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Monday, November 16, 2009 | 8:35am
SOUND OFF: Thoughts on Lebron’s Switch From Jordan’s #23 To #6
Acending superstar want the league to retire Jordan’s number and
Since his high school playing days, Lebron James has worn #23 in honor of his idol and perhaps the best basketball player ever, Michael Jordan. But now that Jordan is in the Hall of Fame, LeBron James says he’ll be giving up the number out of respect to His Airness.
“I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way – soon,” James said in his announcement. “There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade, you name all the best players in the league right now and the last 10 years, there would be none of us without Michael Jordan.”
James who will switch to his US Olympic team number 6 next season said he had been thinking about the move for some time and encourages all players currently wearing #23 to do the same even if there isn’t an official league mandate.
“It’s time,” James said. “He’s the best basketball player we’ve ever seen. Mike does it on the court and off the court. If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan… I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. Nobody. If I’m not going to wear number 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it.”
To date there has only been one league-wide number retirement and that was part of Major League Baseball’s Jackie Robinson tribute when the league permanently retired the pioneer’s number #42. In addition to Lebron’s petition to unofficially retire Jordan’s number he took it one step further poising the question whether its time for the league to switch up its logo which for decades has bore the silhouette of (West Virginia Grad) Jerry West and instead replace it with Mike Jordan’s. What do you think? SOUND OFF. What do you think of the league wide #23 retirement and perhaps Jordan’s replacement of Jerry West on the NBA’s official logo?
I can see why Lebron feels that way about the number 23 and maybe the other players wearing that number will also give up the precious “23″ BUT I highly doubt the NBA would put Jordan on the logo. I mean Jordan was one of the best basketball players ever but to put him on the logo is something that I don’t see the commissioner ever considering. I’d be very shocked if he did though. I’m sure he’s thinking of all the greats before Jordan so…..yeah I just don’t see that happening.
So how does Jerry West lay claim to it?
Good point!!! Wouldn’t that be something to see the new NBA logo with the “Jumpman”…I can see it.
He’s probably hoping they’ll never replace him! LOL! And jungle is right, it would be great to the jumpman as the new NBA logo! But lets be realistic, that won’t happen anytime soon. Maybe if the public as well as the NBA players do a petition then there might be a better chance….Juan may we start one here on the Nation?
Feel free!
The “Jumpman” is a trademark for Jordan’s company, so the NBA switching to it as its officail logo won’t happen.
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To the first point: Although I won’t deny Jordan’s greatness, he has not been the only player who has been “The Greatest.” This generation happens to like to compare athletes of different generations, which is unfair: different times, circumstances, etc. For example: Bill Russell totally changed the way the game was played, Oscar Robertson did as well. Pistol Pete Maravich was doing things with a basketball that had never been seen before, and he was the original “gunner” (hitting 40-a-night before the 3-point shot). Those are just 3 examples. There are others, such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird.
The question then becomes, should all their numbers get retired leaguewide? Why not? Statistically speaking, their stats hold up against Jordan’s.
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I would not compare Jordan to Jackie Robinson. JORDAN CAN’T HOLD ROBINSON’S JOCKSTRAP!
Jordan has done NOTHING to approach the impact that Robinson has had on ALL sports and outside of the sports world. In fact, outside of his personal and teams’ accomplishments on the basketball court and his clothing company, what has Jordan’s impact been on the game? wagging his tongue while dunking? wearing long shorts? Do I have to even talk about Robinson’s impact?
C’mon mane!
NONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU NAME CAN GUARD JORDAN. HE WAS TOO TALL, TOO FAST AND TOO ATHLETIC. Jordan was never known as a three point shooter, his points came in the paint dunkin on EVERYBODY. He change the way the game was played because most guards could match up with him so teams put small fowards on him because of his leapin ability. He jumped right over most 2 guards. After that SF’s had to be able to defend guards on the perimeter. All the people you name were great but all around Jordan is the total package.
Good points, and we can debate this or that all day long. But does that mean that the league should retire his number and nobody else can wear it, on any team?
And, using that standard, then…Magic revolutionized the point guard position. Small guards couldn’t guard him and he would run bigger guys out of the building. Bill Russell dominated the game as no playter had done before him (and arguably after). Hakeem Olajwuon was way too quick for centers and too big for power forwards…Jordan has not been the only one who has dominated or made opposing coaches have to change the way they play defense…LeBron is doing that right now…
I think if a team wants to retire Jordan’s number then they should be able to, but I dont think it should be mandated league-wide.
Emerson, You’ve gotta realize what Jordan not only did for basketball but professional sports. From a business standpoint he revolutionized the relationship corporate American has with athletes. He was the face of an entire league. He not only made a lot of money for the NBA through merchandising but for himself off the court through endorsements. That significance can’t be overlooked.
I do realize that. However, for me, it holds no weight as far as the issue at hand goes.
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This is on the same level as Robert Johnson (former BET owner) getting the “Black Power” award. When pressed about BET’s lack of socially conscious programming, Mr. Johnson said something to the effect of him being in business to make money. As for Jordan, his business decisions should have no bearing on this issue. They both did well for THEMSELVES. And sure, others have also benefited from what they have done. But it has not been on an iconic, or mass scale…Unions have negotiated CBA’s that have pushed up conpensation for pro-athletes on par with the owners’ earnings. Shrewd marketing campaigns hook fans and viewers and people like Spike Lee deliver the athletes and the fans to Nike, Reebok and Adidas…Spike and Jordan was an updated version of Cosell/Ali. They needed each other…Before Jordan became “independent” of Nike, they had already made billions off him. And they continue to make money off him now.
Let me stop now, I tend to rant…
No you make a very fair point. I was debating a side I didn’t fully agree with. I think you’re right.
good spill.
I don’t like retired jerseys in any sport, the Jackie Robinson thing is an exception. Wear someone’s number at your own risk, especially if it’s the same team. Does that mean I think someone should be wearing #23 for the Chicago Bulls right now, NO. To say that no one can ever wear a number, EVER is a little too much for me. League wide retirement is ridiculous, team number retirement should have a term limit, like 20 years or something to that effect. I’ve always liked the retired jersey banner that the Celtics have and the numbers should stay up but let other people wear the number after a couple of decades.
Emerson is right on point.Nothing else to say.
I second that….
I think it’s about time. I never understood why he wore that # in the first place, make ya own legacy youngsta. #23 Should be retired amongst all leagues. Like he said when you think 23 you think Jordan. Don’t wait till he dies let him smell those roses while he’s still alive.