LeBron James wants to honor the man most consider the greatest player in the history of the NBA — Michael Jordan — so next year he is switching his number form Jordan’s iconic 23 to number 6.
"He can't get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette adorns the NBA's logo], and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."
Leaving aside the massive ego it takes to say, “If I’m not going to wear 23 nobody should,” LeBron's suggestion is an arguably altruistic move on the surface. In Major League Baseball, Jackie Robinson’s number is retired. In the NHL, nobody can wear Wayne Gretzky’s 99.
But really, James’s move sounds like the latest Nike public relations stunt.
Earlier that same day, Nike guy Dwyane Wade was announced as the guy who will first wear the 25th anniversary Air Jordan’s, which will be released in February. Coincidentally, that happened to be the same day that Wade was playing James and the Cavaliers on national television.
Then, lo and behold, who shows up to the game to watch but Michael Jordan himself. Serendipity!
Jordan and the Jordan line of shoes still dominate the high-end sneaker market — like 90% of it dominate. The 25th Anniversary Air Jordan’s are going to get a world of hype, but the best way to get everyone on board is a viral campaign. Something that seems organic. Like, um, maybe the biggest star in the game changing his number to honor MJ and saying everyone else should, too. And hyping that until the new shoes come out.
But all of that is probably just a coincidence.
Kurt Helin lives in Los Angeles where he is runs the NBA/Lakers blog Forum Blue & Gold (which you can also follow in twitter).
