Why Michael Jordan's shirt number was retired by NBA team even though he never played for them

Michael Jordan's unparalleled legacy and aura can be summed up by the fact an NBA team he never played a game for retired his jersey number.

Jordan made the No.23 iconic and though he did also wear No.12 and No.45, he will forever be associated with the number.

His Airness spent 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six championships with Chicago Bulls and cementing himself as arguably the greatest ever player to step on to a court.

He also turned out for the Washington Wizards at the very end of his career before calling it a day in 2003.

In April of that year, Miami Heat made the unprecedented decision to retire the No.23 shirt.

Jordan had never wore the Heat jersey but the team had so much respect for how he transcended the sport of basketball.

Image: Getty

Explaining why No.23 was hung from the rafters, Heat president Pat Riley said the move was done "in honour of your greatness" and pledged that nobody would wear ever 23.

He also urged other teams to follow suit, though they never did.

"Having our guys walk onto the court and look up to see how high you have to climb to reach what he has achieved is something that I think is honorable,” Riley stated.

”I just believe he deserves it. The guy has been the greatest player in the history of the game, and I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for every team in this league to hang his number in the rafters as a reminder of what greatness is all about.”

No player has worn No.23 for Heat in over two decades as a result and Jordan was blown away by the highest compliment he received.

Image: Getty

"It was by far the best gift I ever could have received,” Jordan said, as per Sports Illustrated.

”To have your jersey retired in someone else’s building, that says a lot... It’s definitely something very, very special.”

The Dallas Mavericks did the same with the late Kobe Bryant in 2020, while Bill Russell's No.6 was retired throughout the NBA when he passed away in 2022.