LeBron James is gearing up for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, and the two-time Olympic gold medalist will not wear his iconic No. 23 jersey for the national team, but will instead switch to his iconic No. 6 jersey, as is a tradition for the U.S. team.
Why can't LeBron James wear the number 23 jersey for Team USA?
The answer lies not in some dramatic bickering, but in the rules. FIBA used to have smaller jersey numbers, ranging from 4 to 15, unlike the NBA, where players had jersey numbers ranging from 0 to 99. After 2018, FIBA updated its rules to allow players to wear jerseys from 0 to 99.
However, the U.S. team has maintained the tradition of wearing the number 4 to 15 jerseys, and this tradition will not be changed at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This restriction is the main reason why LeBron switched to wearing the number 6 at the Summer Olympics.
James, meanwhile, is no stranger to the No. 6 jersey, which LeBron wore during the 2010-14 season when he played for the Miami Heat, who won two NBA championships in South Beach. In addition, LeBron has competed internationally with Team USA in the past at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics and helped Team USA win gold medals.
Other notable NBA players who wore the number 6 jersey for Team USA before LeBron James
Before LeBron James, NBA legends wore the No. 6 jersey for Team USA. The most famous of these is one of his former teammates, Miami Heat icon Dwyane Wade, who wore the number 6 jersey at the 2004 Olympics, where the U.S. won a bronze medal.
At the 1956 Summer Olympics, the late great Bill Russell wore the number 6 jersey as part of the legendary lineup, along with other basketball icons such as K.C. Jones and Jim Walsh. They are the only team to have won four gold medals in a row.
Recent players to wear the number 6 jersey include DeAndre Jordan and Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Damian Lillard, who wore the number 6 jersey at the Rio Olympics and the FIBA World Championships, respectively.
NBA superstars such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant appear in a heartwarming video.
As Team USA prepares for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, basketball fans saw the camaraderie and respect between the players during a four-day training camp in Las Vegas.
The U.S. squad for Paris 2024 also includes Leonard, Anthony Davis, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Tyrese Halliburton, Bam Adebayo, Jright Holiday and Devin Booker.
Unlike previous lineups that lacked star power, this year's U.S. team includes true NBA superstars who had a poor performance at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, finishing only fourth, and they are determined to win basketball glory for the U.S. team.
Team USA is aiming for a fifth consecutive gold medal and continuing their winning streak on the Olympic stage.
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