Lebron James shocked the basketball world last night when he announced he was changing his jersey number from his usual #23 to his Olympic #6. Well maybe he didn’t ‘shock the world’ but he certainly raised some eyebrows in the process. Michael Jordan was front row for the matchup last night of the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat to watch two of the biggest superstars in the game collide head to head in James and Wade. Lebron volunteered the information in a TNT interview with Craig Sager that out of respect for Michael Jordan the Greatest of All-time, he would be changing his number. Lebron also encourages anyone else in the league who is wearing #23 to change numbers. A few years ago I was telling anyone who would listen that I thought David Stern should institute a league wide retirement of the #23 out of respect for Michael Jordan. The man who revolutionized the game, and brought the NBA to a whole other level of popularity and mass commercial appeal.
Well i’m happy to report Lebron James is doing his part, and i’m unhappy (but not surprised) to report that David Stern has yet to ‘see the light’ even in the face of the recent MJ induction this fall into the basketball Hall of Fame.
TNT’s Craig Sager interviewed Cavaliers forward LeBron James after the game – Nov. 12, 2009 from Turner Sports on Vimeo.
