LeBron James announced on Sunday that he has decided to wear No. 23 again in his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. While it makes sense that LeBron would want to go back to his original number for the homecoming, the reason he cited for switching to No. 6 four years ago has kind of made him look bad for going back.
If you remember, LeBron said in this interview that he was no longer going to wear 23 out of respect for Michael Jordan. James said MJ has done so much for the game of basketball that no one should wear 23 again. Apparently he changed his mind, though Jordan says he is fine with it.
“I’m cool with it,” Jordan told ESPN’s Chris Broussard in a text message Monday. “I don’t own a number.”
Jordan probably didn’t have an issue with LeBron wearing No. 23 to begin with, so his reaction is not a surprise. The real surprise is that LeBron didn’t stick with No. 6 or choose a different number just because of what he said about Jordan. While the fans who didn’t burn their old Cavs jerseys are grateful, it makes what James said four years ago sound really lame now.
