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LeBron changing number?

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05:44 AM ET 02.16 | At every Cavaliers game, home or road, No. 23 jerseys dot the stands in an ever-widening array of color schemes. It has truly grown into LeBron James' signature. But will it be that way forever? Maybe not. During a game in late December, fans at The Q were puzzled a bit when James warmed up for the game wearing a jersey with the No. 6. He later wore it on the bench during the game. That night it was just a mistake, James grabbed his practice attire out of his locker as part of his numerous layers he uses to keep warm while resting. Wearing No. 6, though, has become somewhat standard for James. Ever since his triumphant summer wearing the number for Team USA -- which James has said was the best experience of his career -- he wears the number during practices and workouts as a homage to that gold-medal effort and all the work that went into it. Often when he gives autographed jerseys as gifts to friends or special causes these days, he'll sign an Olympic No. 6 jersey. So indeed, he is No. 23, but No. 6 is part of him too. Someday, there's a chance it could be his number all the time. "It's interesting to think about. I feel like 6 is my number, too," James said about the prospect of switching. "If the NBA retired 23 because of Michael (Jordan) like baseball did with Jackie Robinson (42), I would definitely switch it. Maybe I would someday, we'll see."

Cleveland Plain Dealer

LeBron James, TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Getty Images LeBron James, TIMOTHY A. CLARY/Getty Images

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February 16, 2009  08:03 AM ET
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Who cares, its just a number... however, when the market is saturated by his nr 23 jersey, it could be a huge commercial move to switch to nr 6 (or any other number) as millions of fans will need to update their collection...

February 16, 2009  08:10 AM ET
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Cha-ching!

February 16, 2009  08:40 AM ET
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He would need to change the number soon because 23 is going to be hard to follow or replace. He needs to make his own legacy w/ a different number. It's hard to be a shadow. 6 is easier to replace even though it's Dr J's number. Maybe #9 would be good because it's Jordan's second number.

February 16, 2009  08:41 AM ET
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Look at Kobe. He changed his number to 24 because he thinks he could be 1 number better then Jordan's 23.

February 16, 2009  08:59 AM ET
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Yeah, and the NBA might retire Jordan's number because he is so synonymous with Jackie Robinson....

February 16, 2009  09:40 AM ET
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Copying Kobe are you?!

February 16, 2009  10:09 AM ET
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i think the League should retire the number 23. Sure, LeBron's probably worthy of wearing that number (although the older Cleveland fans will definitely remember who the REAL number 23 is... ha ha ha), there are so many other "random" players (C.J. Watson, Stephen Graham & Louis Williams to name a few) wearing that number that it's become almost a novelty.

i think in the end this move is just to sell more jerseys.

February 16, 2009  10:20 AM ET
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It's because he doesn't want to make MJ look bad cause he respects him, cause at his current rate when all is said and done LeBron will have had a better career than MJ so people will be like 'LeBron was the best to ever wear the number 23, not MJ' but if LeBron changes to 6 people can't use this argument.

February 16, 2009  10:26 AM ET
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James is only 24. There's a good possibility #23 is retired during his career. Smart money says he'll make the switch before it happens.

February 16, 2009  12:56 PM ET
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QUOTE(#6):
Originally posted 09:40 AM ET  02.16 by dee dBL

Copying Kobe are you?!

Zactly !!!

February 16, 2009  01:31 PM ET
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QUOTE(#7):
Originally posted 10:09 AM ET  02.16 by Michael Jordan

i think the League should retire the number 23.

The league should retire Jordan's number soon you know, while his greatness is still fresh in peoples memory. I really hope they don't wait until like 2020.

February 16, 2009  01:42 PM ET
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Why did Kobe change his number anyway? Because 24 folows 23, or maybe he suddenly felt three times as great(3x8=24) or what?

Sorry I'm not superstitious: all this is really not important, and the question above might not very soon have an answer.

Talking about answers, Allen Iverson once wore #6 in honor of Julius Erving, and now is wearing #1 because Rodney Stuckey already wears #3. Did this really change the way he plays, or the way people perceive him ?
Same thing when AI or Kobe(remember the afro style of the LA's championship era?) cut off their hair.

Even Michael Jordan once wore #12, when #23 jersey had been stolen.

To me a number first is supposed to separate a player from his teammates, period. They might change it everyday, if they could. The only concern would be about the money spent by the team in making new jerseys with a new player's name on everyday, in a period of economic crisis...

February 16, 2009  02:31 PM ET
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QUOTE(#12):
Originally posted 01:42 PM ET  02.16 by nuthnbtnet

Why did Kobe change his number anyway? Because 24 folows 23, or maybe he suddenly felt three times as great(3x8=24) or what

Actually it was over a shoe deal... When he left Adidas for Nike they wouldnt let him take the number 8 with him since it wasa contracted through adidas. Therefore, he changed to 24 to sign the new contract.

(Sports Marketing Class in Business School)

February 16, 2009  02:47 PM ET
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I think it's mostly marketing. More jerseys/products to sell like one of the first posters stated. Interesting thought about the Adidas/Nike contract....

February 16, 2009  03:50 PM ET
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QUOTE(#13):
Originally posted 02:31 PM ET  02.16 by The Action Brown

Actually it was over a shoe deal... When he left Adidas for Nike they wouldnt let him take the number 8 with him since it wasa contracted through adidas. Therefore, he changed to 24 to sign the new contract. (Sports Marketing Class in Business School)

Also, Kobe is legally prohibited from signing any #8 jerseys.

February 16, 2009  05:14 PM ET
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QUOTE(#4):
Originally posted 08:41 AM ET  02.16 by Guam Baller

Look at Kobe. He changed his number to 24 because he thinks he could be 1 number better then Jordan's 23.

really now?! may i ask did you know? did he tell you?

February 16, 2009  05:21 PM ET
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QUOTE(#8):
Originally posted 10:20 AM ET  02.16 by Scottish-Baller

It's because he doesn't want to make MJ look bad cause he respects him, cause at his current rate when all is said and done LeBron will have had a better career than MJ so people will be like 'LeBron was the best to ever wear the number 23, not MJ' but if LeBron changes to 6 people can't use this argument.

thats a tall order dude...having a better career than jordan?! did anybody have a better career than bill russel?! these 2 will stand the test of time, with ownerscaring more about their wallets and not willing to maintain teams, yes even championship teams i dont see anybody winning 3 title in a row, let alone 6...look at duncan he has 4 and shaq has 4 but look at their numbers decline..it 's a slim chance that they would win 2 or even 1 more...jordan was special he was able to play at a high level even at mid 30's..he won si last title at 35-36 years old, but still led the league in scoring and never tapered in his production

mike also "NEVER LOST" in the finals, and that cant be said for lebron ever

February 16, 2009  05:23 PM ET
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QUOTE(#13):
Originally posted 02:31 PM ET  02.16 by The Action Brown

Actually it was over a shoe deal... When he left Adidas for Nike they wouldnt let him take the number 8 with him since it wasa contracted through adidas. Therefore, he changed to 24 to sign the new contract. (Sports Marketing Class in Business School)

i believe this more than the BS story of being one number up from MJ...

February 16, 2009  05:24 PM ET
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QUOTE(#12):
Originally posted 01:42 PM ET  02.16 by nuthnbtnet

Why did Kobe change his number anyway? Because 24 folows 23, or maybe he suddenly felt three times as great(3x8=24) or what?Sorry I'm not superstitious: all this is really not important, and the question above might not very soon have an answer.Talking about answers, Allen Iverson once wore #6 in honor of Julius Erving, and now is wearing #1 because Rodney Stuckey already wears #3. Did this really change the way he plays, or the way people perceive him ?Same thing when AI or Kobe(remember the afro style of the LA's championship era?) cut off their hair.Even Michael Jordan once wore #12, when #23 jersey had been stolen.To me a number first is supposed to separate a player from his teammates, period. They might change it everyday, if they could. The only concern would be about the money spent by the team in making new jerseys with a new player's name on everyday, in a period of economic crisis...

are you forgetting the number 45 that mj wore

 
February 16, 2009  05:38 PM ET
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Jordan 23. Kobe 24. LeBron should change it to 25

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