Key keywords: LeBron James, Philadelphia 76ers, No. 23 jersey, 2024 NBA free agency, Tyrese Maxey, 76ers 2024-25 season, NBA jersey pre-order sales, Daryl Morey, Joel Embiid The Philadelphia 76ers officially announced on Monday that newly acquired superstar forward LeBron James will retain his iconic No. 23 jersey number for the 2024-25 NBA season and the full duration of his two-year, $98 million contract with the franchise, ending weeks of widespread speculation among fans and media over whether he would switch to his alternate career number No. 6, or select an entirely new digit to mark his move to Philadelphia. James has worn No. 23 for the vast majority of his 21-year NBA career, including his first two stints with the Cleveland Cavaliers, his entire tenure with the Los Angeles Lakers, and his final 2023-24 season with the Cavaliers before entering unrestricted free agency this summer. The number was most recently worn by 76ers rising star guard Tyrese Maxey, who agreed to switch to No. 0 ahead of the upcoming season as a gesture of respect for the 4-time NBA champion and 4-time league MVP, per anonymous league sources close to the team. In a public statement released alongside the team’s announcement, James noted that the No. 23 has been synonymous with his identity both on and off the court for decades, as a tribute to his childhood idol Michael Jordan, who popularized the number across global basketball circles. "I’ve worn 23 for almost my entire life, it’s more than just a number to me—it represents the grind, the sacrifices, and the legacy I’m trying to build for the next generation of players," James said. "I’m incredibly grateful to Tyrese for being so gracious about letting me keep the number, and I can’t wait to get on the court with him, Joel [Embiid], and the rest of the guys to bring a championship to this city that’s waited so long for it." 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey called the number confirmation a small but meaningful milestone for the franchise as it gears up for a legitimate title run. "LeBron is one of the greatest players to ever step foot on an NBA court, and having him wear his iconic No. 23 here in Philadelphia feels like we’re officially starting this new era of Sixers basketball on the right foot," Morey said. "We’ve put together a roster that can compete at the highest level immediately, and this announcement is just the first of many exciting updates we have for our fans this offseason." James’ decision to stick with No. 23 also marks the first time in 76ers franchise history that a player of his caliber has worn the number, with past wearers limited to role players and short-term signees over the past three decades. The team has already launched pre-orders for James’ No. 23 76ers jersey on its official online store, with early sales data showing that it has already become the top-selling NBA jersey across all platforms in the first 12 hours after the announcement, beating out previous pre-order records set by Victor Wembanyama in 2023 and Stephen Curry in 2022. League analysts note that the jersey number confirmation also eliminates a potential distraction for the 76ers ahead of training camp, which is scheduled to begin in late September, allowing the team to focus entirely on building chemistry and preparing for their season opener against the Boston Celtics on October 22.