NBA - Sports Rumors

Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:06 am EST

LeBron James giving up 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan

By Mark Miller

“LeBronMichael Jordan apparently was in the house when LeBron James(notes) and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Miami Heat down in Florida. His presence has apparently inspired James to give up the number he wears, No. 23, out of respect for Jordan, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

James will be wearing No. 6 next season, wherever he ends up. He reportedly wants every player in the league to give up No. 23 out of respect for Jordan. "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, no Kobe Bryant(notes), no Dwyane Wade(notes) if there wasn't Michael Jordan first."

This, of course, equates to massive jersey sales next summer when James takes on his new number. The NBA should just give James some kind of bonus right now for the amount of cash he's about to bring the league.

Source: Cleveland Plain DealerNew Window

digg delicious
more

229 Comments

Post a Comment
  1. dagoldeneagle
    1. Posted by dagoldeneagle Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:16 am EST

    Report Abuse

    i, for one, will never buy a james jersey.
    i always think he's a wannabe jordan no matter if he wants to admit it or not.
    same with kobe bryant earlier in his career when he stuck his tongue out.
    too bad people who just wanna be themselves like allen iverson see their careers sabotage by david stern and the media
  2. MONEY COMITTEE EAST ATL
    2. Posted by MONEY COMITTEE EAST ATL Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:30 am EST

    Report Abuse

    nba finna make alot of money. good move lebron mj is the greatest
  3. Jim H
    3. Posted by Jim H Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:32 am EST

    Report Abuse

    #1, what NBA player "doesn't" want to be like Mike? Can you blame all of the "Jordan wannabes" out there? At least they are aspiring to attain greatness...Jordan set the bar, and now NBA players are trying to one up the best....I guarantee, barring armageddon, that eventually someone will be better than Jordan....also, nothing wrong with being your own person, _and_ nothing wrong with modeling yourself after positive role models and heros either...
  4. Bwell
    4. Posted by Bwell Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:35 am EST

    Report Abuse

    While were at it why doesn't every player give up #6 for Bill Russell? Lebron you are young man and know very little about the league's history.
  5. Lightning Strikes
    5. Posted by Lightning Strikes Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:39 am EST

    Report Abuse

    LeBron, you need to relax because there would be no LeBron, Dwyane or Kobe even Carmelo if there was no Pete Marovich or Julius Erving either. Matter fact there would have not even been a Michael Jordan either. So giving up number of 23 in the league is just plain stupid.
  6. bigg_willy_style_1
    6. Posted by bigg_willy_style_1 Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:41 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Thatsgood but I dnt think its a respect thing its more a money thing and a kobe thing from #8 to#24 now James so go figure who else wears #23 ?Well what matters is If i could be like MIKE.Want to be like MIKE.Oyea jordan was #23 than #45 too HUH!!!!!!!!! Who is next????? d-wade???????????
  7. dagoldeneagle
    7. Posted by dagoldeneagle Fri Nov 13, 2009 7:45 am EST

    Report Abuse

    d-wade and chris paul are wannabe allen iverson for wearing #3.
    carmelo is a wannabe vince carter for wearing #15.
    tim duncan is a wannabe kevin garnett for wearing #21.
    chris bosh is a wannabe chris webber for wearing #4.
    for a while, ron artest was a wannabe dennis rodman for wearing #91.
    i can't even tell you how many young big men are wannabe shaq.
    these young kids have no individuality or marketability whatsoever.
  8. nepatsfan0520
    8. Posted by nepatsfan0520 Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:08 am EST

    Report Abuse

    and there'd be a very limited NBA if it wasn't for Larry Bird and Magic Johnson so let's retire 33 and 32 across the league as well.
  9. VinsanityTitans10
    9. Posted by VinsanityTitans10 Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:20 am EST

    Report Abuse

    i know wayne gretzky isnt a george mikan wannabe -- offtopic here..
    maybe manny ramirez is a wayne gretzky wannabe ..
  10. Alfredo G
    10. Posted by Alfredo G Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:33 am EST

    Report Abuse

    what does that even mean? be like jordan? you mean great? aggressive? dominating? well, yeah, he is a professional. sticking his tongue out? please. of course players will admire jordan as they will admire other players before him. even if your argument holds truth, imitation is the highest form of flattery. Get off jordan and appreciate the game
  11. CAVS CHAMPS 2010 (next dynasty)
    11. Posted by CAVS CHAMPS 2010 (next dynasty) Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:38 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Yea lets retire all the numbers and use what? alphabets?
  12. Tim
    12. Posted by Tim Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:41 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Nobody's asking you to buy one, douche.
  13. Paul
    13. Posted by Paul Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:51 am EST

    Report Abuse

    YOu wanna know whats funny! James and D. Wade have talked about joining teams and how fun it would be! Now James wants to change numbers from 23 to number 6 out of respect to Jordan.. Makes one think That james wants to go to chicago and play ball with wade! They do have alot of cap space and a few contracts they could get rid of to clear some room for him! I gotta think Miami is alot better place to place then cleveland.. Its going to be a fun off season..
  14. Towelie
    14. Posted by Towelie Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:01 am EST

    Report Abuse

    As soon as he runs into a stretch of bad games he'll switch back to 23...just like MJ.
  15. Kenny Powers
    15. Posted by Kenny Powers Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:02 am EST

    Report Abuse

    This is about money not respect.
  16. TomM
    16. Posted by TomM Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:07 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Nice FU to Bill Russell I guess
  17. scottyalwaysknew
    17. Posted by scottyalwaysknew Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:18 am EST

    Report Abuse

    I sincerely hope that 'dagoldeneagle' is either trolling or just being extremely sarcastic. Since when do jersey numbers make you a wannabe? I highly doubt Duncan cared about Kevin Garnett when he came into the league.
    I would hope SG/SF tries to be like Michael Jordan. He was the greatest player the game has seen.
    I would also hope that young centers try to emulate players like (vintage) Shaq, Olajuwon, Robinson, Chamberlain, and perhaps, minus blowing clutch layups, Patrick Ewing.
    Being "yourself" isn't always the best choice, no matter what your elementary school teachers taught you.
  18. joe joe
    18. Posted by joe joe Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:20 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Hey Lebron I am a big Cavs fan and I don't care if you leave, however I think if the league wasn't started up by it"s founders than there wouldn't be a Jordan, lebron, Russell, etc., I think you get my drift. I think you should honor the league founders because if it was not for them where would all the basketball stars be now?Probably not making millions, so now think about who you should be grateful to, and for what you should be grateful for, before you open your mouth!
  19. Jeremiah
    19. Posted by Jeremiah Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:24 am EST

    Report Abuse

    i guess none of yall has ever paid any attention to the NBA and alot of yall are lebron and jordan bashers anyway. Jordan was the greatest basketball to ever play the game period end of discussion. what lebron is doing is great. way to go
  20. Jeremiah
    20. Posted by Jeremiah Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:25 am EST

    Report Abuse

    *greatest basketball player to ever play the game
  21. K NEL
    21. Posted by K NEL Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:31 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Some of you think it's stupid for him to give up #23?! You can't compare this to Pistol Pete, Russell, etc. Jordan is the greatest player of all time. He's got his jersey number retired on several different teams in the league such as the Heat. They were talking about a league wide retiring of Jordan's number at one point. Get serious people.
  22. nuxy
    22. Posted by nuxy Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:33 am EST

    Report Abuse

    i thought it was out of respect he chose the number 23...i don't mind this move, its a nice gesture, of course he will also sell a sh%tload of new jerseys, i mean would you buy a kobe #8 jersey?...and the wade dunk was good, but top 10 all time, nah, sideshow bob was completely under the basket, anyone who can dunk could have made that dunk, but wade is a beast,don't want to take anything away from him, but he just caught AV way out of position
  23. Vaytrain Williams
    23. Posted by Vaytrain Williams Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:34 am EST

    Report Abuse

    Lebron James is by far the greatest business man/athlete in the world, hands down! Why does he have an agent? lol he can do it all himself....what a smart move on his part
  24. Mastamind
    24. Posted by Mastamind Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:36 am EST

    Report Abuse

    I believe a lot of you d@cks have too much time on your hands. He is paying tribute to his idol MJ as I'm sure MJ's idol was prolly Dr. J growing up and so forth. Lebron has been nothing but a class act for the NBA . He will stay in Cleveland win seven rings and 10 years from now we will be saying he was the GOAT with some young stud paying his just due. Lets Go Cavs Don't Hate us Join Us!!! Btw, stupid dunk over Side show Bob last nite D'wade.
  25. Mikki
    25. Posted by Mikki Fri Nov 13, 2009 9:41 am EST

    Report Abuse

    naaah! jsut change the logo of NBA the logo of jordan is suited it jordan is the greatest NBA player ryt?"

Sports Rumors

Add to My Yahoo! RSS

Teams

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