Several Sixers Featured On Mitchell & Ness List Of Greatest Players By Number
By Ray Boyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- There are a lot of different parameters placed on arguments over the greatest players in sports. Often time it is broken down by era or position. Vintage sports apparel company Mitchell & Ness is putting a different spin on things breaking down the greatest NBA players of all-time for each jersey number.
Several Sixers greats (and some less than greats) appear on the list which includes every possible NBA number from 00 to 99.
The Sixers that appear are Moses Malone (No. 2), Allen Iverson (No. 3), Dolph Schayes (No. 4), Wilt Chamberlain (No. 13), Hal Greer (No. 15), Dikembe Mutombo (No. 55), Jason Kapono (No. 72) and Shawn Bradley (No. 76).
The first couple of names were no surprise. This list recognized some of the greatest players to play for Philadelphia in the history of the league. However, the final two names are a little eye-opening.
Kapono wore No. 72 during his brief two season stint with the Sixers. He was the only NBA player to ever wear the number making him Mitchell & Ness' only option there.
Bradley was in a similar situation. We all find it interesting that the 7'6" big man wore No. 76 for the 76ers, but did you know that Bradley was the only player in the league to wear it?
Another interesting thing about the list is the omission of some of the game's best players. For example, there is no LeBron James. How could a player getting set to play in his fifth consecutive NBA Finals not be on the list?
James has worn two numbers in his career, No 6 and No. 23. Mitchell & Ness gave the edge at No. 23 to Michael Jordan and at No. 6 to Bill Russell.
Another tough one to call was No. 33. The company gave that honor to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the league's all-time leading scorer.
It is hard to say Abdul-Jabbar didn't deserve it, but remember, that number was also worn by Larry Bird, Patrick Ewing and Scottie Pippen. According to the website, it was an argument over the best No. 33 that inspired the entire chart.
This has to be one of the most interesting collection of "all-time greats" you will ever see.
