The Iconic Jersey Numbers of Team USA Basketball

When it comes to basketball, Michael Jordan is synonymous with the number 23. But did you know that he didn’t wear that number when he played for Team USA? Instead, he donned the number 9, a tradition that continues to this day for many NBA and WNBA stars who represent the United States in international competition.

A patriotic take on the iconic Team USA jersey

So, why do USA Basketball players switch up their jersey numbers when they put on the red, white, and blue? The answer lies in an old international rule that no longer exists. According to NBC Olympics’ Nick Zaccardi, FIBA, the governing body of international basketball, used to restrict players to numbers 4-15 to make it easier on game officials to communicate with hand signals. Although FIBA dropped the rule in 2014, USA Basketball still uses Nos. 4-15 for its men’s and women’s teams to maintain a level of tradition.

The G.O.A.T. in his iconic Team USA jersey

One of the most interesting aspects of Team USA’s jersey selection process is that not every player gets to wear their NBA or WNBA jersey number. Take Jayson Tatum, for example. He’s used to wearing the number 0 for the Boston Celtics, but for the 2024 Olympics, he’ll be sporting the number 10. The same goes for Steph Curry, who will switch from his Golden State Warriors number 30 to number 4 for Team USA.

The Chef cooking up some patriotism in his Team USA gear

As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, fans are eager to see which jersey numbers their favorite players will be wearing. Will it be LeBron James in his familiar number 6, or Kevin Durant donning the number 7? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure - when the USA Basketball teams take the court, they’ll be rocking some iconic red, white, and blue.

A’ja Wilson repping the USA in style

Quote: “I’m looking forward to representing my country and making my family proud.” - A’ja Wilson

As the Olympics draw near, the excitement is building. Will the USA Basketball teams bring home the gold? We’ll have to wait and see, but one thing is certain - with their iconic jersey numbers and unbridled patriotism, they’ll be representing the United States in style.

The symbol of American basketball excellence