Lakers star LeBron James will change his jersey number from No. 6 back to No. 23 for the upcoming season, the team announced Saturday evening.
James’ agent, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, told ESPN James made the decision in honor of NBA legend Bill Russell, who died at the age of 88 last summer.
The NBA retired the No. 6 league-wide after Russell’s death — the first time a player received this honor.
Players who wore No. 6 at the time the decision was made in mid-August 2022 were grandfathered in and had the option to continue wearing the jersey number.
Russell won a record 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics, in addition to being a five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star. The NBA Finals MVP trophy was named after Russell in 2009.
He was the first Black head coach in league history, winning his last two NBA titles in 1968 and ’69 as a player-coach for the Celtics.
James, who announced he’ll return to the Lakers for his 21st NBA season after cryptically hinting at retirement, will wear No. 23 for the 15th season.
He wore No. 23 for the first seven years of his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He switched to No. 6, which he first started wearing for international competition with Team USA, for 2010-14 when he played for the Miami Heat, which retired No. 23 in honor of Michael Jordan.
James switched back to No. 23 from 2014-21 — his second four-year stint with the Cavaliers and his first three seasons with the Lakers — before wearing No. 6 again the past two seasons.
