LeBron James has chosen to change his number and once again wear the number 23 on his vest.
That’s what the Los Angeles Lakers announced on Saturday. The star player has worn number 6 in his last two seasons.
“It’s LeBron’s decision,” his agent, Rich Paul, told ESPN. He made this decision out of respect for Bill Russell.
The NBA retired the number 6 after legendary Boston Celtics player Bill Russell passed away in August 2022. The Tour, however, allowed athletes who already wore it to continue to do so, which was the case with James.
The 38-year-old basketball player had the number 23 for his first seven seasons in the NBA, when he wore the colors of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made the switch to number six when he joined the Miami Heat in 2010. James then picked up number 23 for his first three seasons with the Lakers.
Last week, James announced he would be playing his 21st season in the NBA in 2023-24. After the elimination of his team in the spring, he said he was thinking about his future in the league.