Why does LeBron wear 23?
LeBron James chose to wear the #23 jersey as a tribute to Michael Jordan, who famously wore that number during his career. Jordan was a major influence on LeBron James, and wearing the same number was a way for LeBron to honor his basketball idol. Why does Lebron James wear number 6 jersey in practice?
"It's LeBron's decision," said Paul, James' longtime friend and agent. "He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell." Last summer, after Russell died at the age of 88, the NBA retired No. 6 across the league -- the first time a player was honored in such a fashion.
And then there's Michael Jordan, who started wearing the number 23 in high school because it was as close as he could get to half of the number 45 worn by his older brother, Larry. LeBron James also has worn 23 as an homage to Jordan.
LeBron James is switching back to jersey number 23 'out of respect' for the late Bill Russell. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up before playing against the Denver Nuggets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in Los Angeles on May 20, 2023.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will once again wear No. 23 this season, after switching to No. 6 for the last two years.
But James, himself one of the greatest players in NBA history, is now making the change back to No. 23 "out of respect for Bill Russell," per Paul. James had indicated to ESPN in September that he was contemplating a change after the 2022-23 season, but said wearing No. 6 for one more campaign "means a lot to me."
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.
In Biblical numerology, it is associated with Psalm 23, also known as the Shepherd Psalm. It is possibly the most quoted and best known Psalm. Psalms is also the 23rd book in the Douay–Rheims Bible. In Islam, the Qur'an was revealed in a total of 23 years to Muhammed.
“I didn't want to wear 23 because I knew my father wasn't there to watch me, and I felt it was a new beginning and 45 was my first number when I was playing in high school."
James switched back to No. 23 from 2014-21 – his second four-year stint with the Cavaliers and his first three seasons with the Lakers – before wearing No. 6 again the past two seasons.
How much did LeBron average at 23?
| NAME | GP | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| LeBron James | 79 | 29.4 |
| YEAR | TEAM | NO. |
|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | Lakers | 23 |
| 2020-21 | Lakers | 23,6 |
| 2021-22 | Lakers | 6 |
| 2022-23 | Lakers | 6 |
James spent the last two seasons wearing 6 after donning 23 for his first three seasons in Los Angeles, including during the Lakers' championship run in 2020. He switched to 6 in 2021 to make 23 available for teammate Anthony Davis, who now wears 3. The 2023-24 season will be James' 15th season wearing No. 23.
It was another accolade for MJ
The Heat didn't have any obligation to perform this historic gesture. MJ never played for the franchise, and his jersey number didn't need to be retired. However, the team respected Jordan so much that they felt compelled to do so.
| NO | Player | DOB (AGE) |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | D. Hodge | 12/20/1998 (25) |
| 0 | J. Hood-Schifino | 6/19/2003 (20) |
| 23 | L. James Lakers' LeBron James: Iffy against Miami Illness: Game Time Decision LeBron James Lakers' LeBron James: Iffy against Miami Illness: Game Time Decision | 12/30/1984 (39) |
| 21 | M. Lewis | 7/27/2002 (21) |
Jordan's number 23 was retired by the Bulls and he has a statue of his likeness in the United Center. He was voted a top 50 all-time NBA player and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Jordan was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. when his father was on a business assignment, but he was raised in North Carolina.
This is the Lakers' second season with Darvin Ham as head coach. Prior to the start of the season, LeBron James announced that he would switch his jersey number back to #23 after wearing #6 (which he also wore with the Miami Heat) the previous two seasons.
According to Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant switched his jersey number from 8 to 24 to one-up Michael Jordan's 23 which became iconic during MJ's run with the Chicago Bulls.
For Discordianists, 23 is the Holy Number and a tribute to the goddess Eris, who surveys a world of chaos. The mantra invoked by Discordianists for the Holy Number is "Invert The Pyramid".
The number 23 is probably the most iconic in the NBA. However, just six different teams retired the number 23 from their roster. The Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat retired the number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. Jordan never played for the Miami Heat.
Is 23 a lucky number in love?
Love and relationships: Angel number 23 is like a love letter from the universe, especially when it comes to love and relationships. If you're in a relationship, it's all about finding balance and harmony with your partner.
According to Rich Paul, friend and former agent of 'King James', "LeBron's decision was out of respect for Bill Russell". 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.
Change of number was a symbol of growth for Kobe Bryant
After he retired from the NBA, he shared the meaning behind his decision to change numbers in the 2006-07 season. "Then 24 is a growth from (No. 8)," Bryant said. "Physical attributes aren't there the way they used to be, but the maturity level is greater.
And when they became partners on the same team, he couldn't wear the same number. So he decided to split the number 45 in half. and rounded it up to 23, and that's how he got the number 23.
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.
