LeBron James is a Self-Centered Bastard

Elgin Baylor begat Connie Hawkins begat Julius Erving begat Michael Jordan begat Kobe Bryant begat LeBron James.

Apparently The Chosen One forgot to read the first few chapters of NBA scripture.

“[Jordan] can’t get the logo, and if he can’t, something has to be done. 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.”

Note to LeBron: NBA history didn’t begin in 1984.

James’recent declaration that he had decided to change his number, and that the entire NBA should follow his shepherding and retire the number 23 – which comes at a time when he has decided that he is tired of answering 2010 free agency questions so he drummed up a diversion – is one of the most immature and arrogant things I’ve ever heard (err, “Witnessed”).

LeBron has said that he has decided to switch to number 6, his number with the US Olympic team. I can kinda see dropping 23 to honor Jordan, but there’s one problem with selecting number 6 as a replacement: it was the number of two of the greatest players in NBA history. Bill Russell, perhaps the greatest winner in the history of team sports wore it, as did Julius Erving, the league’s biggest star in the 70’s and a player whose silhouette would make an excellent logo - kick ass afro and all.

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way — soon," James said. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade, you name all the best players in the league right now and the last 10 years, there would be none of us without Michael Jordan."

There would be no Michael Jordan without Dr. J. There would be no NBA without Bill Russell. Donning number 6 is a slap in the face to these Hall of Fame greats – hell, if there were a NBA Mount Rushmore, Jordan would be joined by Russell and maybe Erving. You're not there yet LBJ.

To be fair, James has said that Dr. J is his second favorite player, and his first child was born on Oct. 6, but if you're going to use Jordan's greatness and impact as an excuse to have number 23 retired, then you can't ignore that Russell and Erving were just as important.

As far as a league-wide number retirement, it has only happened with two players: Wayne Gretzky and Jackie Robinson. Gretzky was such a massive icon in Canada and was SO far superior to any player that had come before him that even if they didn’t retire number 99 – already an unusual number and never worn by any player of note before Gretz – it is safe to assume that no player would ever choose it out of reverence.

Robinson’s number was retired, not only for his exploits on the diamond, but mainly for the sociological and historical impact that he had in breaking the color barrier in baseball and becoming a figurehead in African-American history. Robinson paved the way for Jordan and would turn over in his grave if anyone dared compare MJ to him. And Russell endured tremendous racism during his career in Boston, yet maintained his integrity and continued to deliver championships to the very city that treated him so poorly. Jordan went through nothing like these men. He got to remain a socially apathetic, vanilla corporation who never did anything to rock the boat of commerce for himself.

Check out the current list of players wearing number 23 in the NBA: Jason Richardson (Suns), OKC rookie Byron Mullins, Knicks rookie Toney Douglas, Kevin Martin (Sacramento), Stephen Graham (Charlotte), C.J. Watson (Golden State), Marcus Camby (Clippers), Jodie Meeks (Milwaukee), Devin Brown (New Orleans), Lou Williams (Philly), Martell Webster (Portland), and Wesley Matthews (Utah).

It’s quite obvious that, not only do NBA players not hold Jordan in the same stratosphere as NHL players hold Gretzky, but teams are more than willing to actually let virtual D-Leaguers wear Jordan’s old digits.

His Airness - who was actually in the crowd during the TNT-televised game where LeBron dropped his plan on an unsuspecting world - definitely took the game to a level it had never reached before, especially in terms of marketing and jersey sales, and it’s clear what James is trying to do here: sell more LeBron jerseys (remember the Global Icon quotes). He saw Kobe go from #3 in sales to #1 when he changed from number 8 to number 24. Right now, LeBron is ranked third – and if he does change teams next year AND has a new number, his jersey sales will explode.

The decision to change jersey numbers is a desperate move by a man who can see that the only title he can possibly win any time soon is The 2010 NBA Whore of the Year Trophy.

Update: It looks like LeBron's efforts are being slapped out to half-court Mutombo style:

Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who coached Jordan in Chicago, endorsed the idea, though noted it might be “a little step on the toes for a guy like Magic (Johnson) or (Larry) Bird.”

That seems to be one reason for disagreement with James’ plan. Charles Barkley said after James’ interview that Johnson and Bird “had a greater impact on the game than Michael Jordan.”