The Heat drew mostly guffaws when it retired the jersey of Michael Jordan, who never played one second for the franchise. Heat prez Pat Riley suggested it was a move to honor the game's greatest player, but most saw it as a silly bit of marketing showmanship.MJ attended Thursday's Heat-Cavaliers game with Riley -- the TNT broadcast crew noted that Scottie Pippen also sat courtside, and suggested it might have been some subliminal "pair with Dwyane Wade!" messaging to LeBron James. MJ's presence made the game a bit more weird, and led to a rare political statement from LeBron: he thinks players should stop wearing No. 23 out of deference to His Airness, and he plans to lead the charge by switching to No. 6 next season.
It's a bit hilarious that LeBron has decided that because he wants to respect MJ by abandoning No. 23, the entire league should do the same. But it's par for the course, and understood: if any other player had made such a proclamation without LeBron being on-board, we'd be pointing and laughing at them.
All that said, which players currently wear No. 23? Basketball-Reference has the answer:
Devin Brown, Marcus Camby, Toney Douglas, Stephen Graham, Kevin Martin, Wes Matthews, Jodie Meeks, Jason Richardson, C.J. Watson, Martell Webster, Louis Williams.
Five starters, only three of which (Camby, Richardson and Martin) are "name" players. Three rookies. A couple of a bit players. LeBron is clearly the major hurdle in getting No. 23 retired; we'll see if he can convince his Nike mates Martin and J-Rich to do the same. My best guess is that LeBron will forget he ever made the declaration by next week, and he'll suggest that No. 6 be retired leaguewide after he wins a few more MVPs.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
11-13-2009 @ 9:32AM
David said...
Call me Nostradamus. I am a lifelong Cavalier fan, but 2 and a half years ago when I heard about the Nets moving to Brooklyn, and that Jaze was part owner, I predicted that James would be leaving the Cavaliers for the New York Nets. (2nd coming of Dr. J) Since he can't wear number 32. (Dr J's number for the Nets) He would be wearing the next best thing. Number 6!!!! Say goodbye Cleveland, he is gone. Breaks my heart, trade him now. Trade him, Shaq, Mo, stock pile up on some young kids, or otherwise The Cavaliers will be playing someplace else in a couple of years. Dan Gilbert doesn't care anymore, he's got bigger fish to fry with his new Casino's.
David Barker
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11-13-2009 @ 8:49PM
willcolonge said...
I agree with David about Lebron giving the Cav. fans less then 100% of himself. He had the best chance ever to bring them an NBA title last year and dropped the ball. Now he will spend the rest of the regular season being distracted by the New Jersey/New York trade. Cleveland fans deserve better and need to kick him to the curb so they can support their team and their goal for a championship. Love Cleveland folks, good luck.
Will Colon from Orlando Florida:
11-16-2009 @ 11:13AM
xavierdchamp said...
I AGREE YALL. RESPECT RUSSELL DAMN! JORDAN IS THE BEST MARKETING! PERIOD! G DAMN I DIDNT KNOW LEBRON WAS THAT STUPID ARROGANT! " IF IT WASNT FOR MIKE KOBE D-WADE AND ME WOULDNT BE HERE." WELL HE IS YOUNG DIDNT GRAD ANY COLLEGE AND HAD NO DAD. DAMN STUPID THOUGH!
11-13-2009 @ 10:02AM
Jim said...
I am here to say what a lot of Cleveland fans I have talked to think, but wont dare say. GO. Goodbye! Enough of pondering to this guy and granting him his every wish. As for him saying two days ago no more talking about next year or where he will be. ABOUT TIME!! No one plays this up more than "King James" How about we have a "real" team where the coach coaches and not LeBron. Enough of Yankee hats and Drooling over Madison Square Garden. You want to win LeBron?? LOL!! New York should be your LAST thought!! I agree with David. Break it up now and get on with our lives. This cat and mouse game James plays with the Cleveland fans and the city is pure BS.
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11-13-2009 @ 10:45AM
Martin said...
Although most people recognize Michael Jordan as the best basketball player of all time, I would take either Abdul-Jabbar or Magic Johnson over Jordan, if I was building a team from scratch. I would do so because great centers are much more of a rarity than great 2-guards and Magic Johnson made all of the players on his team a whole lot better. So to universally retire a number for all teams seems to be quite a stretch.
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11-13-2009 @ 11:03AM
Mike said...
Jordan, average, 38 shots/game, with 21 foul shots/game. You'd think he could have averaged 50 points a game, even on an OFF night. Cheated on his wife at every town he played in, and is nothing but an arrogant SOB. F'k him and his jersey. He should take some of the money he gambles and loses and go out and buy some class, cause he sure doesn't have any. Jordan just can't go away. He sure can put together a winning franchise,,,,lol. Terrible eye for talent. And how stupid of the Heat retiring his jersey when he never wore it in their colors. How plainly stupid. Guess the Heat need to do whaever it takes to sell some tickets.
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11-13-2009 @ 11:22AM
surheeho said...
bitter much?
11-13-2009 @ 11:20AM
I see you Padin said...
Martin and Mike need to stop hating. MJ is the best. Can we just accept it and move on. Retiring his jersey could end the argument and everyone can move on. He is the best ever, and this is a FACT. Holy smack grow up.
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11-13-2009 @ 11:55AM
JHARR51 said...
No.6 Bill Russell Respect!
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11-13-2009 @ 1:59PM
rufuspsk said...
And what about Bill Russell, the greatest player and greatest winner any sport has ever known?????
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11-13-2009 @ 2:28PM
nate said...
Well this proves LeBron cares about marketing more than anything else.
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11-13-2009 @ 4:40PM
colincb said...
No 6 was already worn by a player with 11 rings, 2 NCAA championships, and an Olympic gold medal. He was also the first African-American head coach in a major professional sport.
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11-13-2009 @ 6:02PM
globalsetback said...
I dont care what number Lebron wears all I care about is Cavs winning the title
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11-13-2009 @ 8:11PM
Ms. LindaMarie said...
I think we need to forget about retiring numbers... pretty soon, there won't be any left if we keep this BS up! It's just a freakin number! We need to honor the player NOT the number!
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11-13-2009 @ 8:23PM
Kevin said...
Why don't they just give him jersey number ½? That's about all his level of ability is, IMHO.
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11-13-2009 @ 8:31PM
clint969 said...
If one person in the history of ALL sports deserves to be called the greatest of all time, it's Jordan. If it weren't for Mike the NBA would still be as mundane and unpopular as it was in the early '80s. The greatest day in Shaq's life was when Jordan retired from the Bulls. It's the only way he could stop being overshadowed by true athleticism and skill. If a player's number isn't worth retiring from the entire sport, it isn't worth retiring from one team.
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11-13-2009 @ 8:45PM
clesmitty said...
Has Lebron forgotten about Bill Russell? Doesn't he deserve the same respect?
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11-13-2009 @ 9:21PM
TED said...
MJ WAS THE BEST.. FOR SURE SINCE 1980... BUT EVEN THE BABE ONLY HAS HIS # 3 RETIRED BY THE YANKEES... ITS ENOUGH THE BULLS RETIRED HIS #... AFTERALL THE INFIGHTING WITH THE BULLS MANAGEMENT.. THE 2 HORRIBLE JERRYS.. RIENSDORF AND KRAUSE... THEY BROKE UP THE TEAM TO EARLY AND CHASED MJ SCOTTIE AND PHIL OUT OF TOWN...
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11-13-2009 @ 9:24PM
LEONARD PATTERSO said...
if you're gonna respect another number, respect Bill Russell. Jordan could never come close to Russell!!!!!!!! And that's a fact.
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11-13-2009 @ 9:25PM
Da Gimp said...
Somebody get LeBron some smelling salts, and once he's awake from his delusional dreams, show him films of players in the NBA, both black and white, who played, retired, and in many cases, died before "So-called" King James was even born. This arrogant ass thinks the entire league revolves around his next thought, and just because HE wants to change numbers and keep #23 unavailable, he thinks the NBA should retire it forever. Michael Jordan was a great player, one I am sure you will never come close to eclipsing. He was NOT a basketball savior, or someone who bettered the game for anyone but himself. He was a media darling, an advertiser's dream, and as evident from recent job's, a bad General Manager/Owner. He did NOT leave basketball any better off than Scottie Pippen or Steve Kerr did. What an ASS!!
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