Each NBA Team's Most Underrated Retired Number

One of the greatest honors any NBA player can receive post-retirement is having his jersey number retired by his team.  That honor and the ceremony that goes with it are testament to how much one man can mean to a particular franchise. 

Think of any superstar in the history of the game, former Knicks center Patrick Ewing (pictured), for example, and they have almost definitely had their number retired.

Yet, what about the players that were good, but most people forget about.  I'm talking about the Alex Englishes and Bob McAdoos. 

These are players who were stars for the teams for which they played, but never received total national recognition.  Considering how both were great players of their generation, that is somewhat saddening.

Taking all of that into consideration, here is each NBA team's most underrated retired number.

Atlanta Hawks: Lou Hudson, No. 23

Unless you've been a die-hard Hawks fan for 50 fans, as in back when they used to play in St. Louis, then chances are you've never heard of Lou Hudson. 

The 6'5" guard spent 11 of his 13 pro seasons with the Hawks and made a name for himself as a top shooter.  While with the Hawks, whom he played with both in St. Louis and Atlanta, he averaged over 20 points per game seven times and played in six All-Star games.

Hudson spent the final two years of his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and retired at the end of the 1978-1979 season.  Just a few months later, on Dec. 4, the Hawks retired his jersey.

He may not have been the best of his time, but he was certainly talented enough that he deserves just a little more attention outside of the Hawks' fan base.

Boston Celtics: Frank Ramsey, No. 23

One of the most important players on today's NBA teams is the sixth man.  Without Frank Ramsey, the sixth man would not exist. 

The 6'3" forward/guard played that role for the Celtics over the course of nine seasons, winning seven titles in the process.  He finished his career with averages of 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

He wasn't as electrifying as teammates Bill Russell or Bob Cousy, but the fact that Ramsey was able to be a solid contributor off the bench during the era he played is testament to how he changed the game. 

Without him, guys like Toni Kukoc and James Harden might not be so talked about like they are today.

Charlotte Bobcats: None

Having only been an active team since 2004, the Charlotte Bobcats have yet to retire a jersey number. 

Yet, if he can step up his play, perhaps point guard D.J. Augustin could be the first to receive that honor.

Chicago Bulls: Bob Love, No. 10

At 6'8" and 215 pounds, Bob Love was a forward who could do it all.  He came to the Bulls in 1969 and spent seven and a half seasons in the Windy City, averaging over 20 points six times.  Love was also a solid rebounder for the team.

Love played in three All-Star Games as a member of the Bulls and is involved with the organization to this day. 

He currently serves as the team's Director of Community Affairs, a fitting position seeing as how Love is also a motivational speaker having overcome a serious stuttering disorder.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Mark Price, No. 25

Since LeBron James made a name for himself in Cleveland and subsequently told the city and fans to go fry ice, all of the players that starred on the Cavs before him seem to have disappeared into obscurity. 

Considering how point guard Mark Price is the franchise's all-time leader in three-pointers made as well as assists, this is just an injustice.

Price spent nine years in Cleveland and in his time there averaged 16.3 points to go with 7.4 assists and 1.3 steals.  He was also an electrifying three-point shooter, winning the Three-Point Shootout at All-Star Weekend twice.

A four-time All-Star and member of the 1993 All-NBA First Team, Price finished his career with averages of 15.2 points and 6.7 assists.  He also made 40 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. 

If the departure of LeBron James has left open the title of Most Beloved Player in team history, then Price should strongly be considered.

Dallas Mavericks: Rolando Blackman, No. 22

The Dallas Mavericks have only retired two jerseys in their history, so there isn't much to work with here.  Yet, when it comes down to Brad Davis or Rolando Blackman, I need to go with the latter regarding this slideshow.

Blackman is second on the Mavs' all-time scoring list and helped lead them to the playoffs six times.  In the process, the former Kansas State Wildcat played in four All-Star Games.

At the same time, Blackman was a decent shooter in his 13 NBA seasons.  While not absolutely electrifying, he had an accurate touch and finished his career with a respectable average of 18 points per game.

Denver Nuggets: Alex English, No. 2

Alex English is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the Denver Nuggets.  Yet, outside of that team's fan base, not many people seem to remember the eight-time All-Star.

The 6'7" forward arrived in the Mile High City midway through the 1979-1980 season and immediately flourished in coach Doug Moe's high-octane offense. 

He remained with the Nuggets up through the end of the 1989-1990 campaign and averaged 27.4 points per game over that stretch, leading the league in scoring in 1982-1983.

English also helped the Nuggets clinch nine consecutive playoff berths and while he never won a title, he is easily one of the most underrated shooters in basketball history.

Detroit Pistons: Bob Lanier, No. 16

At 6'11" and 250 pounds, Hall of Famer Bob Lanier was no doubt a dominant center.  He spent nine and a half seasons with the Detroit Pistons and made seven All-Star Games while playing for them.  In his 14 seasons, Lanier averaged 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in seven consecutive seasons.

He was a superstar for his time, but Lanier is underrated in this department simply because of the other Pistons players who have had their numbers retired.

Many played for the "Bad Boy" teams of the 1980s and early 1990s and given their popularity, Lanier just gets lost in the shuffle.

Golden State Warriors: Tom Meschery, No. 14

Tom Meschery was a 6'6" forward who spent 10 seasons in the NBA.  You wouldn't guess it from his size, but the man was one of the best rebounders and most physical defenders of his time.  In his rookie season, he led the league in personal fouls.

Despite his clear skills on defense, Meschery was only named to one All-Star team and finished his career with averages of 12.7 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.  

Still, considering how solid he was despite his size, he deserves recognition when his number is retired along with those of fellow Warriors stars Wilt Chamberlain and Nate Thurmond.

Houston Rockets: Rudy Tomjanovich, No. 45

Though he is probably better known for the two championships he won while head coach of the team, Rudy Tomjanovich was once a talented forward for the Houston Rockets.  He played his entire 11-season career with the team and played in five All-Star games.

Yet, despite finishing his career with respectable averages of 17.4 points and 8.1 rebounds, Tomjanovich's career ended prematurely.

In December 1977, he was on the receiving end of a punch by Los Angeles Lakers forward Kermit Washington, a punch so hard that it caused spinal fluid to leak into Tomjanovich's mouth.  He missed the rest of the season and was never quite the same after that, despite playing three more seasons.

Still, there is no denying that Tomjanovich was a fan favorite not only as a coach, but also as a player.

Indiana Pacers: Mel Daniels, No. 34

Mel Daniels is different from any other player mentioned on this list before him.  In a 10-year career, nine were spent in the ABA.  The 6'9" forward/center was dangerous on both sides of the floor, averaging double figures in both points and rebounds seven times.

On top of that, Daniels was a three-time ABA champion with the Pacers and played in seven ABA All-Star Games.  He also led the league in rebounding on three separate occasions.  For his career, he averaged 18.4 points and 14.9 rebounds per game.

Daniels retired after playing one NBA season for the then-New York Nets, but there is no denying that he was one of the most dominant players of his time and sadly does not get the recognition he deserves because he primarily played in the ABA.

Los Angeles Clippers: None

The consistently-losing Los Angeles Clippers do not have any retired numbers.  Here's hoping that Blake Griffin stays with the team for life and becomes the first to receive that honor.

Los Angeles Lakers: None

I'm opting not to name a Los Angeles Lakers player not because of a lack of players, but because the seven players whose jerseys have been retired by the team are all on par with one another.

To give you an idea, here are said players: Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson (pictured), James Worthy, Gail Goodrich, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Each of those seven players is a Hall of Famer and to call any of them underrated would be blasphemous.  Thus, we move on to the next team.

Memphis Grizzlies: None

The Memphis Grizzlies have yet to retire a number.  Yet, worry not.  The streak of zero retired numbers ends here with...

Miami Heat: Tim Hardaway, No. 10

Like the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat have only retired two numbers (not counting No. 23 for Michael Jordan).  When it comes down to Alonzo Mourning or Tim "The Bug" Hardaway, I'm going to go with the 6'0" pest I hated with a passion growing up rooting for the New York Knicks.

In five-plus seasons with Miami, Hardaway averaged 19.4 points and 9.1 assists per game, making two All-Star appearances (out of a total of five for his career) as well.  He and Mourning proved to work well together as the Heat were perennial contenders each year both played for the team.

Injuries started to slow him down towards the end of his tenure in Miami, but Hardaway is easily one of the most beloved players in team history who today does not get enough respect for his skills on the hardwood.

Milwaukee Bucks: Sidney Moncrief, No. 4

At 6'3" and 180 pounds, one would expect Sidney Moncrief to be a guard with a decent shooting touch and effective passing.  While the man was a good scorer, he was just as good, if not better, on defense.

Moncrief won back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year Awards in 1983 and 1984.  He averaged 5.8 and 6.7 rebounds each of those years.  In terms of points, he averaged and impressive 22.5 and 20.9.

Adding onto Moncrief's impressive resume are his five All-Star berths, all attained during his days with the Bucks.  He remains close with the franchise today, serving as an assistant on head coach Scott Skiles' staff.

Minnesota Timberwolves: None

To date, the only jersey retired by the Minnesota Timberwolves is the late Malik Sealy's No. 2.  While talented, I would not call Sealy underrated.  Plus, there is nobody to whom Sealy can be compared.

Were Kevin Garnett's No. 21 retired already, then perhaps there would be cause for discussion here. Instead, we move on to the next team.

New Jersey Nets: Drazen Petrovic, No. 3

Drazen Petrovic came to the New Jersey Nets in 1991 via a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers and immediately became a star shooter off the bench.  He was inserted into the starting lineup the following season and was an immediate sensation.  

Over the next two seasons, Petrovic averaged 21.4 points per game while making an astonishing 44 percent of his three-pointers.

Tragically, Petrovic's NBA career was cut short on June 7, 1993 when he crashed his car during a rainstorm on the Autobahn near Ingolstadt, Germany.  He was just 28 years old and driving home to his native Croatia.

The Nets retired his number almost immediately.  To date, people wonder what could have been had this electrifying shooter's life not sadly ended too soon.

New Orleans Hornets: Bobby Phills, No. 13

As of now, the New Orleans Hornets have two retired numbers.  They have retired "Pistol" Pete Maravich's No. 7 for his contributions to the city as a member of the then-New Orleans Jazz, and No. 13 for late guard Bobby Phills.

Though he played for the team when they were in Charlotte, Bobby Phills is easily one of the most underrated shooters of all time.  He was never one to shoot the lights out or put up amazing numbers of points per game, but he quietly made a name for himself as one of the league's best three-point shooters.

For his career, Phills shot 39 percent from beyond the arc.  His life and career ended in tragedy in 2000 when he crashed his car into oncoming traffic while racing with teammate David Wesley.  The man was a man loved by his family and teammates, and his loss was felt throughout the league.

New York Knicks: Dave DeBusschere, No. 22

Though he first made a name for himself with the Detroit Pistons, Dave DeBusschere had the best years of his career in the five and a half seasons he spent with the New York Knicks.  He won two titles with the team and provided solid defense to complement center Willis Reed.

Over the course of his career, DeBusschere played in eight All-Star Games and was on the NBA All-Defensive First Team six years in a row (1969-1974).  In 12 seasons, he averaged 16.1 points and 11 rebounds.

Even more impressive, DeBusschere also played professional baseball for a short time.

In New York, fans can go on and on about him.  Outside of there, he does not seem to get much recognition.  Thus, he gets his due credit here.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Gus Williams, No. 1

Though the team plays in Oklahoma City as the Thunder now, there once was a time when they were known as the Seattle SuperSonics.  

One of the best players in the history of that team was a 6'2" guard named Gus Williams and in 1979, he averaged 19.2 points, four assists and 2.1 steals as the SuperSonics went on to win an NBA championship.

Williams spent six years in a Seattle uniform and averaged 20.2 points per game in his time there.  He played in two All-Star Games and made the All NBA First Team in 1982.

He may have finished his career with stints with the Washington Bullets and Atlanta Hawks, but Gus Williams will always be remembered as a member of the SuperSonics, a franchise that is slowly becoming lost in time.

Orlando Magic: None

At one point, the Orlando Magic had retired No. 6.  This was for "The Sixth Man: The Fans."

When Patrick Ewing came aboard in 2001, the number was unretired.  Since then, no number has been retired.

Philadelphia 76ers: Hal Greer, No. 15

Considering how he played in 10 All-Star Games, won a title in 1967 and was a great rebounder for someone just 6'2", it surprises me that Hal Greer isn't discussed often.  

His career averages of 19.2 points and five rebounds are impressive for his era, and he was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Yet, the Philadelphia 76ers have also retired the numbers of legends like Wilt Chamberlain and Julius Erving.  While Greer was good, he was not in the same league as those two.  Thus, he slips through the cracks of the minds of today's generation of fans and is not rated as highly as he should be.

Phoenix Suns: Kevin Johnson, No. 7

Today, he is the mayor of Sacramento, Calif.  Yet, years ago, Kevin Johnson was one of the NBA's best point guards.  He spent 11-plus seasons with the Phoenix Suns and in his first three full seasons with the team, averaged 20-plus points and 10-plus assists.

The oft-injured Johnson finished his career with averages of 17.9 points, 9.1 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  Oddly enough, he only appeared in three All-Star Games and made just one All-NBA First Team.

Had he been consistently healthy, he would surely not be on this list.

Portland Trail Blazers: Geoff Petrie, No. 45

Geoff Petrie is a prime example of a great career cut short by injury and thus slipping into the land of the obscure and underrated.  He spent his entire six-year career with the Blazers and averaged 21.8 points per game.  In 1971, he was named Rookie of the Year and played in the first of two career All-Star Games.

Team management traded Petrie to the Atlanta Hawks in 1976, but he suffered a career-ending knee injury before playing in one game for them.  Considering how his legend in Portland was soon overtaken by that of Clyde Drexler, he is an easy choice for this list.

Sacramento Kings: Jack Twyman, No. 27

Jack Twyman played for the Sacramento Kings back when they were known as the Rochester and later Cincinnati Royals.  At 6'6", he was one of the most talented players of his time, being both an electrifying shooter and defender.

He never won a championship, but Twyman played in six All-Star Games and was the first player to average over 30 points per game in a season, when he averaged 31.2 points in the 1959-1960 campaign.

For his career, the man averaged 19.2 points and 6.6 rebounds while making a respectable 45 percent of his shots.  Not many people may know about him, but Jack Twyman will always be one of the most underrated players in the game in this writer's opinion.

San Antonio Spurs: Sean Elliott, No. 32

Playing on the San Antonio Spurs in the 1990s, it was easy to get lost in the shadows of David Robinson and, later, Tim Duncan.  Still, Sean Elliott quietly garnered some attention as a decent shooting forward who could also play solid defense.  To date, he is the Spurs' all-time leader in three-pointers made.

Elliott retired in 2001 with career averages of 14.2 points and 4.3 rebounds, having made 37 percent of his three-pointers.  Yet, he received national attention shortly after the Spurs won the 1999 NBA championship.

The talented forward revealed after the NBA Finals that he was suffering from kidney disease and needed a transplant.  He underwent one in August of that year, receiving a kidney from his brother.  He returned in March 2000 and played through two more seasons.

He may not have been the best player on the team, but nobody could match Elliott in terms of class.  It's sad that not many people remember his contributions on and off the court.

Toronto Raptors: None

The Toronto Raptors have yet to retire a jersey number.

Utah Jazz: Mark Eaton, No. 53

At 7'4", Mark Eaton is the tallest man on this list.  At the same time, he could be the most underrated of them all.  Eaton spent his entire 11-season career with the Utah Jazz and in his time became one of the league's most dangerous defenders.

Eaton led the league in blocks four different times and was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1985 and 1989.  In 1985, he averaged an astounding 5.6 blocks and 11.3 rebounds per game.

His lone All-Star appearance came in 1989 and while he never may have been the best player on the Jazz, his solid contributions on defense made him one of the most dominant players in team history.

Washington Wizards: Elvin Hayes, No. 11

When basketball historians discuss the greatest centers of all time, the following names may be tossed around: Patrick Ewing, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, etc.  Yet, one name that would almost certainly fall through the cracks is that of former Washington Bullets center Elvin Hayes.

The man spent nine seasons with the team and averaged 21 points, 12.5 rebounds and two blocks per game for his career.

On top of that, it should be noted that Hayes won a championship with the Bullets in 1978 and played in 12 All-Star Games.  He is also the franchise's all-time leading scorer and shot blocker.  That being said, why is he not ranked among the elite of his time?

No matter how you look at it, this man is vastly underrated.