LeBron James has had an incredible journey in the NBA leading up to this point. Even today, despite being one of the oldest stars in the league he is still at peak form. The former 4x NBA Champion puts a lot of effort and money into maintaining his physical health. It is never easy for a 38-year-old to score against young individuals who are more athletic and durable. James has proven that it is still possible.
Over the years, several legends have come and gone. Most are remembered by iconic moments, team legacy, or jersey numbers. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has worn two numbers, 23 and 6, throughout his 20-year career. He once revealed that there is a significant meaning behind them, most notably the No.6 which he currently wears.
LeBron on why he wears # 6 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8LzpyaOhcc
— Vic Raymone Jr (@BronsGoated23) May 17, 2023
Since he decided to change his jersey number from 23, he multiplied both digits to get 6. James also revealed that the number 6 has always been significant to his life. Bronny James’ birthday is on October 6, while Bryce was born in the sixth month of the year. There are a few of the many possible reasons he has. The only other time he wore No.6 was when he played for the Miami Heat.
LeBron James changed his jersey number from 23 to 6 to honor Michael Jordan
LeBron James started his career wearing No.23 on the Cleveland Cavaliers. The number held some significance as Michael Jordan who also wore it. MJ created a legacy that no one besides James and Kobe Bryant have been able to challenge. But Jordan still remains on the top according to the King. For the first season with the Lakers, James wore No.23.
However, he changed the number back to No.6 after Anthony Davis was acquired. Initially, people thought that James settled for No.6 because of Davis, who wore the same number. But it turns out he also wanted to honor his idol, Michael Jordan. “I just think that what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way soon. There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn’t Michael Jordan first,” he said according to Bleacher Report.
LeBron also wants to create his own legacy and it is not an unknown fact. James and Jordan are often compared to each other in a debate about who is the greatest of all time. The King continues to make historic runs while inching his way to the top. He became the NBA’s All-Time leading scorer in 2023, beating Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s previously-held record.
