2023-07-16 01:08:00
Dave McMenamin ESPN15 de jul, 2023, 21:08 ETLectura: 3 min.
LOS ANGELES — In a nod to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, LeBron James will change his jersey number from 6 to 23 with the Los Angeles Lakers for next season, Klutch Sports Group’s Rich Paul told ESPN.
“It’s LeBron’s call,” said Paul, James’ longtime friend and agent. “He chose to do it out of respect for Bill Russell.”
Last summer, following Russell died at the age of 88, the NBA retired No. 6 from the league, the first time a player has been honored in that way. Current players wearing number 6 at the time were grandfathered in and might keep it if they wanted.
The timing of the league’s announcement made it a logistical impossibility to stock replica James jerseys to meet fan demand before the 2022-23 season began. James’ Lakers No. 6 uniform led all player jersey sales on NBAStore.com during the second half of the 22-23 season, according to a league announcement.
LeBron James, during a 2019 season game once morest the Nuggets. Photo: Getty
“For us to lose that icon was heartbreaking,” James told ESPN at the start of training camp in September. “I mean, it doesn’t matter if you play, watch the game or part of the game. We all know what Bill Russell meant to the NBA, obviously to the Celtics off the court as well, in terms of his heroism … and what it meant to African-Americans to be able to talk regarding issues that are not comfortable.
“For me to be able to wear number 6 this season, I’m not sure if I’ll continue to do it, but now I’m going to wear it in honor of him. It means a lot to me.”
Russell was an 11-time champion with the Celtics, a five-time MVP, a 12-time All-Star and became the first African-American head coach in league history, winning his last two rings as Boston player-coach. Known as the sport’s top winner, the NBA Finals MVP trophy is named following Russell.
James is a four-time recipient of the award, and Russell personally presented him with the trophy following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ memorable Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
James first wore number 6 in international competition for Team USA and later wore it throughout all four seasons he played for the Miami Heat, as the organization had already retired number 23 in honor of Michael Jordan. He returned to the 23 from 2014-2021, the entirety of his second stint in Cleveland, plus the first two seasons in Los Angeles and then wore his 6 once more in his last three seasons with the Lakers.
All told, James has worn 23 in 13 of his 20 NBA seasons and that will become 14 of 21 when he suits up for the Lakers in the fall.
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