10 Active NBA Stars With Strong Cases for Jersey Retirement

From Stephen Curry and LeBron James to Nikola Jokić and Jayson Tatum, several active NBA stars have built franchise legacies that could eventually lead to their numbers being retired.

Having an NBA jersey retired is one of the highest individual honors a franchise can give a player. Unlike an All-Star selection, championship ring or statistical record, jersey retirement permanently connects a player’s number with the history of the organization.

With the modern NBA featuring more player movement than ever, long-term relationships between stars and franchises have become increasingly significant. Some players have spent their entire careers with one team, while others have created historic legacies across multiple organizations.

Several active superstars already have the type of accomplishments that make future jersey retirement discussions realistic. Championships, MVP awards, franchise records, historic playoff performances and long-term loyalty all contribute to that conversation.

Here are 10 active NBA players whose careers have created particularly strong connections with the franchises they have represented.

Jersey Retirement Is About More Than Statistics

NBA jersey retirement decisions are generally connected to a player’s overall impact on a franchise rather than one individual statistic. Championships, awards, longevity, franchise records and memorable postseason moments can all contribute to a player’s legacy.

Team loyalty can also be an important factor. Players who spend most or all of their careers with one organization often develop a stronger historical connection with that franchise.

At the same time, some players have achieved enough success at multiple destinations to create a case for more than one team honoring them in the future.

10. Jayson Tatum – Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum has spent his entire NBA career with the Boston Celtics since the franchise selected him with the No. 3 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.

That longevity has already produced a substantial list of achievements. Tatum is a six-time All-Star, four-time All-NBA First Team selection and one-time NBA champion. He also won the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals MVP award.

His biggest team achievement came in the 2024 NBA Finals, when Boston captured the championship. Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists during the Finals.

He has also produced memorable playoff performances. Tatum holds the NBA record for most points in a Game 7 after scoring 51 points against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Because Tatum has spent his entire career in Boston and has already been part of a championship team, his long-term Celtics legacy has a strong foundation.

9. Devin Booker – Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker has been one of the defining players in Phoenix Suns history during the modern era. Drafted 13th overall in 2015, Booker has spent his entire 11-season career with Phoenix.

The guard is a five-time All-Star and was selected to the All-NBA First Team in 2022. One of the earliest defining moments of his career came in 2017, when he scored 70 points against the Boston Celtics at just 20 years old.

That performance remains a franchise scoring record and helped establish Booker as one of the NBA’s premier offensive players.

Booker also played a central role in Phoenix’s run to the 2021 NBA Finals. By 2026, he had surpassed 18,000 career points, further strengthening his place among the franchise’s leading scorers.

His longevity, scoring record and connection with Phoenix make Booker an important name in any future discussion about the Suns’ retired numbers.

8. Kevin Durant – Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State Warriors

Kevin Durant’s career presents a different type of jersey-retirement discussion because of the success he achieved with multiple franchises.

Durant spent three seasons with the Golden State Warriors from 2016 to 2019. During that period, he won two NBA championships and two consecutive Finals MVP awards.

His tenure in Golden State was relatively short compared with some other franchise legends, but his postseason production was central to the Warriors’ championship success during those seasons.

Golden State also has an important connection to Durant’s jersey number. Warriors co-chairman and CEO Joe Lacob previously indicated that No. 35 would not be worn by another Golden State player following Durant’s departure.

Durant also has a significant legacy with the Oklahoma City Thunder franchise, dating back to his time with the Seattle SuperSonics before the franchise moved to Oklahoma City.

Whether his eventual honors come from one franchise or multiple organizations will depend on how each team evaluates his contribution to its history.

7. Damian Lillard – Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard’s strongest franchise connection remains Portland, where he spent 11 seasons after being selected sixth overall in the 2012 NBA Draft.

The nine-time All-Star became the Trail Blazers’ all-time leader in three-pointers made and delivered several of the most memorable playoff shots in franchise history.

In 2014, Lillard eliminated the Houston Rockets with a dramatic playoff buzzer-beater. Five years later, he produced another iconic series-clinching three-pointer, this time against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Although Lillard later played for the Milwaukee Bucks, his return to Portland brought his career full circle. Following an Achilles injury during the 2025 playoffs, he signed a three-year deal with the Trail Blazers that included a no-trade clause.

His return also strengthened the connection between Lillard and the organization where he established himself as one of the most important players in franchise history.

6. Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers

Joel Embiid has spent his entire NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers since being selected No. 3 overall in 2014.

His career has included an MVP award, two scoring titles, seven All-Star selections and five All-NBA selections. Embiid has also remained the central figure of Philadelphia’s team-building efforts for much of his career.

When healthy, his scoring and rebounding production has been among the most significant in the NBA. He has averaged 27.6 points and 10.8 rebounds over his career.

Injuries have affected parts of his career, but they have not erased the role he has played in keeping Philadelphia in contention over multiple seasons.

His No. 21 has become closely associated with the modern 76ers era, making Embiid another player whose eventual place in franchise history will be closely watched.

5. Nikola Jokić – Denver Nuggets

Nikola Jokić has fundamentally changed the Denver Nuggets’ place in the modern NBA. Drafted during the second round in 2015, the Serbian center developed into a three-time MVP and the centerpiece of Denver’s first championship team.

Jokić led the Nuggets to the 2023 NBA championship and was named Finals MVP after another extraordinary postseason run.

His playmaking from the center position has also become one of the defining features of Denver’s offense. His ability to score, rebound and create opportunities for teammates has made him one of the most statistically unusual stars of his generation.

Jokić entered the 2026 season with 198 career triple-doubles, placing him second on the NBA’s all-time leaderboard.

During the 2025-26 season, he became the first player in NBA history to lead the league in both rebounds and assists per game, averaging 12.9 rebounds and 10.7 assists.

For Denver, his connection goes beyond individual statistics. Jokić was the centerpiece of the franchise’s first championship, making his number particularly significant in Nuggets history.

4. Giannis Antetokounmpo – Milwaukee Bucks

Giannis Antetokounmpo spent 13 seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks before being traded to the Miami Heat in June 2026.

His Milwaukee career included two regular-season MVP awards, a 2021 NBA championship and a Finals MVP award. He also earned 10 All-Star selections and nine All-NBA selections during his time with the franchise.

Giannis left Milwaukee as the team’s leader in points, assists, blocks and triple-doubles.

His most important achievement came in 2021, when he helped the Bucks end a championship drought and delivered one of the most significant title runs in franchise history.

There is also less uncertainty surrounding his future jersey-retirement status in Milwaukee than with many other players. Bucks ownership has confirmed that Giannis’ No. 34 will eventually be retired, regardless of how the remainder of his career develops.

3. Klay Thompson – Golden State Warriors

Klay Thompson’s 13-season run with the Golden State Warriors produced one of the most successful championship partnerships in modern NBA history.

Alongside Stephen Curry, Thompson formed the famous Splash Brothers backcourt, helping transform the Warriors into a team built around elite three-point shooting and perimeter movement.

Thompson won four championships with Golden State and helped the franchise reach five consecutive NBA Finals from 2015 through 2019.

He is also a five-time All-Star and holds the NBA record for most three-pointers made in a single game after knocking down 14 against the Chicago Bulls.

Thompson ranks among the league’s all-time leaders in made three-pointers as well, adding a statistical dimension to his Warriors legacy.

He left Golden State in 2024 through a sign-and-trade that sent him to the Dallas Mavericks. Nevertheless, his 13 seasons, four championships and partnership with Curry remain central to the Warriors’ modern history.

2. Stephen Curry – Golden State Warriors

Stephen Curry has become synonymous with the Golden State Warriors and the modern three-point era.

Selected No. 7 overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, Curry helped transform Golden State from a developing franchise into one of the defining teams of the 2010s and beyond.

He has won four NBA championships and two regular-season MVP awards. In 2016, Curry became the first unanimous MVP in NBA history after leading Golden State to a then-record 73 regular-season victories.

His influence extends beyond championships and awards. Curry became the NBA’s all-time leader in made three-pointers, establishing a record that reflects how dramatically his shooting changed the sport.

The Warriors star has also repeatedly expressed his desire to finish his career in Golden State, further strengthening the connection between the player and franchise.

With his championships, MVP awards, records and long-term association with the Warriors, Curry’s number has become closely tied to the franchise’s modern identity.

1. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers

LeBron James presents a unique jersey-retirement situation because he has built championship-level legacies with three different franchises.

James is a four-time NBA champion, four-time MVP and the league’s all-time leading scorer. He broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s career scoring record in 2023 after more than two decades in the NBA.

His first championship came with the Miami Heat in 2012, followed by another Miami title in 2013. He then returned to Cleveland and led the Cavaliers to their first NBA championship in 2016.

James later won another championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020, giving him titles with three different franchises.

He has also made 22 consecutive All-Star teams, another record-setting achievement that highlights the longevity of his career.

In July 2026, James signed with the Philadelphia 76ers ahead of his 24th NBA season. His move means his playing career now includes four franchises, although Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles remain the teams most closely associated with his championship legacy.

Because his achievements are spread across multiple organizations, the eventual retirement of his jersey numbers could become an unusual chapter in NBA history.

How These NBA Legacies Differ

Why Longevity Matters in Jersey Retirement Discussions

One common thread among several players on this list is longevity with a single franchise. Tatum, Booker, Embiid, Jokić and Curry all spent the majority or entirety of their careers with the organizations most closely associated with their legacies.

Long-term service gives fans more opportunities to connect a player with a particular era of a franchise. It also allows a star to accumulate franchise records, postseason memories and team achievements over many seasons.

Players such as Durant and James demonstrate another side of the discussion. Their careers include championship success with multiple teams, meaning more than one organization may eventually have a reason to honor their contributions.

The Modern NBA Makes Franchise Legacies More Complex

Player movement has become a defining feature of the modern NBA. Free agency, trades and sign-and-trade agreements can dramatically change a superstar’s career path.

That makes jersey retirement an increasingly interesting part of NBA legacy discussions. A player can spend a decade with one organization, move elsewhere and still produce championship-level Basketball at another destination.

For franchises, the decision ultimately involves a combination of team history, individual achievements, longevity and the player’s connection with the fan base. Some decisions are already confirmed, while others will remain open until players finish their careers.

Final Verdict

The modern NBA features several active stars whose careers have already created strong connections with individual franchises. Championships, MVP awards, franchise records, longevity and iconic postseason performances all form important parts of those legacies.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are permanently linked to Golden State’s championship era, while Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered Milwaukee its 2021 title and has already been assured of a future No. 34 retirement. Nikola Jokić became the centerpiece of Denver’s first championship, while Damian Lillard built one of Portland’s defining modern careers.

LeBron James presents a different situation because his championship history spans Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles. Kevin Durant likewise has major accomplishments with multiple franchises.

For players such as Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker and Joel Embiid, the eventual conclusion of their careers will provide additional context for how their franchises assess their long-term contributions.

Ultimately, jersey retirement is a franchise-specific honor, and each organization will make its own decision based on the player’s complete body of work and place in team history.