– LeBron James is changing his Lakers jersey number from No. 6 to No. 23.
– He has previously worn both numbers during his NBA career.
– The switch is made as a sign of respect for Bill Russell, the Celtics legend who passed away in 2022.
– The NBA retired Russell's No. 6 jersey before the last season, but players were allowed to continue wearing it if they wished.
– James wore the No. 6 jersey last season as part of the league's tribute to Russell.
– This will be the fourth time in LeBron's career that he's changing his jersey number.
– No. 23 is the number LeBron James started his career with and has used at various points in his NBA journey.
– The decision was confirmed by LeBron's agent, Rich Paul, in a statement to ESPN's Dave McMenamin.