{
  "id": 7222951,
  "title": "Houston Rockets jersey history No. 31 - Mark Jackson (2003-04)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/houston-rockets-jersey-history-no-31-mark-jackson-2003-04",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-14T02:00:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/houston-rockets-jersey-history-no-020027495.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Houston Rockets, an NBA franchise established in 1967, have seen players wear a staggering 52 distinct jersey numbers throughout their history. This has been the case for nearly 500 players over the decades. To celebrate and remember these players, Rockets Wire has been documenting the entire jersey history of the Rockets, from their inception to present day. Today, we delve into the story of one of those numbers, No. 31, and the player who graced it with his presence during the 2003-04 season - Mark Jackson.\n\nBorn in Brooklyn, New York, Jackson was selected 18th overall in the 1987 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks. He played for the Knicks for the first five years of his professional career. In 1992, he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers before having stints with the Indiana Pacers twice, the Denver Nuggets, the Pacers again, the Toronto Raptors, and the Utah Jazz. It was during his time with the Rockets that he wore the No. 31 jersey.\n\nMark Jackson's stint with the Rockets was brief but impactful. He wore jersey No. 31 from 2003 to 2004, scoring 2.5 points per game, pulling down 1.7 rebounds, and dishing out 2.8 assists. These statistics are sourced from Basketball Reference.",
  "summary": "During his time suiting up for the Rockets, Jackson wore only jersey No. 31 and put up 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game.",
  "key_points": [
    "Houston Rockets have worn 52 distinct jersey numbers",
    "Mark Jackson wore No. 31 during 2003-04 season",
    "Scored 2.5 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists per game"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Mark Jackson's brief stint with the Rockets adds to the rich history of jersey number 31, highlighting the franchise's long list of players who have worn the team's jerseys over nearly 500 player careers.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}