LeBron James Returns to Number 23 to Honor Bill Russell

[{"selector":"#anim-9fd8e524-974a-447a-96e5-1980d3916242 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-15.755208125537271%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-07fb1ec0-3b19-43ba-9e05-2743dc1c845d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a07cfc4b-d7a4-4c9c-8f36-cf396f46c971","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4368776b-a26f-45f0-b46f-21938fa9a3ed","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-76376ea4-fb6b-4696-a68f-2d8f34745d4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1c726dcf-04a7-484e-b6d3-fac5b32f719a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot NBA superstar LeBron James will switch back to jersey number 23 for the Los Angeles Lakers' upcoming season, according to the team. Image : Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-c9560454-b9aa-40b1-8499-eb904de82340 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.246527629230126%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e8d3e94-146d-4620-bba3-2ab89a50cf13","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68901fa7-c60b-49c2-b00b-cf46e30e693c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acbc9187-ccfb-41dc-a2dd-d95d6d38bbd1","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e57902f-1c0a-46dc-9abc-01363a870eb2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab90dc57-b3b5-4893-bd07-940d765354b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot James, who has worn the No. 23 jersey in 14 of his 20 seasons in the NBA, has sported the No. 6 jersey the previous two seasons with the Lakers. Image : Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-15637830-5bb8-46dc-9671-f4830254979f [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.708333137388742%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-14ebe4ed-2b01-4278-bbc6-8e75387cb438","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc011437-eb68-4040-83c8-690d0d80fa41","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99db199e-fe66-47dc-a1b2-f4c0822510bb","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c2264f7-31e8-4cb9-8733-789694518441","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-44d5f4fd-6a81-4669-92f6-c54bb47e22b6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot Klutch Sports Group CEO Rich Paul and James' longtime friend told ESPN's Dave McMenamin that it was LeBron's decision. Image : Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-ab725ad5-53dc-41db-925f-8b1ef691a196 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-16.666666464401285%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e9ab1bd-aaad-47fb-ac10-6af63159ebfe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2602cc66-dbd6-46bb-9e6e-ab7cf1920166","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-700e0dec-7ab7-4174-af9c-725b1a809640","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-738f0943-c545-44f0-b2bd-78fec93fcfab","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3786ca57-8c59-489f-8f10-a798cdc5bacf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot It's LeBron's decision," said Paul and James' longtime friend. "He chose to out of respect for Bill Russell. Image : Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-8e075e90-1c61-4080-8a5a-b83b67f316fc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-23.537326242732675%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b59248d6-a44f-4903-a1d6-060dd4e16818","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0e342cb-0810-4f9f-bfc8-ed4e6723527c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a24bf748-67b5-4e47-9b7a-e31844bab5bf","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a5f76e1-531d-4603-bc7f-46d7f98225c9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-804bb277-fbea-49d9-a8a8-0dbc19f9d13b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot Russell, an 11-time champion with the Boston Celtics and five-time NBA MVP, died on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. Image : Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-e9b56d05-fc97-42b9-9ed8-4e140acc01fe [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.510233779692634%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-213e6065-a690-4029-9004-27676fdcb2e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eea74ff8-d4cd-4bae-9b04-0e41e40cd8a1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9c62b8cb-9710-4a6d-9fff-df39654708b1","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d2527fe-923f-4abf-8461-35447843f5da","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-beff5b81-3827-4135-93dc-0847665f2198","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced that the Hall of Famer's No. 6 Image : Instagram

[{"selector":"#anim-1db3d625-a2a8-4470-82cf-f85deaf77431 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-17.708333137388742%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fad90121-e739-4dcc-a4df-c19b42914d3b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ceaadb8-0a97-4880-b043-722047e1753f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-163.26531%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d19e3e6-0ec4-4564-b503-1f72e169a67a","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-540deg) scale(0.1)","none"],"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"fill":"both","iterations":1}] [{"selector":"#anim-826a2ccf-47e0-4d05-9ca0-39086fd8911d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3357c51a-6fb2-43a3-9e3c-cc9c5095da24","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(114.60318%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dot No. 6 would be retired league-wide, but players who sported the number at the time would be allowed to continue to wear it. Image : Instagram

Messi's first game in the US cost up to $110,000 a ticket.

[{"selector":"#anim-c9641713-3fee-4746-90a5-4b5192c56837 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.514648210040342%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8090dac2-6e8c-43ba-8d2e-ccc702cdc506","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98c99d6c-0264-4245-b0da-5cc3167a72e3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.14196%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fe15e099-3847-4af6-b5b9-39ae484cc2c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-528981ad-8507-4a25-9d16-e3bd533139dc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(145.60000%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5acadd76-b2e1-40b7-ae97-478753df7bb3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-766eda49-471d-48cd-8da5-2040fa779528","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -188.20868%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Swipe Up