The NBA doesn't have a formal rule banning #69, but it's unofficially prohibited due to its obvious sexual connotations, which league officials deem inappropriate and inconsistent with the NBA's corporate image, famously vetoing Dennis Rodman's attempt to wear it in 2000, leading him to wear #70 instead. While some argue a superstar like LeBron James might get approval today, it remains the league's "forbidden number".
Jersey numbers have always had their own meaning, but out of all the numbers that have ever been worn, the number 69 has never graced an NBA jersey. The reason behind this is because. the NBA wants to stay family friendly, and obviously. the number is used to refer to a sexual position.
You ever wonder why no NBA player has ever worn jersey number sixty-nine? From Jordan's twenty-three to Shaq's thirty-four, almost every number has been worn at some point in the league. Except 69 and that's not a coincidence. In 2000, Dennis Rodman tried to wear number 69 after signing with the Dallas Mavericks.
Dallas Mavericks (2000)
Rodman wanted the jersey number 69, and one jersey was made, which he held up in his introductory press conference. The league forbid him from wearing that jersey due to the number's sexual connotations; Rodman wound up wearing number 70 instead.
Historical Trends in NBA Player Heights
In 2024, the average height of an NBA player was 6' 6.3", the shortest average of the previous 39 seasons. Also, 72% of the league was under 6' 9"—the highest percentage over the past 40 seasons.
Is there an official NBA rule that bans the number 6? No. There is no explicit rule that states “6 is banned.” Rather, the practice of avoiding 6 comes from historical conventions, referee signaling traditions, and administrative practices that have persisted over time.
While many remember Rodman's rebounding dominance and larger-than-life personality, Shaq admitted there was one thing about him that drove him absolutely crazy. “I don't like Rodman because he did something I can never do,” O'Neal confessed. Rodman's habits during his brief time with the Lakers were interesting.
Michael Jordan scored 69 points in a game on March 28, 1990, during a 117-113 road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
LeBron chose a number for a few reasons. His normal jersey number in honor of Michael Jordan was twenty-three. So two times three equals six.
No NBA player has ever worn the number 69, which is believed to be implicitly banned due to its sexual connotations; the NBA has never confirmed this. Dennis Rodman allegedly requested the number 69 when he joined the Dallas Mavericks but was refused by then-NBA Commissioner David Stern and instead wore 70.
Last night, Yuri Collins made history as the first Warriors player to wear #99 in a regular-season game.
The numbers 58, 59, 64, 69, 74, 75, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 87, 95, and 97 have never been worn. There is always a big dropoff from when the ones digit goes from 5 to 6.
Yes, NFL players can wear number 69, as it falls within the allowed range (60-79) for offensive and defensive linemen, and recent rules expansions allow many positions to choose from a wider range of numbers. While historically associated with linemen, players like defensive tackles have worn it, and it's a common number for those in the trenches, despite the number's cultural connotations.
Dennis Rodman's Jersey Number Was So Wild the NBA Had to Ban It When Dennis Rodman joined the Dallas Mavericks, he wanted to wear the number 69 on his jersey. However, NBA Commissioner David Stern vetoed Rodman's decision, forcing him to settle for number 70 instead.
Michael Jordan admitted he had no plans to be friends with Dennis Rodman: "I don't think either one of us wants to make that approach"
The number has never been worn in NBA History, however, Dennis Rodman requested to wear it in 2000 but it was vetoed due to “sexually suggestive connotations” The league has informally prohibited the number, and Rodman instead chose to wear #70 for the #Mavs.
69 is a lucky number because it is a natural number that remains after repeatedly removing every nth number in a sequence of natural numbers, starting from 1. In decimal, 69 is the only natural number whose square (4761) and cube (328509) use every digit from 0–9 exactly once.
No 6, 7, 8, or 9s allowed. In a 2015 New York Times article, an NCAA basketball official said the rule was meant to make it easier for referees to signal to the scorekeeper using their hands. With five fingers, once you get to the number six, you'd need extra digits.
NBA lifetime bans: Jontay Porter, O.J. Mayo and Donald Sterling among those on infamous list - Yahoo Sports.
While most numbers are fair game in choosing a jersey number, there are a few exceptions. The NBA prohibits players from wearing certain numbers for various reasons. For example: Numbers 69 and above: Players cannot wear numbers #69 and above due to potential concerns over inappropriate or offensive associations.