LeBron James is going back to the future.
James is changing his jersey number for the 2023-24 season. The Los Angeles Lakers’ star forward is going from No. 6 to No. 23 for the upcoming season.
James made the switch to honor the legacy of longtime NBA great Bill Russell, who passed away in July 2022 at age 88. The 11-time NBA champion wore the No. 6 during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics.
The NBA retired the No. 6 prior to last season, but players who were wearing the jersey number at the time were allowed to continue wearing the number if they desired to do so. James wore it last season as the league dedicated its season to honoring Russell.
James has decided to make a change for the upcoming season.
The No. 23 is the number he wore when he entered the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. He wore No. 6 when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010. He switched back to No. 23 when he returned to the Cavaliers in 2014 and wore the number during his first four seasons with the Lakers after joining the team in 2018.
James switched again to No. 6 in 2021.
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