LeBron James seeks number switch to honour Jordan
LeBron James is ready to give up his jersey number 23 in honour of Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, and he wants other NBA players to do the same.
Cavaliers star James has worn 23 since his high school playing days, but he told the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper after a game in Miami on Thursday night that Jordan’s impact on the game deserves recognition.
"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way - soon," James said.
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"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 said he had been thinking about the move for some time and would be willing to change to number six - his US Olympic team jersey number.
He 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..."
"I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. Nobody. If I’m not going to wear number 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."
Mark Cuban has all the respect in the world for Michael Jordan, but he's not sure retiring No. 23 league-wide is a great idea.
"It's a slippery slope," Cuban said Sunday. "What about Bill Russell and George Mikan and Wilt Chamberlain?"