The permanent number was confirmed before he even retired.
Los Angeles Lakers owner Genie Bus said in an interview with the U.S. sports media Sports Kida on the 28th (Korea Standard Time), “The criteria for the Lakers to permanently delete the back number is whether the player in question is inducted into the Hall of Fame.” “The criteria for the Lakers to permanently delete their back numbers is whether a player is inducted into the Hall of Fame,” he said in an interview with sports media Sports Kida. “I am confident that LeBron James (39, 206cm) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
“When LeBron is inducted into the Hall of Fame, we will permanently remove his number. LeBron’s retirement is only a matter of time. Because it will undoubtedly happen,” he added.
Lebron, 20 years after his debut, moved to the Lakers from the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. Since then, he has led the team with averages of 27.3 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.8 assists for the Lakers over the past five seasons.
In the 2019-20 season, the Lakers won the championship. LeBron’s 4th Finals win. The joy of being selected as MVP in the finals that reached the top was a bonus.
The Lakers have not decided which of LeBron’s number 6 or number 23 will be permanently retired. This will depend on the rest of LeBron’s Lakers career.
Lebron will change his jersey number from number 6 to number 23 starting next season. In fact, the number 23 LeBron wore when he debuted in Cleveland in 2003. He subsequently switched to number 6 from 2011 to 2014 when he transferred to the Miami Heat.
He returned to No. 6 in 2015 when he returned to Cleveland and kept it until last season. The reason why LeBron changed his uniform number again is to commemorate Bill Russell, a legend who passed away in July of last year.
In honor of Russell, the NBA (National Basketball Association) secretariat decided to permanently remove the number 6 of his active career from all 30 clubs. However, 6 people who were already using number 6, including LeBron, were an exception. However, LeBron showed his respect for Russell and returned the number 6 jersey at the end of last season.
Lebron’s contract with the Lakers has two years left. A player option is at stake for the final season of the contract. After his retirement, it is noteworthy which jersey number LeBron will be permanently absent from the Lakers.
BY: 안전놀이터
