The group under consideration consists of individuals who participated in the National Basketball Association and, during their tenures, utilized the jersey number 4. This designation applies to any player, regardless of position, skill level, or team affiliation, who has been officially documented as wearing the specified numerical identifier during a regular season or playoff game.
Identifying players by their jersey numbers provides a convenient shorthand for referencing individuals, especially within historical records and statistical analyses. The availability of a particular number is subject to team policies, player preferences, and occasionally, honorary retirements. Examining the collective of individuals who have shared this particular jersey number offers a lens through which to observe changes within the sport, shifts in player roles, and the varied paths to professional basketball.