Jersey numbers are more than just digits on a player’s back. They often carry a deep personal significance, a tribute to a player’s idols, or a symbol of their journey. One such player who has been recently making headlines with his jersey number choices is NBA superstar LeBron James. James’s relationship with his jersey numbers ?23? and ?6? has been a mixed ride, filled with respect, admiration, and a fair share of controversy.?

The Akron Hammer’s decision to switch back to ’23’ recently stirred up quite a storm on NBA Twitter, with fans digging up past statements from 2009 just before his Miami days and questioning The King’s proclaimed respect for Mike.??

LeBron James’ Journey of two jerseys?

In 2009, LeBron James made a bold statement, announcing his decision to switch from ’23’ to ‘6’, citing his deep respect for Michael Jordan. He even suggested that no NBA player should wear ’23’, a number that has become synonymous with Jordan’s greatness.

LeBron explained his reasoning behind the jersey change: “No guy in the NBA should ever wear 23… I’m going to change my number next year just to show tribute to what [Michael Jordan] did.” He even mentioned that he will be adopting his Olympic number, which was 6.

LeBron had just made the decision to join forces with fellow stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami Heat. Coincidentally, the Miami Heat organization had retired Jordan’s number as a tribute to his greatness.?

Read More: No. 23 vs No. 6: LeBron James Statistics in Different Jersey Numbers

Furious fans called it out ‘hypocrisy’

The recent jersey switch once again had fans reacting to his old interview.?

Some have accused James of being a hypocrite, criticizing his inconsistency with his jersey numbers. “Dude has always been a fraud and a hypocrite. Time always tells the full story,” one fan commented.?

Another fan echoed this sentiment, stating:

https://twitter.com/BLFactsRule/status/1680756961749467137?s=20

Another furious fan wrote:

One fan reacted to the futility of the controversy:

However, not all reactions were negative. Some fans defended James, arguing that the controversy over a jersey number was trivial. “Imagine being upset over a grown man changing a uniform number. Pathetic,” a fan remarked.

These comments highlight the frustration felt by some fans who expected LeBron to stand by his words. They view his jersey number changes as a reflection of his lack of integrity.