Editor’s note: List does not include announcers with “retired microphones” (a list of which we’ve detailed previously).

1) Kasim Reed, Hawks #59

If there’s one constant in Hawks franchise history, it’s financial woes. From their early days just scraping by in Milwaukee all the way to their current iteration in Atlanta, the team is seemingly always on the verge of folding, relocating, or getting sold. Even in eras of relative stability, they’ve moved three times in the city of Atlanta, going from the woefully undersized Alexander Memorial Coliseum to the dilapidated Omni Coliseum to the cavernous Georgia Dome to their current digs, State Farm Arena. When Tony Kessler purchased the franchise in 2015, he immediately levied the city of Atlanta for public funding to upgrade the venue (then called Phillips Arena), implying that a relocation to the suburbs would happen otherwise. Then mayor Kasim Reed negotiated a $192 million renovation, funded mainly by the city’s treasury. All of this, by the way, just to add some luxury boxes and other modern amenities. Though Reed was subsequently battling (unrelated) corruption and bribery allegations later in his term, Kessler and the Hawks opted to honor him with a jersey retirement in 2017. They went with #59, honoring his status as Atlanta’s 59th mayor. The jersey number was technically not retired and remains in rotation, but no Hawks player past or present has ever donned #59 anyway. In fact, there’s only one #59 in all of NBA history, Rayjon Tucker for two games with the Bucks in ’21-’22.

2) “Sixth Man”, Magic #6
3) “Sixth Man”, Kings #6

There just hasn’t been much historical success for the Kings or Magic, both of which came in pretty low in our 2021 franchise power rankings. The Kings have retired 10 player jerseys but only four of those are for players who suited up for the team since its 1985 relocation to Sacramento. Orlando has been notoriously stingy with its player jersey retirements, finally doing so for the first time in 2024 for Shaquille O’Neal. Each team did opt to honor its fanbase by retiring the #6 jersey as a tribute to the colloquial “sixth man” in the stands. While Orlando and Sacramento are far from the biggest NBA markets (16th and 19th, respectively), they do have devoted fanbases through thick and thin, mostly thin. But in a possible recognition of how silly the “sixth man” retirement is, the Magic un-retired the jersey in 2001 for a 39-year-old Patrick Ewing, then re-retired it one year later. Of course, it’s all moot now anyway, as the NBA has retired #6 league-wide in honor of Bill Russell. Ewing is the only Magic player ever to wear #6, while the only two Kings players were back in their days as the Rochester Royals, Red Davis and Bob Burrow.

4) Walter A. Brown, Celtics #1
5) Larry Weinberg, Trail Blazers #1
6) Larry Miller, Jazz #9

When their owner Walter A. Brown passed away suddenly at age 59 in September of 1964, the remaining Celtics brass (which included his widow and beneficiary, Marjorie) opted to honor him almost immediately. On opening night of the ’64-’65 season, they retired jersey #1 in recognition of Brown’s status as the top figure in franchise history. Brown had founded the Celtics in 1946 and then built the dynasty around Bill Russell that dominated the ’60s. It was the third jersey ever retired by the Celtics, following recently retired playing legends Bob Cousy and Ed Macauley. The league itself also honored Brown by renaming the championship trophy after him. In the 60+ years since, only two other owners have been immortalized with a jersey retirement. Larry Weinberg was owner of the Trail Blazers from 1970 to 1988, a stretch that included the franchise’s only title in 1977. A #1 was retired in his honor in 1992 but was never taken out of official rotation. Ironically, no Portland player ever wore #1 before the ’92-’93 season but nine have donned it since, including star players Rod Strickland and Anfernee Simons. In a situation similar to Brown, Larry Miller had a jersey retirement from the Jazz soon after his death in 2009. #9 was used because it was his jersey of choice in his favorite sport, softball. Not only did Miller get a jersey retirement, he also had a funeral held at Vivint Arena (which he funded), and the court renamed after him. Only two players in Jazz history got to wear #9 ahead of its retirement, Ronnie Brewer and John Starks. Though these are the only three actual retired jerseys for NBA owners, numerous others have been similarly honored by their franchises, including Ted Turner (Hawks), William Davidson (Pistons), Jerry Colangelo (Suns), Dick Klein (Bulls), and Gordon Gund (Cavaliers).

7) Dan Marino, Heat #13

Ok, Marino’s #13 is technically not retired by the Heat. If anything, it will eventually be retired for current superstar Bam Adebayo, who has worn the #13 jersey since Miami drafted him in 2017. But there was a 2005 halftime ceremony, wherein Marino’s #13 Miami Dolphins was lifted to the rafters at the Kaseya Center (then called American Airlines Arena) and it’s still hanging there, a reminder of how the Dolphins continue to rule the city a half century after their last title. When the Heat joined the NBA in 1988, they were only the second major pro sports franchise in Miami’s history, coming in a full 28 years after the Dolphins. In the interim, the Dolphins had built a rabid, loyal fan base and made five Super Bowl appearances, winning two of them. Marino didn’t win a title but undoubtedly remains the biggest star in Miami sports history, even as the Heat, Marlins, and Panthers have captured championships. At the time, the Heat had yet to retire the jersey of an actual basketball player and hilariously, their first such occasion was in 2005 for Michael Jordan, who never played in Miami except as part of the visiting team. They finally did add some actual Miami Heat stars to the rafters, retiring Alonzo Mourning’s #33 in 2009, Shaquille O’Neal’s #32 in 2016, Chris Bosh’s #1 in 2019, Dwyane Wade’s #3 in 2020, and Udonis Haslem’s #40 in 2024.