The Lakers star has decided to wear number 23 instead of the six worn by the late Bill Russell and already retired by the NBA
“It’s a personal decision for LeBron,” said his agent, Rich Paul. “He chose to do it out of respect for Bill Russell.”
In a nod to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, LeBron James will change his bib number from 6 to 23 with the Los Angeles Lakers for the next season, revealed Rich Paul in statements to ESPN. “It’s LeBron’s decision,” Paul said, James’s old friend and agent. “He chose to do it out of respect for Bill Russell.”
Last summer, after Russell died at the age of 88, the NBA retired league number 6, the first time a player has been honored in that way. The players who wore the number 6 at that time had acquired rights and could keep it if they wished. LeBron wore it last year but has decided to return to 23.
James’ Lakers No. 6 uniform led all player jersey sales on NBAStore.com during the second half of the 22-23 season, as revealed by the league.
He debuted the ‘6’ with the Dream Team
James first wore number 6 in international competition with the United States Dream Team and later wore it during all four seasons he played for the Miami Heat, as the organization had already retired the number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan.
He returned to ’23’ from 2014 to 2021, the entirety of his second stint in Cleveland, plus his first two seasons in Los Angeles and then wore the 6 again in his final three seasons with the Lakers.
Total, James has worn the 23 in 13 of his 20 NBA seasons and the next one will be his fourteenth when he dresses for the Lakers in the fall