LeBron’s Numerical Metamorphosis

Not too much has been made about Lebron James’ intentions to switch jersey numbers next season from 23 to 6, so, as this is the inaugural edition of (dare I say) provocative ruminations, it is my intention to make something of it. First, a full-disclosure: McFly is unabashedly a New York Knickerbockers fan. This summer will the biggest free-agency off-season in the history of the ‘Association and I am pleading with the basketball deities to send the Knicks their savior. With this in mind, I try not to ruffle the robes of the venerable King James. Furthermore, I admire him. I admire his game. I admire his story. I admire his attitude. I admire the way he handles himself. I’m rooting for him to win a championship in Cleveland and then sign with New York (not Brooklyn!) However, I begin this bloggery with some criticism…

Anybody logged on to a kicks-centric website overstands the significance of #23. Certainly Lebron himself has long-known that donning the vienti-tres and tattooing “the chosen one” across his back comes with a specific set of expectations. And, it is here the contention of McFly that James, above all pundits and prognosticators, is supremely conscious of his own legacy. As a student of the game and (arguably) the sports’ most prominent ambassador, this numerical metamorphosis is worth a closer look. On the surface, switching from 23 to 6 is not a big deal, just as Kobe’s shift from 8 to 24 was not much more than a shrug of the shoulders. (Although if Jeezy is “paying Lebron” next year, Jiggaman may have some competition. But that’s whole other story…) Sure, he’ll sell more jerseys next year but what bothers me about Lebron’s move is that he has flown way out of his lane (with no regard for human life!) and pushed for #23 to be retired throughout the NBA. (C’mon Bron, what would Toney Douglas or Jason Richardson wear?) In his mind, this would be the way to honor the uber-accomplishments of the one-and-only Michael Jeffrey Jordan. Lebron’s quote: “If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan…” I’m with you there. “…You see game-winning shots, you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan…” Okay. True. “You see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan…” Touche. “…He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame.” Now you’re losing me. “There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn’t Michael Jordan first.” Alright, pump the breaks. What do you mean,’there would be no You, Wade or Kobe?’ Nobody else inspired any of y’all to play basketball, or strive for greatness, or win multiple championships, or franchise their own logo as a mega-brand offshoot of Nike—? Wait a second. I think we are on to something with that last one…

When Major League Baseball retired #42 in honor of the immortal Jackie Robinson, it wasn’t because he was the greatest ever. He’s not even in that conversation. But, he broke the damn color barrier, which advanced not just baseball or sports or civil rights or society, but the world over. As great as Jordan was on the court (and I’m speaking to you directly here Lebron), the only significant road he paved was for elite athletes like you to be able to create their own brand of product. He opened up the market. Beyond the hardwood, the shoe deal was perhaps Jordan’s greatest achievement. After MJ, Shaq got his own logo. Iverson got his own logo. Kobe got his logo (although nobody knows what it is.) Tiger Woods got his logo. D-Wade got his logo. Lebron got his logo. Melo got his… no actually, Melo got the Jumpman but anyway, you get the point… Jordan was only a pioneer in that respect. Jackie Robinson, Muhammed Ali, Curt Flood et. al. paved the road for Jordan and his contemporaries by being fearlessly vocal about specific issues. Yet throughout his career, as the most recognizable athlete across the globe, Jordan was notably mute on issues. For example, as he built his brand, he was silent on child labor laws in China and Thailand where the most of his products baring his logo were manufactured. He was better known for his compulsive gambling, his surly, selfish, relentlessly competitive attitude and an ill-advised stint in minor league baseball at the peak of his NBA career, which he brilliantly turned into gold with a #45 campaign that continues to this day. (The Opening Day Pack in 2008 was dope.) His basketball legacy in a nutshell is impeccable, but his overall accomplishments as a human being are not worthy of sport-wide jersey retirement. Period. And as a student of basketball, Lebron should recognize this. I’m not disparaging Jordan’s legacy in any way. He is, hands down, the greatest basketball player of all time. End of discussion. (Yes, he torched the Knicks for nearly an entire decade and singlehandedly prevented Patrick Ewing’s chances at multiple rings. But I’m not too bitter to be objective. And yes, Ewing had his own logo and a discount sneaker line. I know this because I owned a few pairs. They were hideous.) I certainly appreciate the significance of Jordan’s business legacy as well. The Jumpman logo is iconic. It’s transcendent in athletic fashion, rap culture, sneaker culture and the now the history of basketball, but the #23 needs to continue on…

This brings me to my next point. Lebron is switching to his Olympic jersey #6. This is an interesting choice for somebody lobbying to retire his previous number. One could make a compelling case that 6, and not 23, could be retired, although McFly is generally against sport-wide number retirements unless the achievements of the individual expand well beyond their sport. The number 6 was worn by some monumental figures. Let’s start with Dr. J. I’m not going to get into stats in this rant, but most basketball historians will tell you that Julius Erving revolutionized the modern game, and directly influenced Michael Jordan. The spectacular, high-flying, double-clutching, around the backboard moves that Jordan perfected in the 80’s and 90’s, were first mastered by Dr. J a decade earlier. In a sense, Jordan’s marketability (read: logo) was also influenced by Erving and his athletic finesse. Then we can get into Bill Russell, who won back-to-back NCAA championships with the University of San Francisco, a Gold Medal in 1956 and 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics (2 as a player/coach), all while wearing the number 6. Russell, like Jordan, won 5 MVPs and if there were to be a discussion about the greatest ever, his name would be mentioned at the top. But beyond basketball, Russell was a civil rights advocate. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King. He was vocal about racial issues and pay disparities. It could be argued that his impact on the game of basketball rivals that of Michael.

Look, I get what Lebron is trying to do and I realize the #6 is not transcendent or even necessarily associated with Russell or Erving. I understand that any basketball player on any level wearing #23 is bold, because of it’s association with Mike. (Even Jordan’s sons did not want those associations.) But sport-wide retirement is a slippery slope and I would have preferred if Lebron just made the switch as an homage and left it at that. (Or perhaps he is weary of the expectations of 23.)

For all you tea-leaf readers who are searching for a window into free-agency this summer, I offer you this: Number 6 is available with the New York Knicks.

Stay tuned…

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