LeBron to switch numbers as tribute to Jordan

[scpanther22]

if he wants to give up his number than ok..but for everybody to give up 23..is just stupid..IMO

James said he has been considering the change for some time. He's willing to switch to No. 6 — his U.S. Olympic team number — and wants to start a petition to get every player in the league wearing 23 to give up the number

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/10363152/LeBron-to-switch-numbers-as-tribute-to-Jordan

[tarheelblue89]

I agree with LBJ there should be certain numbers that the League should retire, but not Jordan's just yet.

[Henne Given Sunday]

i hear rumblings from my people in miami hes announcing this because he plans on signing with the heat this offseason with wade......miami retired the #23 in jordans honor awhile ago.........stay tuned

[King Taharqa]

Interesting.

[Bobby]

I don't get the comparison some people are making to Jackie Robinson in baseball. Jordan was just a great player, he didn't break down a massive social barrier.

Robinson was a groundbreaker, Jordan is actually a bit of a dick.

[King Taharqa]

Jordan's impact is nowhere near Robinson's socially. But the NBA and the players in it now owe alot to MJ. He's the reason players & coaches alike enjoy huge salaries and endorsement deals that they get. He's the one guy who took the game global and made it as popular as it is. So alot of players like LeBron look up to him. This would be a HUGE gesture if it goes thru (which I doubt it will) but people will always think of Jordan when they see the #23 anyway.

[Kevin Greene]

Jordan's impact is nowhere near Robinson's socially. But the NBA and the players in it now owe alot to MJ. He's the reason players & coaches alike enjoy huge salaries and endorsement deals that they get. He's the one guy who took the game global and made it as popular as it is. So alot of players like LeBron look up to him. This would be a HUGE gesture if it goes thru (which I doubt it will) but people will always think of Jordan when they see the #23 anyway.

Bird and Magic did a pretty good job of keeping the NBA going before Jordan arrived. The Bulls retire his number? Of course. Everyone else? Ridiculous.

Only 42 in baseball deserves that respect IMO.

[King Taharqa]

Bird and Magic did a pretty good job of keeping the NBA going before Jordan arrived. The Bulls retire his number? Of course. Everyone else? Ridiculous.

Only 42 in baseball deserves that respect IMO.

Bird & Magic definitely revived the league in the 80s. No question about it. MJ took the torch from them and took it international in the 90s. That era gave way to today's era of LeBron, Kobe, & Wade. I can see both sides of the argument. Its funny seeing the Miami Heat Arena with a Jordan jersey hanging in the rafters. Pat Riley has great respect for MJ though.

LeBron goes from honoring...

to honoring...

[King Taharqa]

DENVER (AP)—Phil Jackson likes LeBron James’ idea of NBA players giving up No. 23 to honor Michael Jordan.

The Los Angeles Lakers coach who won six titles with Jordan in Chicago compared the idea to the NHL’s retirement of No. 99 to honor hockey great Wayne Gretzky in 2000.

Jackson said Jordan changed the NBA much as Gretzky did hockey.

Asked about the issue before his Los Angeles Lakers played the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, Jackson said the only potential pitfall he sees with retiring No. 23 league-wide is it might be “a little step on the toes for a guy like Magic (Johnson) or (Larry) Bird.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-jackson-jordansnumber&prov=ap&type=lgns

[King Taharqa]

DENVER (AP)—Phil Jackson likes LeBron James’ idea of NBA players giving up No. 23 to honor Michael Jordan.

The Los Angeles Lakers coach who won six titles with Jordan in Chicago compared the idea to the NHL’s retirement of No. 99 to honor hockey great Wayne Gretzky in 2000.

Jackson said Jordan changed the NBA much as Gretzky did hockey.

Asked about the issue before his Los Angeles Lakers played the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, Jackson said the only potential pitfall he sees with retiring No. 23 league-wide is it might be “a little step on the toes for a guy like Magic (Johnson) or (Larry) Bird.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-jackson-jordansnumber&prov=ap&type=lgns

[pstall]

No. Jordan had some great help. Uhh, Jerry Krause surrounded him with the right pieces.

And that kills Jordan.

A league retirement is reserved for men who do something more than play. Jordan is known for his play and marketing. Seriously?

[scpanther22]

No. Jordan had some great help. Uhh, Jerry Krause surrounded him with the right pieces.

And that kills Jordan.

A league retirement is reserved for men who do something more than play. Jordan is known for his play and marketing. Seriously?

IMO.Jordan did more than play.He opended up the door lebrons and kobe..But Jordan made the game global and took it to another level.But the NBA has since brought itself back down.

[pstall]

Jordan didn't make the game global. Phil Knight did.

Jordan is lucky he was drafted by Chicago instead of Portland and Clyde Drexler went to Chicago.

MJ is the best NBA player of all time. But for his # to be retired by all is typical of this day and age not understanding historical perspectives.

Hence A Team and Dukes of Hazzard being made into movies.

[King Taharqa]

Jordan didn't make the game global. Phil Knight did.

Phil Knight needed MJ just as much as MJ needed Phil Knight. Jordan's shoes are the still the biggest selling for Nike oh some 25 years later. The way Nike marketed MJ paved the way for Tiger, LeBron, etc today. Perhaps the biggest star of the "sportscenter" 24 hour sports news generation. Jordan made Nike a LUXURY brand over their competitors.