Lebron James to change his jersey number from 23 back to the number of his Miami Heat days

Los Angeles Lakers Forward Lebron JamesNBA - Getty Images

Last year it was reported that Los Angeles Lakers star forward Lebron James had the plan to change his jersey number from his usual #23 to something new. Although not many people knew about this but Lebron was willing to give the number up to teammate and fellow star, Lakers center Anthony Davis.

Anthony Davis had worn the number 23 from his college days in Kentucky to all the way through his tenure with the team that drafted him in the then New Orleans Hornets.

Former New Orleans Hornets/Pelicans star forward Anthony DavisNBA - Getty Images

For 7 years from 2012 to 2019, Anthony Davis had dawned the famous number but when he joined the Los Angeles Lakers team he was forced to change his number as Lebron still had his career known 23 so Anthony Davis went with the number #3. But as stated at the beginning of the post, Lebron was willing to give the number to A.D before the first season they would play together started. There was just one very significant obstacle that was in the way of that.

**Nike has entered the chat**

Nike LogoSoleCollector

Although this was before the season even began, it was still too late and sudden of a change to do it right before the season started. Why? because of money of course.

Nike who is a main sponsor of the NBA's apparel stepped in and would not allow the change as it was "Too sudden and Lebron's number #23 jersey was already the highest-selling jersey for that upcoming season". In other words they did not want to go through the millions of returns that would have followed.

The 2020-21 season is still happening as we are still in the middle of the playoffs but Lebron and the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns so their off-season has already started and it seems this was the first "move" they made.

And up to this writing, it is said that Anthony Davis will stick with his number #3 and not take the number #23. Of course, that may change. But one thing that is for certain is that Lebron is now going back to the number he wore when winning his first two championship rings in Miami while he was apart of the Miami Heat.

Former Miami Heat star forward Lebron JamesNBA - Getty Images

Between the years 2010 and 2014, Lebron was with the Miami Heat where he went from his usual number #23 to the number #6. It was not the most unusual thing as Lebron wore the number during the times he was on the Olympic team. For those four years on the Miami Heat, it's arguably said that they were easily his greatest years in the NBA and were considered his prime.

And for me as a die-hard Miami Heat fan, those years were the greatest seasons of basketball that I've watched, and makes me a little sad that he will not be wearing that number #6 in a Heat uniform ever again lol. Unless Pat Riley can afford to do a little better "tampering". JK.

*That was an inside joke to a previous article*

All those tears and all that said, according to Lebron's official Instagram page the jersey number change is official as a referee with a whistle and we will for sure be seeing Lebron dawning his old first championship winning number for the upcoming 2021-21 season

Lebron making it official he will be changing jersey numbers from #23 to #6 for the 21-22 seasonLebron James - Official Instagram page

With this jersey change do you believe it might change anything for him and the Los Angeles Lakers going forward into the next upcoming season and will you be buying one of the new freshly stitched number #6 jersey's when they release?

Let me know in the comments

Hope you guys enjoyed the read

-Sani

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