James to give up 23 jersey to honor Jordan

MIAMI (Reuters) - LeBron James is ready to give up the number 23 jersey out of respect to Michael Jordan and is urging others in the NBA to do the same.

Jordan, who wore 23 while accumulating six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, watched the Cleveland forward score 34 points in a 111-104 win over the Miami Heat Thursday.

James said in an interview with the Cleveland Plain Dealer he was willing to give up the number and will try to encourage others to do likewise.

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James told the newspaper. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn't Michael Jordan first.

"I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it.

"Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

Jordan, who retired in 2003, is widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all-time and is credited with spreading the league's popularity globally.

"If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan," James said.

"You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan; you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan.

"He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame."

James suggested that he would switch to the number six jersey that he wore at the Beijing Olympic Games.

"My second-favorite player was Julius Erving, and he wore number six," James said.

"I wore 32 in high school because Dr. J wore it at first. My first child was born on October 6, it's my Olympic number, my second child was born in June."

(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Greg Stutchbury; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)