Following his team’s 111-104 victory last night against Dwyane Wade and the Heat, LeBron ”The Akron Hammer” James told Craig 
Sager that he was going to change his number in the offseason from 23 to 6. The reason that James gave for the number switch had to with Michael Jordan and the respect he has for him. This decision was also probably influenced because of the fact that MJ actually attended the game between Cleveland and Miami. (Side note: Jordan’s number is retired in Miami as well).
When a guy like James sees a figure such as Michael Jordan watching him play, he is truly humbled by the gesture, as he was someone who he looked up to as a child. For Jordan, though, he is just watching a game between the stars of today.
The way that James spoke about his childhood hero to Sager, it was clear that he was being sincere. He was not doing it for a publicity stunt, and he was not doing it to improve his own image. Rather, James did it as an honor to his all-time favorite player and role model. By doing something like that, for what seemed like the right reasons, James has once again put himself head and shoulders above the rest. It is a move like that, that makes people believe that ”The Akron Hammer” is destined for greatness for many years to come…Even long after he retires.
Filed under: NBA
