The Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports: LeBron James says he plans to stop wearing No. 23 after this season and switch to No. 6 as a show of respect for former Bulls star Michael Jordan, who watched from the stands at AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday as James scored 34 points to give Cleveland a 111-104 victory over host Miami.
James said he would like to see every NBA player who wears No. 23 give it up as a tribute to Jordan.
James said he would like to see every NBA player who wears No. 23 give it up as a tribute to 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, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn't Michael Jordan first.
"If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan. You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan; you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan; you see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame."
James would have to inform the league by March to change jerseys by next year. No. 6 was James' Olympic number, and it was the number worn by Julius Erving, whom James calls his "his second-favorite player."
Get the full story: Cleveland.com.
"If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan. You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan; you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan; you see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame."
James would have to inform the league by March to change jerseys by next year. No. 6 was James' Olympic number, and it was the number worn by Julius Erving, whom James calls his "his second-favorite player."
Get the full story: Cleveland.com.
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Adam the bulls did not want to keep mike or phil even after the won their last championship 98? What in the hell think they would even want to spend money on lebron when the gave up on the greatest and did not give him the decent to retire in a bulls uniform you stupid to even think that like lebron would come to the cheap ass bulls anyway-wishful thinking!
I think it's ridiculous to retire a number like this! What about Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Dr J,to mention a few awesome players who played at a different time> I mean, who really is the greatest? Not to take anything away from Michael Jordan, who really was the most formidable player of recent times.
I think Lebron is doing the right thing. In fact, I think the number should be retired league wide.
Maybe Lebron is hinting at where he will be playing next year with the switch to #6. There is a certain team that is expected to pursue him where he wouldn't be allowed to wear #23. I think Lebron to the Bulls is a good fit, and maybe he is starting to realize this as well. A core of Lebron, Derrick Rose, Lou Deng and Joakim Noah could dominate the East for the next 10 years.