numbers
With Stockton's big day upcoming, try taking this quiz
While most of the NBA's 30 franchises have retired numbers in honor of jerseys worn, championships won or victory totals achieved, some have started to hoist commemorative banners. The Los Angeles Lakers raised two banners three seasons ago in honor of their Minneapolis roots — one for the five titles the franchise won before moving west in 1960 and the other bearing the names of the Minneapolis-era Hall of Famers. And the Chicago Bulls punctuated their six-championship reign during the 1990s with a banner saluting former general manager Jerry Krause and a "COACH" for former head coach Phil Jackson.
The Phoenix Suns, who retired five jersey numbers in early franchise history, now honor former standouts by listing their names and numbers in a "Ring of Honor" at American West Arena. The move, done by other pro sports franchises, commemorates supserstars but also allows jersey numbers to be reused at a later date.
How well do you know the NBA star players, coaches, team officials and accompanying numbers that have been honored over the years? Try your hand at the 14 questions — get them all right and you may deserve your jersey to be retired somewhere sometime by someone.
Pete Maravich, No. 7 (in 1985); Frank Layden, No. 1 (in 1988); Darrell Griffith, No. 35 (in 1993); Mark Eaton, No. 53 (in 1996); and Jeff Hornacek, No. 14 (in 2002).
2. As the NBA's newest franchise, the first-year Charlotte Bobcats obviously haven't retired a jersey number yet. Name the four other NBA franchises that also haven't retired a jersey number to date.
The Los Angeles Clippers, Memphis Grizzlies, Orlando Magic and Toronto Magic.
3. Name the NBA franchise with the most retired numbers — and related retired icons — and how many individuals that franchise has so honored.
The Boston Celtics, with 23 honored individuals. That includes jersey numbers for Robert Parish, Walter Brown, Arnold "Red" Auerbach, Dennis Johnson, Bill Russell, Jo Jo White, Bob Cousy, Tom Heinsohn, Tom "Satch" Sanders, John Havlicek, Dave Cowens, Don Nelson, Bill Sharman, Ed Macauley, Frank Ramsay, Sam Jones, K.C. Jones, Cedric Maxwell, Kevin McHale, Larry Bird and Reggie Lewis; a microphone in honor of legendary broadcaster Johnny Most; and the letters "LOSCY" for Jim Loscutoff.
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