LeBron James' New Number: Change To 6 Honors Michael Jordan

*** SCROLL DOWN TO SEE LEBRON EXPLAIN THE DECISION ***

(AP) CLEVELAND -- LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan.

The Cavaliers superstar, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for the Hall of Famer's impact on the game.

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way – soon," James said. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade, you name all the best players in the league right now and the last 10 years, there would be none of us without Michael Jordan."

James made the comments following the Cavs' win in Miami on Thursday night. The news was first reported by The Plain Dealer.

James said he has been considering the change for some time. He's willing to switch to No. 6 – his U.S. Olympic team number – and wants to start a petition to get every player in the league wearing 23 to give up the number.

"It's time," James said. "He's the best basketball player we've ever seen. Mike does it on the court and off the court. If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan. You see guys flying through the air, you think about Michael Jordan. You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan. You see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame."

Jordan sat courtside on Thursday when James scored 34 points to lead the Cavs to their sixth win in seven games.

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"He can't get the logo, and if he can't, something has to be done," James said, referring to the NBA logo that's modeled on a silhouette of Jerry West. "I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. Nobody. If I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

James must formally notify the NBA by early March if he plans to change numbers. He has not done so yet. Players generally must wear a number five years before they can apply to switch.

The reigning MVP frequently wears No. 6 as a practice jersey with the Cavaliers. He wears that number because his second-favorite player is Julius "Dr. J" Erving and it holds other special meaning.

"I wore 32 back in high school because Dr. J wore it at first," he said. "My first child was born on Oct. 6, my second child was born in June. If I'm not going to wear 23, I'm going to wear 6."

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Comments

[sasson]

Not to sound cynical, but I am sure that this has nothing to do with the fact that everyone will have to buy new Lebron jerseys now.

Only one man in one sport truly deserves to have hos number retired across the board and that person is Jackie Robinson.

[dwill123]

Rather than worry about getting somebody else's number retired Lebron should focus on getting his team to the finals. Michael Jordon helped popularize the game when the NBA was in a down state but retire his number league wise, WHY? He's not even the best player to ever play the game (not by a long shot). IMO the best was Wilt Chamberlain. Heck he not only set records which still stand today (10 years after his death) but the NBA changed the rules of basketball because of him.

[Peter007]

Every generation has their " great" players. My father told me that Joe Lewis was the best that ever was. I thought Muhammad Ali had to better, but then my kids told me that Tyson could have beat them all. Basketball is a team sport and it's possible that had Michael Jordon been on a different team, he may have had a different outcome. I'd would ask his fellow team mates if they could have won without him. Most of the time , there is only a small difference between an average player and a great player. Its usually a fraction of a second in quickness. It could also be a good coach or a supportive team. Hank Aaron never won any championships. Ted Williams never won the world series.

[derekc06]

It's about time... I've never been a fan of James and, truthfully, it was because i felt he was doing a disservice to Jordan... Also, I'm a Celtics fan so the Cavs are pretty much off limits these days...

But if he really does this it might bring me around to him a little.

[lmpub]

As a big MJ fan, I like the move......­.of course #6 was Bill Russell's old number, who for you youngsters, is in my book, the greatest Center ever.

[thebirdstheword]

"There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade, you name all the best players in the league right now and the last 10 years, there would be none of us without Michael Jordan."

what is he talking about? i know he's young but he should at least know the history of his own league. magic & bird were the two behind the revival of the nba, not jordan. and i really doubt that james or any of the players he mentioned would have not been nba players had jordan not played.

it was already a crime when jordan was named espn's top athlete of the 20th century. for the entire nba to retire the number of a player that hasn't won the most championships, hasn't scored the most points, etc. is ridiculous. let chicago retire his number, but why should any other team.

the only player who's number is retired league-wide in any sport is jackie robinson, and that is for social reasons. just because jordan made nike & espn a boat load of money doesn't mean he deserves more respect than he's already gotten.

[bradyd]

You are misinterpreting what he is saying. And you also seem to be "jealous" of Michael Jordan. I don't know why. You rant would be more powerful if 1. You knew what you were talking about and 2. If Jordan made the request himself. If the players want to do it, let them. It's there decision not yours.

[vet-of4renwarz]

On a the global stage, MJ popularize the sport more than any other player before him... back in the 90s wherever you go in the world, you mention the name Michael Jordan people will know who you are referring to...(I bet even in North Korea..hah­aha) try doing that with names like Magic, Bird, Russell, Chamberlain, etc... I doubt you will get the same effect...

Jordan also opened the business floodgate for future players outside the NBA, from labels to sponsorshi­ps... Just look at any sport.. It’s about the one who popularize the sport to the world... who do you think people in the world, average sportsfan, are more familiar with? Tiger Woods or Arnold Palmer... keyword: popularity

You have to look at the whole picture, on a global scale, what MJ has done

[duhtruth]

Jordan was very lucky to play for a franchise that had a goal and method to win championship. Let's not forget that he played with a superstar, Scottie Pippin, who was a great player that survived playing in the shadow of Jordan's ever increasing ego. He also had other players who contributed mightily or he would not have won one championship. One man teams do not win games or titles.

Lebron was not born when some of the real founders of professional basketball in the last 50 years played including the great Oscar Robertson. His understanding and control of games while playing on an inferior team was remarkable. Plus the abuse he took playing some games in the south before black players were accepted. Jordan took advantage of the groundwork players like the Big O suffered through. Jordan is a legend in his own mind and has never been much of a well rounded person in my mind. Jordan is for Jordan. Let's not encourage him further.