As the USA men's basketball national team prepares for its next Olympic campaign, the players are carrying not just the weight of their nation’s expectations but also a profound sense of history. Each player received a bag tag listing the names of legends who wore their jersey numbers before them, linking the current squad to a lineage of greatness.
Jersey Number Legacy
Jayson Tatum, donning the No. 10 jersey, steps into a legacy marked by some of the greatest names in basketball. Kevin Garnett, Reggie Miller, Anthony Edwards, and Kobe Bryant have all previously sported the same number for Team USA. For Tatum, it’s not just about the pressure of living up to the legend but also about honoring the jersey’s past.
Meanwhile, Bam Adebayo will wear No. 13 in Paris, a number that carries its own formidable heritage. Previous wearers include Tim Duncan and Kevin Love during the 2004 and 2012 Olympics, respectively, and Shaquille O'Neal in the 1992 and 1996 Games. Bam also dons No. 13 for the Miami Heat, attributing a personal significance to the digit. "I love the number because my mother also wore it in high school," Adebayo shared.
LeBron and the No. 6 Legacy
LeBron James will embark on his fourth Olympic journey, this time wearing the No. 6 jersey. This number is steeped in history as well. Team USA coach Steve Kerr wore No. 6 during the 1986 FIBA World Cup, with past greats like Penny Hardaway, Patrick Ewing, and Bill Russell also representing the digits. For LeBron, it’s another chapter in an already storied career.
Younger Stars Continue the Tradition
Tyrese Haliburton, a fresh face on the national team, will wear No. 9. The jersey holds a sterling pedigree with luminaries such as Michael Jordan, Vince Carter, Andre Iguodala, DeMar DeRozan, Dwayne Wade, and LeBron James himself having worn it in previous years. "I was given this number ... I'm the young guy so I just get thrown a number, so not a bad number to get thrown," Haliburton said, acknowledging the honor and expectation that comes with it. "It's a pretty good crew," he added, reflecting on the legacy of the digit.
Stephen Curry will sport No. 4, a jersey number previously claimed by Jimmy Butler, Chauncey Billups, Carlos Boozer, and Allen Iverson. For Curry, joining this list is an acknowledgment of his own place among basketball's elite. "That's a pretty solid list," Curry commented, clearly appreciative of the number’s heritage.
This year’s team may stand on the shoulders of giants, yet they are poised to craft their own narratives and build on the legacy of the numbers they wear. Each player not only embraces the weight of the jersey but adds their own chapter to its history. With a blend of seasoned veterans and rising stars, Team USA's future looks brightly intertwined with its illustrious past.