Who Wears Number 44 in the NBA Currently?

There are currently no players in the NBA wearing the number 44.

The History of Number 44 in the NBA

Number 44 has been worn by some of the NBA’s most iconic players, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, and Dirk Nowitzki. The number has also been worn by some of the league’s most popular players, like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Let’s take a look at the history of number 44 in the NBA.

George Mikan

George Mikan was the first dominant big man in the NBA. He played for the Minneapolis Lakers from 1949 to 1956, leading them to five NBA Finals appearances and three championships. A three-time All-Star and two-time MVP, Mikan was one of the league’s first true superstars. His career averages of 21.3 points and 12.3 rebounds are still among the best in NBA history.

In retirement, Mikan became one of the NBA’s most influential figures. He served as the league’s vice president from 1957 to 1974, helping to establish many of its early constitutional practices. He also helped found both the American Basketball Association and Major League Soccer. His impact on basketball was so great that, in 1959, he was one of six players inducted into the sport’s inaugural Hall of Fame class.

Mikan’s uniform number (44) has been retired by both the Lakers and DePaul University, his alma mater. In 2006, he was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Wilt Chamberlain

Born in Philadelphia in 1936, Wilt Chamberlain was a 7-foot-1 center who played for the Warriors, 76ers and Lakers during his legendary NBA career. Chamberlain is widely considered one of the greatest players in basketball history and he holds numerous league records, including most points in a game (100), most points in a season (4,029) and most rebounds in a season (2,149). He was a three-time MVP and two-time NBA champion. Chamberlain passed away in 1999 at the age of 63.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most iconic players in NBA history. He is the league’s all-time leading scorer, a six-time MVP, and a 19-time All-Star. He also happens to have worn the number 44 throughout his entire career.

While Abdul-Jabbar is by far the most famous player to ever wear the number 44, he is not the only one. In fact, there have been plenty of other great players who have donned the number throughout NBA history.

Here are some of the other notable players who have worn number 44 in the NBA:

-Dennis Rodman: Rodman is one of the best defensive players in NBA history. He was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year and a member of five NBA Championship teams.

-Charles Barkley: Barkley was one of the most dominant power forwards in NBA history. He was a 11-time All-Star, won an MVP award, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

– Scottie Pippen: Pippen is widely considered to be one of the best all-around players in NBA history. He was a six-time All-Star, won seven championships, and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.

While these are some of the most notable players to wear number 44, there have been plenty of other greats who have donned the number throughout NBA history.

Current NBA Players Wearing Number 44

As of the 2019-2020 NBA season, there are currently zero players in the NBA wearing the number 44. In the history of the NBA, the number 44 has been worn by some great players, such as George Gervin, Dennis Rodman, and Karl Malone.

LeBron James

LeBron James, small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, wears number 44. He is a 3-time NBA champion and a 4-time NBA MVP. He was drafted first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and has played for the Miami Heat and the Cavaliers. James is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player. He played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He entered the NBA directly from high school and won five NBA championships with the Lakers. Bryant is an 18-time All-Star, 15-time member of the All-NBA Team, and 12-time member of the All-Defensive team. He led the NBA in scoring during two seasons and ranks third on both the league’s regular season all-time scoring and all-time playoff scoring lists. Bryant is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant, small forward for the Brooklyn Nets, wears number 44. He is a ten-time NBA All-Star and was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2014. He has also won two Olympic gold medals with Team USA.

Why Number 44 is Popular in the NBA

The number 44 has been retired by numerous NBA teams including the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. However, the number has seen a recent resurgence in popularity with players like Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant all wearing it. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why the number 44 is becoming popular again in the NBA.

The Legacy of George Mikan

George Mikan was a Lithuanian-American professional basketball player for the Chicago American Gears of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBL, the Basketball Association of America (BAA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played for Chicago from 1947 until 1951, when he was signed by the Lakers. Mikan revolutionized basketball as one of the first big men in history. His successful career encouraged other big men to enter the league, which paved the way for defensive rules changes that prohibited offensive goaltending and zone defense. Progressively taller players followed suit in college basketball, leading to taller national team members in international competitions.

The Legacy of Wilt Chamberlain

Chamberlain is one of the most legendary figures in basketball history. He is one of only two players to ever average more than 50 points per game in a season, and he did it twice. He is the only player to score 100 points in a single game. Chamberlain also holds the records for most points in a game, most points in a season, and most career rebounds. In addition to his individual accomplishments, Chamberlain was also a key member of the Philadelphia 76ers team that won the NBA Championship in 1967.

Despite all of his accomplishments, Chamberlain was never able to win an NBA Finals MVP award. In fact, he only won one MVP award during his career. This is often seen as evidence that Chamberlain was not as good as some of his contemporaries, like Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson. However, it is worth noting that Chamberlain played during an era when there were only two MVP awards given out each year, rather than the three awards that are given out now. This means that Chamberlain was often competing against other all-time greats for MVP honors.

Number 44 was retired by the Sixers in 1977, just three years after Chamberlain’s death. The number has since been worn by some of the greatest players in NBA history, including Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan. Today, there are only four players wearing number 44 in the NBA: Kyle Korver, Harrison Barnes, Al-Farouq Aminu, and P.J. Tucker.

The Legacy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the most iconic basketball players in history. Ever since he entered the league in 1969, he has been wowing fans with his remarkable skills on the court. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time, and his impact on the game is still felt today.

One of the things that made Kareem so special was his unique style of play. He was one of the first big men to rely heavily on outside shooting, and his trademark skyhook shot was nearly impossible to defend. Kareem was also an excellent passer and rebounder, and he used his size to his advantage on both ends of the court.

In addition to his many accomplishments on the court, Kareem is also known for his activism off of it. He has been an outspoken advocate for social justice throughout his life, and he has used his platform to speak out against racism and discrimination. Kareem is a proud Muslim, and he has spoken about the importance of religious tolerance.

Due to Kareem’s immense popularity, many NBA players have chosen to wear number 44 in honor of him. Some of the most notable players who currently wear number 44 are Dwight Howard, Brook Lopez, and JaVale McGee. These players are all excellent players in their own right, but they will always be linked to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar because of their shared number.