NBA by the uniform numbers: The best players in the 20s

Continuing our series on the best players that wear each uniform number, we rank the best NBA players wearing a number in the 20s

So as the numbers get smaller, the decisions get more difficult as we work through our series of the best players based on jersey numbers. This time around we will be selecting the best players whose uniform numbers are in the 20’s.

There may be several players who would have worn a certain jersey number in 2018-19. I will nominate a list of the best 2-5 players for each number and then make a selection based on the nominations. So without any further delay, here we go:

#28 – Ian Mahinmi, Alfonzo McKinnie

More from Sir Charles In Charge

There were four players who donned an NBA uniform #28, but two of them played a combined total of four games, so they are eliminated from the discussion. My selection is Alfonzo McKinnie.

The Chicago native signed with the Golden State Warriors after spending the previous season bouncing between the Toronto Raptors and their G League affiliate Raptors 905.

He showed enough during training camp to earn a roster spot and then parlaying that into a season in which played in 72 games, including five starts and achieving career highs in several statistical categories, contributing to the Warriors fifth straight NBA Finals appearance.

#27 – Rudy Gobert, Jamal Murray, Jusuf Nurkic, Zaza Pachulia, Daniel Theis

These were the only five players who wore this number. While Pachulia and Theis were serviceable big men off the bench for their respective teams, they won’t merit much consideration here. Truth be told, I like all three of these players but the point of this series is to be definitive and stick to it. Perhaps there will be others who would choose differently here, but I am going with Gobert.

He stayed healthy in 2018-19 appearing in 81 games after suiting up in only 55 games in an injury-riddled 2017-18. As a result, he reached career highs in points (15.9) and rebounds (12.9) per game, as well as a shooting percentage of nearly 67 percent. He finished the regular season with a league-record 306 dunks.

The Utah Jazz center, known as the French Rejection, was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. He continues that outstanding defensive player at the international level at the FIBA World Cup, where he has averaged 2.7 blocks in his first three games of the tournament while snaring nearly eight defensive rebounds per match.

#26 – Kyle Korver, Mitchell Robinson

There’s not a whole lot to choose from at 26. There was only one other player who donned this number but he only entered into a small handful of games. While Robinson wins my “Nickname of the Week” award with Block Ness Monster, I will give the nod to Korver at this number.

Despite being 38 years old, he continues to find himself on an NBA roster in need of a sharpshooter. Last season he split time in Cleveland and Utah where he shot 40 percent from beyond the arc and 82 percent from the charity stripe.

After helping the Jazz reach the postseason, he signed a one-year deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in July,

#25 – Malik Beasley, Reggie Bullock, Austin Rivers, Derrick Rose, Ben Simmons

This was a popular number in 2018-19 as a total of fourteen players chose to wear it. Some of the other notables include Mikal Bridges, Chris Boucher, Alex Len, and Jakob Poeltl. The winner among of the nominations is Simmons.

The 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year came back last season and become an All-Star for the first time. He finished the campaign attaining career highs with 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and a .563 shooting percentage.

Simmons has faced heavy criticism for his lack of a jump shot, however, he remains one of the better all-around young players in the league, with his size and physicality presenting matchup issues for opponents. The Sixers are rolling the dice that he will continue to develop and lead Philadelphia to several seasons of championship contention as he signed a five-year, $170 million max contract.

#24 – Kent Bazemore, Buddy Hield, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Lauri Markkanen, Mason Plumlee

Thirteen players had jersey #24 last season, besides the nominees, there was Grayson Allen, Khem Birch and Norman Powell to name a few. The best player for this number is Markkanen.

After being named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2018, expectations grew for the second year big from Finland.

He missed 30 games last season due to a variety of ailments including back spasms, shooting elbow sprain, rapid heart rate. When he was healthy he played about 32 minutes a night, averaging about 19 points and nine rebounds per contest.

There is a high ceiling for Markkanen who currently stands as the career leading scorer among NBA players from Finland.

#23 – Jimmy Butler, Anthony Davis, Draymond Green, Blake Griffin, LeBron James.

There is some heavyweight competition here. Even some of the honorable mentions are very good. How about Trey Burke, Wesley Matthews, Ben McLemore, Fred VanVleet and Lou Williams? Not bad second unit options, if I do say so. But the best #23 from last season is James.

LBJ’s first season with the Los Angeles Lakers fell short as far as team expectations, but LeBron put together another stellar season. He averaged 27.5 points along with eight rebounds and eight assists in 55 games.

When healthy, James continued to display why he is consistently in the GOAT discussion. The Lakers were 20-14, fourth place in the Western Conference in late December when James went down with a groin injury. He missed a career-high 17 consecutive games, and the Lakers fell out of playoff contention without him. James missed the playoffs since 2005 and the first time James failed to reach the Finals since 2010.

Despite not making the postseason, James was named to the All-Star Game for the 15th time, as well as being selected to All-NBA third team.

#22 – Deandre Ayton, Rudy Gay, Khris Middleton, Otto Porter, Andrew Wiggins

It’s another star-studded collection at number 22 and this list doesn’t include the likes of Wilson Chandler, Caris LeVert and Thabo Sefolosha. But my pick for this number is Middleton.

He completed his seventh NBA season, sixth with the Milwaukee Bucks. In 2018-19, he was selected to his first All-Star Game. He achieved personal season highs in rebounds (6.0) and assists (4.3) per game while chipping in 15.7 points as the Bucks finished with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

#21 – Patrick Beverly, Joel Embiid, Dwight Howard, Hassan Whiteside, Thaddeus Young

There is some great talent wearing jersey #21 throughout the NBA, but the best player from these five nominations goes to Embiid.

The Process is working out quite well for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 25-year-old center had another good season which included career highs in points, rebounds, assists, shooting percentage, and free throw percentage. He also reached a personal high in games played. That number, however, was 64.

He also was named to his second NBA All-Star Game, was selected Second-Team All-NBA, and NBA All-Defense Second Team.

If Embiid can stay healthy throughout next season, he is a good bet to win the league MVP according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. The Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook had Embiid at 25-1 as of early July, while Caesars opened with him at 10-1 and Bet Online listed him with 12-1 odds.

#20 – John Collins, Gordon Hayward, Josh Jackson, Kevin Knox, Justise Winslow.

We’ve reached the pinnacle of this week’s jersey countdown and we’ll pit stop at #20. While there aren’t great first unit players from this list, there are some valuable backup guys that are useful pieces on their respective teams. A few other honorable players would include Wayne Ellington, Josh Okagie and Landry Shamet. But this winner at #20 is Knox.

After being chosen ninth overall at the 2018 NBA Draft, Knox had a fine rookie season in which he started 57 of the 75 games he played in. He averaged about 13 points and 4.5 rebounds while playing approximately 29 minutes a night.

He continued to show more potential in Summer League action in July where he averaged 17 points on 41 percent shooting, but got to the line frequently and shot confidently from the 3-point line.

Next. NBA: 5 players ready to make the jump to stardom in 2019-20. dark

If Knox has another solid training camp with the Knicks and can move up the depth chart ahead of veterans Marcus Morris, Taj Gibson, and Wayne Ellington, New York may have to find minutes to help in the development of their young forward. Next time in our series, the top players whose jersey numbers are in the 10s (or is that teens?).

Home/NBA News