Six In One? LeBron Indicates He Is Changing Numbers Next Season

James Thinking About Changing His Jersey Number From 23 To 6

Cavaliers F LeBron James after Thursday night’s game against the Heat said he was “thinking about changing my number next year” from No. 23 to No. 6. Basketball HOFer Michael Jordan was at the game, and James in a postgame interview with TNT’s Craig Sager said, “I grew up idolizing Michael Jordan, and to see him come here and support D-Wade, support me, it's humbling. It's humbling that the greatest basketball player would take time out of his day to come watch us play. I've been thinking about it lately and what I'm going to do is, I think I'm going to change my number next year.” He added, “No guy in the NBA should ever wear 23. (Jordan) can't get the NBA logo -- much respect to Jerry West -- so I think his number shouldn't be worn by any player in the NBA” (“Inside The NBA,” TNT, 11/12). In Cleveland, Brian Windhorst notes James indicated his mind "was almost made up, but the more he talked, the more he sounded like he was about to make an impromptu marketing shock wave." James needs to officially inform the NBA "by March to change jerseys by next year." Going to No. 6 "would be a natural" for James, as it is his "Olympic number, and he has worn it in Cavs practices over the past two years." The number also has "other special qualities to him." James: "My second-favorite player was Julius Erving, and he wore No. 6. I wore 32 in high school because Dr. J wore it at first. My first child was born on Oct. 6, it's my Olympic number, my second child was born in June." Windhorst notes Jordan switched from No. 23 to No. 45 when he initially returned to the NBA in '95, and Lakers G Kobe Bryant went from No. 8 to No. 24 prior to the '06-07 season (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 11/13).

WALKING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES: With Heat G Dwyane Wade being picked to debut the Air Jordans 2010 when they are released in February, ESPN's Colin Cowherd asked, "Why doesn't he have his own line?" Cowherd: "He is the third-best basketball player in the world. He lives in very marketable Miami. Why is he wearing somebody else's shoes and somebody else's line?" ESPN2's Michelle Beadle said, "You're saying 'somebody else' like Joe Schmo has a pair of shoes and he's like, 'Hey Dwyane, do you want to wear my shoes?' We're talking about Michael Jordan. He hand-picked Dwyane Wade" ("SportsNation," ESPN2, 11/12).