LeBron James is changing his number from No. 23 out of respect for a man many consider the best player in NBA history.  The only funny thing is that he is changing it to No. 6, a number worn by another man many consider the best player in NBA history. Though Bill Russell played a long time ago, he won so many titles that the NBA just changed the name of the Finals MVP trophy to the Bill Russell Finals MVP award.  Michael Jordan would have had to double his number of championships in order to surpass the original Lord of the Rings.

Honestly speaking, I couldn't care less about what number anyone wears.  I think the idea of a league-wide moratorium on any number is silly.  Besides, it's really more about marketing than anything else as No. 6 jerseys will fly off the shelves next year the way that No. 24 stormed the market a couple of years ago.  Heck, my favorite player growing up wore No. 6, and I don't think Dr. J was disrespecting Russell with his choice any more than LeBron wearing the number would.  But I did think it was funny that LeBron expressly stated that he was going to petition everyone in the NBA to not wear number 23 because of Jordan's greatness...only to switch to the number of one of the very few others in NBA history who even Jordan would admit is on his level.  In fact, I'll let Jordan say it for himself:

"Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell, all those guys should have their jerseys retired, too," Jordan said. "I understand his gesture, but I am in the same group as those guys so I wouldn't want to see my jersey retired unless you retire those guys."

Just seemed ironic and struck my funny bone when I saw it.