LeBron James announces he is changing his uniform from No. 6 back to No. 23
Lakers superstar LeBron James announces he’s changing his uniform from No. 6 back to No. 23 next season ‘out of respect’ for the late Bill Russell
- LeBron James has worn number 23 for 13 of his 20 NBA seasons and will return to it
- He lists the No. 6, which was eliminated league-wide to honor Bill Russell
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LeBron James has decided to switch his uniform back from No. 6 to No. 23 for next season, as a tribute to the late great Bill Russell.
James wore number 6 for the Los Angeles Lakers last season β the jersey made famous by Russell, who passed away in July 2022 β and when the NBA decided to retire the number league-wide, LeBron was among the active players who could continue to wear it.
But now James is switching back to his former No. 23, which was first worn in the NBA during his time with Cleveland, as explained by his agent Rich Paul.
“It’s LeBron’s decision,” Paul told ESPN. “He chose it out of respect for Bill Russell.”
The decision to retire the No. 6 league-wide in Russell’s honor was a first for the NBA, but the timing of the decision made it difficult for teams to replenish their stores with changed numbers β especially for a player as popular as LeBron.
LeBron James appears to have worn number 6 for the last time in his long and storied NBA career
James will match the number 23 again this fall, after switching back to his previous number
The NBA made a historic decision to retire the league-wide No. 6 in honor of Bill Russell in 2022
Speaking at the start of training camp last September, LeBron was asked about Russell and the No. 6: βFor us to lose such an icon, it was heartbreaking for all of us.
βI mean, it doesn’t matter if you play the game, watch the game, or part of the game. We all know what Bill Russell meant to the NBA, of course to the Celtics from the floor, in terms of his heroism.
And what he meant to black people, being able to talk about things that aren’t comfortable.
βTo be able to wear number 6 this season, I’m not sure I’ll keep doing it, but right now I’m going to wear it in his honor. It means a lot to me.’
James confirmed he would return to the NBA as he accepted an ESPY Award in LA last week
Russell (center) is a Boston Celtics legend. He is pictured playing against the Knicks in 1966
James has fluctuated between the No. 6 and the No. 23 throughout his career, but will now likely end up with the latter on his uniform.
He started with No. 23 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and then first wore No. 6 for Team USA, later picking it up again when he joined the Miami Heat, as they had already retired with 23 in honor of Michael Jordan.
James returned to No. 23 for his second stint in Cleveland, plus his first two seasons in Los Angeles, before returning to No. 6 for the final three years with the Lakers.
Overall, James has worn No. 23 for 13 of his 20 seasons, and that will be 14 of 21 this fall.