Ball Don't Lie - NBA

Ball Don't Lie

Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:35 am EST

LeBron plans to switch jersey numbers out of respect for Jordan

By J.E. Skeets

Out of respect for the greatest basketball player of all-time — and/or in an effort to increase merchandising sales — Cavaliers star LeBron James says he will trade in his No. 23 uniform number for No. 6 after this season.

LeBron made the comments following Thursday night's win in Miami. Jordan, as you might have guessed, was in attendance to subtly remind the world about his new 25th anniversary sneakers. Do these guys have timing or what?

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James said. "There would be no LeBron James(notes), no Kobe Bryant(notes), no Dwyane Wade(notes) if there wasn't Michael Jordan first.

"He can't get the logo, and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

It shouldn't take much for James to convince his peers. With an assist from Basketball-Reference, Tom Ziller at the FanHouse culls the names of players currently wearing No. 23 in the league. The list:

Devin Brown(notes), Marcus Camby(notes), Toney Douglas(notes) (who has the gall to wear it in New York! New York!), Stephen Graham(notes), Kevin Martin(notes), Wes Matthews, Jodie Meeks(notes), Jason Richardson(notes), C.J. Watson(notes), Martell Webster(notes) and Louis Williams(notes).

Stars switching numbers is hardly unprecedented in the NBA. In 2006, Kobe Bryant switched his No. 8 for No. 24 and sold a few zillion jerseys in the process. When Jordan came out of his first retirement, after the Bulls had sent No. 23 to the rafters, he wore No. 45 for 22 games before switching back.

Why No. 6? Well, LeBron has his reasons. The No. 6 was James' Olympic number, Julius Erving, who rocked it, is second-favorite player ever, and LBJ's first child was born on Oct. 6; his second in June (the sixth month).

That's right; LeBron James, numerologist.

Other popular Yahoo! Sports blog posts:
• College football powerhouse blown out again
• Big dunk from diminutive NBA player
• NFL fines Ochocinco $20,000 for joke

Related: Dwyane Wade, Kevin Martin, Martell Webster, Louis Williams, Toney Douglas, C.J. Watson, LeBron James, Devin Brown, Marcus Camby, Jason Richardson, Kobe Bryant

digg delicious
more

740 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. sapurs06
    1. Posted by sapurs06 Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:44 am EST

    Report Abuse

    the more i hear from/about him, the more i despise his ego.. "if I'm not gonna do it, nobody else should be able to"??
    if only he wasn't so incredibly blessed with talent..
  2. C
    2. Posted by C Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:52 am EST

    Report Abuse

    best thing Lebrick has ever said
  3. Phobia111
    3. Posted by Phobia111 Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:52 am EST

    Report Abuse

    6 = 6 rings???in miami
    maybe not
  4. tayottt
    4. Posted by tayottt Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:52 am EST

    Report Abuse

    I agree with Lebron, 23 is for Jordan and Jordan only. I also like it when stars make a number famous. Like when AI made no 3 one of the most famous numbers in the league.
  5. Jordo
    5. Posted by Jordo Fri Nov 13, 2009 10:58 am EST

    Report Abuse

    If I choose not to wear it, then every one else should be forced not to wear it?
  6. RedSoxRule
    6. Posted by RedSoxRule Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:00 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Wow... instant fan... I had my questions and doubts about LBJ (mostly due to the NBA's OVER-HYPE about all things LeBron) but with him duing this (SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AGES AGO I'm hopping on the bandwagon. Way to go LeBron! BTW, that was a great game last night between 2 of the best players in the league (and their respective teams) last night. That Wade dunk was VICIOUS!!!
  7. Jordo
    7. Posted by Jordo Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:01 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Phobia - Your pic is a ROIT!
  8. Darrell
    8. Posted by Darrell Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:01 am EST

    Report Abuse

    maybe his # should be based on the number of titles he has...............0
  9. alex m
    9. Posted by alex m Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:02 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Why does he have to wear a number that somebody else wore? C'mon Lebron, blaze a trail so that kid's will be walking the streets wearing the number 69.
  10. mike
    10. Posted by mike Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:04 am EST

    Report Abuse

    if he asked me i'd say eff that im keepin my number!
  11. curtis
    11. Posted by curtis Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:04 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Thank God LeBron is starting his drive to have #23 never worn again. Michael Jordan really needs this effort by LBJ to be fully recognized as the great player that he was.
  12. dadaboi
    12. Posted by dadaboi Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:06 am EST

    Report Abuse

    haters again. why read something you know will only get you more riled up?
  13. mattlawell
    13. Posted by mattlawell Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:06 am EST

    Report Abuse

    J.E., I mean no offense and I mean not to pick proverbial nots, but I am certain you intended to use "gall" rather than "gull" when discussing the aforementioned Toney Douglas.
    Other than that, an interesting post. Audio of an interview with LeBron about the impending switch is available at cleveland.com
  14. CHRIS G
    14. Posted by CHRIS G Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:11 am EST

    Report Abuse

    I dont know if you notice but this clown tries to mimick everything kobe does...lets go back to when kobe killed it against the knicks scoring 61 and then lebron saying he wouldnt try doing what kobe did, but bs because he tried doing to much lmfao....and now switching jerseys like kobe....come on lebrick get your own stuff to do and be crative!
  15. jordaholic
    15. Posted by jordaholic Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:11 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Yes, retire "23" leaguewide. Pay a tribute to the icon that saved the league. (along with stern, tragic, bird)
  16. Redskins21
    16. Posted by Redskins21 Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:11 am EST

    Report Abuse

    What a great game between to great players last night.. LB23 aka LB6 is correct.. If MJ can't get the Logo ( which Jerry West has agreed that the Jumpman should be the new NBA logo) then retire the #23.. and the Dunk on side show bob was sweet.. I loved how the play before Lebrongot his dunk blocked and the following play down court Wade bang that $hit on verjeao.. and you reading Wade lips. he's liek ( That's how you do it ,, that's how ya do it ) I can DIg it DIIIGG ITTT.. man I hope they team up next year.
  17. SoCalnative1
    17. Posted by SoCalnative1 Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:11 am EST

    Report Abuse

    OK KING......if you say so....lol......any other requests?.......No one on earth should wear #23 because KING james said so......can this dude's ego get any bigger.
  18. CHRIS G
    18. Posted by CHRIS G Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:11 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Using the excuse not to use it because of respect to mj is stupid....he shouldnt of gotten that number in the first place!
  19. pecorarorachel
    19. Posted by pecorarorachel Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:12 am EST

    Report Abuse

    ridiculous. hey, now you're wearing Russell's #. can't do that, pick another one.
  20. J.E. Skeets
    20. Posted by J.E. Skeets Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:13 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Matt — I did indeed. Thanks for catching that.
  21. Redskins21
    21. Posted by Redskins21 Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:15 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Lebron is not trying to be like kobe.. Kobe is trying to be MJ if anything ( all of Kobe mannerisms are identical from MJ. the fist pump. that stupid eyebrow raise when talking, the tongue. etc I can go on and on ).. yeah Lebron has 0 rings right now. if I'm not mistaken MJ didn't win a ring till his 7th year in the league. Lebron is on his 6th.. Give the guy a break.. No one is MJ so don't compare
  22. SO WILD ABOUT
    22. Posted by SO WILD ABOUT Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:17 am EST

    Report Abuse

    What about all the other Hall of Famer players ?
    Do we retire their numbers too ?
    It's not the thing to do, just wear it and prove you are "worthy" of wearing whatever number you've been given.
    Starting to sound like a money( $$$ ) thing to me,change my number ,sell more new jerseys,wait 3 yrs. ,change my number..........
  23. jakew
    23. Posted by jakew Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:18 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Anyone else get that feeling like jordan threatend lbj to change it at this game in miami?
  24. sam spade
    24. Posted by sam spade Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:28 am EST

    Report Abuse

    As the greatest winner of all time and the 1st black coach and the 1st to win the NBA Championship. I believe it's him on the MVP trophy too. What about Bill Russell who originally wore #6 to greatness? wouldn't retiring #6 be like Jackie Robinson in baseball, because it would get younger players to know and remember the history of the game. Bill Russell's number 6 should be retired by the entire league; not 23. the #23 is just for the young. the #6 would resonate throughout the ages. Bill Russell 11 time champion. Phil Jackson had to beat Red Auerbach. when someone wins more than Bill Russel then they can claim that there number and career transcends the ages. I don't think it will ever happen so it's the number 6 that should be retired by the league.
  25. Anton
    25. Posted by Anton Fri Nov 13, 2009 11:30 am EST

    Report Abuse

    #23 - that's what I think. Lebron has had that number for years and suddenly after seeing Jordan he wants to change it? And what about the number he plans on getting - 6 - I know that is SOME great player's number. Not a fan of Kobe but I saw a real transition in his game when he changed his.

Ball Don't Lie

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

J.E. Skeets

Ball Don't Lie is an NBA blog edited by J.E. Skeets. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

Contributors:
Kelly Dwyer, Rod Benson, Trey Kerby, Nick Friedell, Garbage Time All-Stars, Blair Johnson,

Teams

Customize to follow news and rumors on your favorite teams. [ Sign in ]

Related Photo Gallery

More NBA Photos »

Y! Sports Blogs

Ball Don't Lie Recent Readers

(provided by MyBlogLog)