LeBron James is a G.O.A.T. for many NBA fans. With spectacular performances year after year, watching the King play is a delight for your eyes. There is no doubt about James’ undeniable mark on the sport of basketball. But as he prepares for another season with the Lakers, whether his iconic jersey number will one day be retired lingers in the minds of people.

In a recent interview with Lakers owner Jeanie Buss, she revealed the criteria for jersey retirement. She expressed her unwavering confidence that LeBron will join the prestigious ranks of Lakers legends. But what is the significance of James’ jersey numbers 6 & 23? Which one is going to be immortalized in the rafters of Crypto.com Arena?

The significance of James’s jersey

LeBron James has worn the No. 23 as a symbol of greatness and determination throughout his career, from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to the NBA. He chose that particular number to show his admiration for the great Michael Jordan.

It is like a tribute to the icon as James considers him as his idol. But in 2019, James started a movement and declared that all players wearing No. 23 should drop it out of respect for Jordan. His intention to acknowledge the great resonated with the fans and players alike. That is when he changed his number to 6 and the rest is history.

However, the NBA world suffered a significant loss after the passing of legend Bill Russell. In a respectful gesture towards another basketball legend, whose No. 6 was retired league-wide, LeBron decided to switch back to No. 23 ahead of the upcoming season. When LeBron James teased retirement in May, Lakers fans were nervous. But their excitement turned to joy when he confirmed his return for the 2023-24 season at the ESPY Awards.

Talking about the retirement of jerseys Lakers’ owner Jeanie Buss revealed the specifications required to do so. She said, “The standard for having your jersey retired as a Laker is when a player is inducted into the Hall of Fame. I have absolutely no doubt that LeBron will make it into the Basketball Hall of Fame.”

And when she was asked as to which James jersey is going to be retired, she said, “That’s a discussion for another time.”

Fans react to the jersey number change

While LeBron James has done a lot for the sport and is considered a legend, the fans sense an ulterior motive for his jersey, no switch. They are speculating that James wants the Kobe treatment from the Lakers.

The late Kobe Bryant has also rocked two jersey numbers in his career, 8 & 24. The Lakers retired both of his jersey numbers as a tribute. As James has also played in both the numbers for the team, fans speculate about his motives. As the Lakers have a tradition of having statues of the legends that play for their team, the question fans have is, is James getting a statue?

A fan spoke about that and shared his thoughts by saying, “Kinda blasphemous to talk about a Bron statue in LA before Kobe even gets his”.

Another Lakers fan spoke about the same incident and shared his thoughts by saying, “He’ll get a statue in Cleveland and maybe in Miami. He has to win another chip In La to even think about a statue”.

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A Lakers fan even came in defense of James and said, If he wins one more title with the Lakers, combined with the fact that he broke the all-time scoring record as a Laker. Then yes, the man deserves a statue.

Which jersey number is going to be retired still remains a question whether it’s No. 6 or No. 23. But one thing is certain, seeing LeBron’s jersey will be a proud moment for Lakers fans and a testament to an NBA legend’s lasting impact.

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