Neither 23 Nor 6...perhaps 9?

[Dagoods]

LeBron James could never claim #23 his own for obvious reasons:

#23 = 6-0-A-T (He has the regular season MVP named after him and NBA teams wear his logo every now and then).
#6 = 11 Rings and his jersey #6 has been retired in the league.

LeBron has surpassed Russell in the all-time rankings, but with the NBA retiring #6 pretty much leaves LBJ without a jersey number to claim.

All-Time NBA Team:

C:
33. KAREEM
13. WILT
6. RUSSELL

PF:
21. DUNCAN
11. MALONE (US Dream Team jersey #/Lakers Jersey #)
34. GIANNIS

SF:
9. LEBRON (US Dream Team jersey # worn by LBJ in 2004)
7. BIRD (US Dream Team jersey #)
35. DURANT

SG:
23. JORDAN
24. KOBE
3. WADE

PG:
32. MAGIC
30. CURRY
14. OSCAR

https://www.fiba.basketball/images.fiba.com/Graphic/2/D/C/F/0vDqzYp3EUySYZZ_mLB39g.jpg?v=20230208171027775

but then again the 6-0-A-T also wore this # in the 92 Olympics, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind LBJ wearing his Olympic jersey #.
There's no way MJ switches to 45 to accommodate an inferior player like LBJ.

WHAT SAY YOU?
YOUR THOUGHTS...YOUR THOUGHTS...

[Full Court]

Some people just come up short. :confusedshrug:

At least he has his museum in Akron.

[ShawkFactory]

Honestly...he had the balls to wear the jersey of perhaps the 2 greatest legends and champions the sport has ever seen. I respect him more for wearing the number of legends than taking 61 or some shit for himself.

Doesn't seem like having his number retired by the league as a whole was a thought.