Helena Frye
The number 23 jersey has become iconic in basketball due to its association with Michael Jordan, who wore the number during his legendary career with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan's influence on the game and his status as a role model for many players have led to the number becoming highly sought-after and synonymous with him. Following Jordan's retirement, LeBron James wore the number 23 as a tribute to his childhood idol. The number 23 jersey has since been retired by the Miami Heat, honouring Jordan's impact on the sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players who wore #23 in the 2022-23 NBA season | 11 |
| Players who wore #23 | Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant |
| Reason for wearing #23 | Childhood idol, tribute, fresh start |
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What You'll Learn
- Michael Jordan made No. 23 iconic with the Chicago Bulls
- LeBron James wore No. 23 as a tribute to his idol, Michael Jordan
- The No. 6 jersey has been retired across the NBA in honour of Bill Russell
- Michael Jordan wore No. 9 in his two Olympic runs, winning gold both times
- The Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey, despite him never playing for them
Michael Jordan made No. 23 iconic with the Chicago Bulls
Michael Jordan is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He played 15 seasons in the NBA, winning six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan is known for his prolific scoring and defensive skills, and he led the league in scoring 10 times. In addition to his six NBA championships, Jordan also won five league MVPs, six Finals MVPs, 14 All-Star selections, and 11 All-NBA selections. Jordan's success and impact on the game of basketball have made him a global cultural icon.
Jordan wore three different numbers throughout his career: 12, 23, and 45. There is no doubt that the most iconic number associated with Jordan is 23. He wore this number for the majority of his career with the Chicago Bulls, and it has become an iconic symbol of his success and impact on the game. The number 23 jersey has been retired by the Bulls in honour of Jordan, and it is now considered one of the most sought-after numbers by NBA players.
Jordan first chose the number 23 when he and his brother, who wore number 45, were on the same team. Not wanting to wear the same number as his brother, Jordan chose half of his brother's number, which was 22.5, rounding up to 23. This number would become synonymous with Jordan's relentless, intense, and dominant brand of winning. He led his team to victory in every NBA Finals in which he played (1991-1993 and 1996-1998) and was named Finals MVP each time.
Jordan's number 23 jersey has inspired a generation of players, including LeBron James, who initially wore number 23 as a tribute to his childhood idol. When Jordan retired in 2003, James wore number 23 with the Cleveland Cavaliers, saying that he wanted to be able to fly, shoot, and dunk like his hero. James later changed his number to 6 when he joined the Miami Heat, as this was the number he wore during his Olympic appearances.
The impact of Jordan's number 23 extends beyond the court. In 2022, Jordan's jersey from the opening game of the 1998 NBA Finals sold for $10.1 million, making it the most expensive game-worn sports memorabilia in history. Additionally, in September 2022, the NBA unveiled a new MVP trophy named in Jordan's honour, further solidifying the iconic status of Jordan and his number 23 jersey in the world of basketball.
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LeBron James wore No. 23 as a tribute to his idol, Michael Jordan
LeBron James has worn the number 23 jersey multiple times throughout his career. James first chose the number 23 jersey as a tribute to his childhood idol, Michael Jordan. James idolised Jordan growing up and wanted to emulate his skills and success. In an interview, James said, "I wanna be able to fly like him, I wanna be able to shoot like him. I wanna be able to dunk on somebody like him. I wanna be able to stick out my tongue like him in the air and yell in somebody’s face like MJ."
James wore the number 23 jersey when he entered the NBA straight out of high school, becoming the No. 1 overall pick for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He kept the number 23 jersey when he returned to the Cavaliers after his stint with the Miami Heat, where he wore the number 6 jersey. James has since worn the number 23 jersey for the Los Angeles Lakers.
James has expressed his admiration for Jordan and even suggested that the NBA should retire Jordan's number 23 jersey league-wide, honouring his impact on the sport. James's decision to wear the number 23 jersey pays homage to his idol and reflects his desire to follow in Jordan's footsteps.
It is worth noting that James has worn other jersey numbers during his career, such as number 32 during his freshman year at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School and number 6 during his time with the Miami Heat and the Lakers. Despite these changes, James's association with the number 23 jersey as a tribute to Michael Jordan remains a significant aspect of his career.
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The No. 6 jersey has been retired across the NBA in honour of Bill Russell
The No. 6 jersey has been retired across the NBA in honour of the late Bill Russell, who was an 11-time NBA champion and civil rights activist. Russell wore the No. 6 jersey throughout his 13-season career from 1956 to 1969, during which he played for and coached the Boston Celtics. Russell's impact extended beyond the basketball court, as he was an influential civil rights activist during a time of racial tension in America. He marched for civil rights with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his athletic achievements and lifelong commitment to social justice.
Russell is the first and, so far, only NBA player to have his number retired across the league. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced that permanently retiring his No. 6 jersey across every NBA team was a fitting way to honour Russell's unparalleled success and pioneering activism. All NBA players wore a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys during the 2022-23 season, and every NBA court displayed a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer's table.
The Boston Celtics, for whom Russell played his entire career, had a separate and unique recognition for him on their uniforms. The Celtics had previously retired Russell's No. 6 jersey in 1972, but he is now the only player to have his number retired by every team in the league. This honour is usually reserved for players who have made an indelible mark on a franchise, often through extraordinary success, championship wins, record-setting, and embodying the values and spirit of the organisation.
The No. 6 jersey is not the only number to be retired in the NBA. Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey is also iconic, with players like LeBron James wearing it as a tribute to their childhood idol. After Kobe Bryant's passing, multiple players also requested to change their jerseys to one of Bryant's iconic numbers (#8 or #24) as a tribute.
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Michael Jordan wore No. 9 in his two Olympic runs, winning gold both times
Michael Jordan is one of the most decorated players in NBA history. Jordan was selected to play for the United States national team during his college and NBA careers, winning four gold medals. Two of these gold medals were won at the 1984 and 1992 Summer Olympics. During these two Olympic runs, Jordan wore the number 9 jersey.
Jordan is well-known for wearing the number 23 jersey during his time with the Chicago Bulls, where he built his legend, punctuated by six NBA titles and tons of individual accolades. However, during his Olympic appearances, he wore the number 9 jersey.
Jordan led the 1984 US team in scoring, averaging 17.1 points per game as the team won the gold medal. In 1992, Jordan was a member of the star-studded squad dubbed the "Dream Team", which included Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. The team won two gold medals: the first in the 1992 Tournament of the Americas, and the second in the 1992 Summer Olympics. Jordan was the only player to start all eight games in the Olympics, averaging 14.9 points per game.
The number 23 jersey has become iconic in basketball due to its association with Michael Jordan. Jordan initially wore number 45 during his college career but switched to number 23 when he joined the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. The number 23 jersey has since been retired by the Bulls in honour of Jordan's achievements with the team.
After Jordan, other players have also worn the number 23 jersey in the NBA, including LeBron James, who wore the number as a tribute to his childhood idol, Michael Jordan. James later changed his jersey number to 6 when he joined the Miami Heat, the same number Jordan wore during his Olympic appearances.
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The Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey, despite him never playing for them
The Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey in April 2003, despite him never playing for them. This was done as a sign of respect for Jordan and his achievements. Heat President Pat Riley said:
> In honour of your greatness and for all you've done for the game of basketball – and not just the NBA, but for all the fans around the world – we want to honour you tonight and hang your jersey, No. 23, from the rafters. No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You're the best.
Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in 38 career games against the Heat. Retiring a player's jersey number is the highest honour a team can bestow upon a player. It signifies that the player's contributions and impact were so significant that no other player on that team will ever wear the same number again.
Jordan's No. 23 jersey was highly influential, with players like LeBron James citing it as the reason they wore the number. James initially wore No. 23 as a tribute to his childhood idol, Jordan, before switching to No. 6 when he joined the Miami Heat, the number he wore during his Olympic appearances.
The No. 23 jersey has become one of the most sought-after numbers in the NBA, with players choosing it as a tribute to their favourite player or as a source of inspiration. Jordan himself wore the number as a fresh start after his father's death, reverting to it after initially switching to No. 45.
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Frequently asked questions
Michael Jordan made the number 23 iconic when he played for the Chicago Bulls. Jordan inspired a generation of players, including LeBron James, who initially wore the number 23 as a tribute to Jordan.
Jordan chose the number 23 because he wanted a fresh start after his father passed away. Jordan's father died two years before he started playing with the Chicago Bulls, and Jordan did not want to play in the last number his father saw him wear.
LeBron James wore the number 23 when he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he changed his number to 6 when he joined the Miami Heat because that was the number he wore during his Olympic appearances.
