LeBron James Officially Goes Back to Jersey No. 6

The long-awaited change is finally announced.

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Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James has officially announced that he will once again be returning to his No. 6 jersey from No. 23. The NBA team and King James posted to social media to alert fans of the change.

Previously, there was speculation that James will be passing on his old number to teammate Anthony Davis as he did intend to do so a couple of years ago. However, ESPN has reported that Davis will stay with No. 3.

James, who will go back to donning the No. 6 in purple and gold for the 2021-2022 season, first wore the single-digit number for Team USA. He later wore it in the four seasons he played for the Miami Heat since the organization has already retired No. 23 in honor of basketball legend, Michael Jordan. James’ choice of wearing No. 23 is widely known to be influenced by Jordan himself, but No. 6 was also inspired by other NBA greats like Bill Russell and Julius “Dr. J” Erving. After he left the Heat, James still wore No. 6 as his practice uniform while playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers and currently with the Lakers.

Next NBA tip-off, fans will see the Lakers guard in No. 6. Recent promotional material for James’ new film, Space Jam: A New Legacy has already shown James in a No. 6 Tune Squad uniform.

In other LeBron news, after King James’ defeat in the first round of the playoffs for the first time in his 18-year career, HYPEBEAST poses the question: is it a curtain call for the LeBron James show?

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Joyce Li
Joyce Li Editor

For over half a decade, Joyce Li has served as an Editor on Hypebeast's global team, leveraging profound industry insights to capture the zeitgeist. Through her editorial lens, she anticipates emerging trends while dedicating her platform to spotlighting those making the greatest impact on culture today. A storyteller first and foremost, she examines the cross-pollination of fashion, footwear, art, music, and sports. This intersectional approach has led to compelling interviews with industry-defining figures like LeBron James, Pharrell Williams, Tom Brady, NIGO, A$AP Rocky, KAWS, and more.

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