LeBron switching back to No. 23 from No. 6 in tribute to late Russell
LeBron James is going back to No. 23.
The Los Angeles Lakers star is reverting to his old jersey number after wearing No. 6 for two seasons.
"It's LeBron’s decision," his agent Rich Paul said, courtesy of ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell."
It's official. 23 is back. pic.twitter.com/hEqb5rQANk
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 16, 2023
James began wearing No. 6 in L.A. for the 2021-22 campaign after donning No. 23 for his first three seasons in Hollywood. The NBA retired No. 6 league-wide in August 2022 following the death of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell but allowed those already wearing the number, like James, to continue to do so.
After sporting No. 23 for his first seven NBA seasons - all with the Cleveland Cavaliers - James switched to No. 6 when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010, as the franchise made No. 23 unavailable to commemorate Michael Jordan's contributions to the league. Jordan's Chicago Bulls are the only other NBA franchise to retire the number specifically in his honor, though a handful of other teams have retired No. 23 for their own respective former players: the Atlanta Hawks (Lou Hudson), Celtics (Frank Ramsey), Brooklyn Nets (John Williamson), and Houston Rockets (Calvin Murphy).
Along with James, 13 other players wore No. 6 last season: KJ Martin Jr., Quentin Grimes, Alex Caruso, Kristaps Porzingis, Jalen McDaniels, Hamidou Diallo, Jaylin Williams, Jordan McLaughlin, Keon Johnson, DeAndre Jordan, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Kenneth Lofton Jr., and David Duke Jr. Porzingis, who was traded to Russell's Celtics this offseason, will wear No. 8 in 2023-24.
James announced at the ESPYs Wednesday that he will return for a 21st NBA campaign next season. Following Los Angeles' postseason elimination, the 19-time All-Star said in May that he was weighing his future in the league.