LeBron James to change jersey number back to 23 in honor of Bill Russell - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — In a nod to Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, LeBron James will change his uniform number from 6 back to 23 for the Los Angeles Lakers this coming season, Rich Paul of Klutch Sports Group told ESPN.

«It's LeBron's decision,» said Paul, James' longtime friend and agent. «He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell.»

Last summer, after Russell died at the age of 88, the NBA retired No. 6 across the league — the first time a player was honored in such a fashion. Current players wearing No. 6 at the time were grandfathered in and could keep the number should they so choose.

The timing of the league's announcement made it a logistical impossibility to stock enough replica James jerseys to meet fan demand before the 2022-23 season started. James' No. 6 Lakers uniform led all player jersey sales on NBAStore.com for the second half of 2022-23, according to a league announcement.

«For us to lose such an icon, it was heartbreaking for all of us,» James told ESPN at the start of training camp in September. «I mean, no matter if you play the game, watch the game or a part of the game. We all know what Bill Russell meant to the NBA, obviously to the Celtics off the floor as well, as far as his heroism… and what he meant to Black people, being able to speak about issues that are not comfortable.

»For me to be able to wear No. 6 this season — I'm not sure if I'll continue to do it, but right now I'm going to wear it in honor of him. It means a lot to me."

Russell was an 11-time champion with the Celtics, a five-time MVP and a 12-time All-Star, and he became the first Black head coach in league history, winning his last two rings as a player-coach for Boston. Known as the sport's ultimate winner, Russell was honored in