When did LeBron switch to 23?
23 in honor of Michael Jordan. Following his return to the Cavaliers in 2014, the 38-year-old opted to revert back to No. 23, which he wore until after his third season with the Lakers in 2021. The four-time NBA champion's jersey was the league's highest-seller on NBAStore.com in the second half of last season.
This will be the second time James has worn No. 23 during his tenure with the Lakers. He donned the number from 2018 to '21 with the team, then made the switch to No. 6 for the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons.
LeBron James
This four-time NBA MVP and three-time NBA World Champion was inspired by Michael Jordan to wear the number 23. In fact, LeBron says that Michael was his primary inspiration for becoming a basketball player. LeBron has kept the 23 alive on customer basketball jerseys today.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2003–2010)
NAME | SEASON | AGE |
---|---|---|
LeBron James | 2005-06 | 21 |
LeBron James | 2006-07 | 22 |
LeBron James | 2007-08 | 23 |
LeBron James | 2008-09 | 24 |
6 league-wide to honor Bill Russell, the renowned Boston Celtics legend and civil rights advocate who won 11 NBA championships.
James wore No. 23 in high school and when he joined the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003. When he joined the Miami Heat in 2010, he switched to No. 6, stating at the time of his decision that it was in honor of Michael Jordan.
“He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell.” LeBron James accepts the award for best record-breaking performance at the ESPY awards on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Russell, an 11-time champion with the Boston Celtics and five-time NBA MVP, died on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88.
23 for the upcoming 2023-24 season, the team announced Saturday evening. James' agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN that James made the decision in honor of NBA legend Bill Russell, who died at the age of 88 last summer.
The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat retired the number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. Jordan never played for the Miami Heat. Jordan is one of the 14 people to have a number retired by two different teams.
Did LeBron wear 23 in high school?
Cleveland Cavaliers #23
When James entered the league, he came in on the heels of wearing #23 at St. Vincent–St. Mary High School. This is a nod to Michael Jordan.
Without question, LeBron's photo belongs here! The number 23 was also worn by Chris Dudley, Gary Freeman, Rowland Garrett, Mike Bratz, Bruce Flowers, Tyrone Corbin (we still have great love for you, Tyrone!), John Morton, Rod Higgins, Carl Thomas and Derek Anderson.

Led by 22-year old forward LeBron James, the Cavaliers finished the season with a 50–32 record, finishing second-place in the Central Division, winning their first Eastern Conference championship, and earning the franchise's first trip to the NBA Finals.
Kobe Bryant was 37 years old when he played his last NBA game against the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016. Age and injuries were already slowing down one of the league's best and most competitive players two years before his 20th and final season.
NAME | SEASON | TOV |
---|---|---|
LeBron James | 2010-11 | 284 |
James was born on October 6, 2004 in Akron, Ohio, to reigning NBA Rookie of the Year LeBron James, age 19, and his girlfriend Savannah Brinson, age 18.
NBA rules allowed James and anyone else wearing No. 6 to be grandfathered in and continue to wear the number, but James is making the decision "out of respect for Bill Russell," according to James' agent, Rich Paul. James hinted to ESPN last September that he had a decision to make about wearing No. 6.
The Los Angeles Lakers will join the rest of the NBA in celebrating the memory of Bill Russell, a Boston Celtics legend and one of the greatest athletes ever, during the 2022-23 season. Russell passed away in July at the age of 88, prompting the NBA to retire his No. 6 jersey across the league.
8Kobe Bryant24
Retired on December 18, 2017 in honor of Kobe Bryant, led the Lakers to five championships, three while wearing #8 and two while wearing #24... 2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player ...
LeBron will return to his iconic 23
LeBron was among the last players in the NBA to wear the number 6, after the league retired the number 6 in memory of Bill Russell, who died in the summer of 2022 at the age of 88. This announcement resulted in no remaining inventory of the Lakers' No.
What year was LeBron 9?
The LeBron 9 was designed by Jason Petrie and comes in three versions: LeBron 9, LeBron 9 P.S. Elite, and LeBron 9 Low. The Nike LeBron 9 released in overseas on October 1st, 2011 in the China colorway, and worldwide on October 25th, 2011 in the Black/Red colorway.
2013-14: Nike LEBRON 11
Nike built the LEBRON 11 with all those accomplishments in mind, creating a sneaker that had Lunarlon cushioning an state-of-the-art Hyperposite upper. The sneaker was armor-made to protect the Chosen One in his final season with the Heat.
On July 24, James suffered a cardiac arrest during a practice at the Galen Center. He was treated by the school's medical staff before being hospitalized. James was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, the likely cause of his cardiac arrest, that was treatable.
NAME | GP | PPG |
---|---|---|
LeBron James | 79 | 29.4 |
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.