LeBron James is changing his jersey number for next season with the Lakers

LeBron James will look to shake off the disappointment of the Lakers playoff exit by changing his jersey number for next year in Los Angeles.

LeBron James is reconnecting with his past, in a way.

The Lakers star will change his jersey number from No. 23 back to No. 6 for the 2021-22 season. Shams Charania and Tim Cato of The Athletic reported the news, though it may not be officially announced until after Space Jam: A New Legacy comes out in July.

LeBron James is switching back to the number he wore with the Heat

James started his basketball career wearing the No. 23. St. Vincent-St. Mary, where he went to high school and has that number retired.

When he was selected No. 1 overall by the Cavaliers in 2003, he stuck with the No. 23 during his first seven seasons.

His departure for Miami in 2010 became an opportunity to make a change. At the time, he said he wanted to honor Michael Jordan, the most iconic No. 23, by no longer wearing his number. He spoke about starting a petition to retire the No. 23 in the NBA entirely.

Since two times three equals six, James started wearing No. 6 with the Heat. While in that number, he won two NBA titles, so the jersey certainly suited him. However, he went back to his roots when he returned to Cleveland in 2014. The No. 23 remained as he landed with the Lakers in 2018.

Perhaps he’ll make another push to convince others not to wear the No. 23 in recognition of the NBA’s all-time great. Maybe there’s a tie-in to Space Jam, which is yet another link between Jordan and James in the film sphere. Maybe not. Either way, LeBron fans will need to start saving up for some new threads this summer.