LeBron James: Why He Wore No. 9 During 76ers Training Camp
- LeBron James enters his 24th NBA season in 2026/27 with the Philadelphia 76ers after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, sparking immediate curiosity by wearing the number 9 jersey...
- During the Philadelphia 76ers opening week of practice, James took the floor wearing number 9 in a game-type atmosphere, turning heads among observers present at the training session.
- Specialized journalist Jake Fischer reported that the number 9 jersey is strictly temporary and will not be worn during regular season games.
LeBron James enters his 24th NBA season in 2026/27 with the Philadelphia 76ers after leaving the Los Angeles Lakers, sparking immediate curiosity by wearing the number 9 jersey during his first practice session. James wore the number 9 during a game-type practice after media day, deviating from his career-long choices of 23 and 6.
LeBron James wears number 9 in Philadelphia practice
During the Philadelphia 76ers opening week of practice, James took the floor wearing number 9 in a game-type atmosphere, turning heads among observers present at the training session. The choice surprised fans because James had been officially presented at media day wearing his traditional number 23, which he previously wore with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers.
Respecting Julius Erving keeps number 6 off limits
Specialized journalist Jake Fischer reported that the number 9 jersey is strictly temporary and will not be worn during regular season games. Fischer noted that James routinely uses number 6 in practice to honor the number he wears with the United States national team in the Olympic Games and the number he previously used with the Miami Heat. Upon joining the 76ers, James chose to respect franchise tradition by avoiding that number even in summer workouts because Hall of Famer Julius Erving wore number 6 for Philadelphia, which the team has retired.
Return to number 23 for the upcoming season
LeBron James confirmed that the number 9 will only appear during training sessions. When the 2026/27 regular season tips off, James will return to his familiar number 23 to play his games for the Philadelphia 76ers. The 22-time All-Star, four-time NBA MVP, four-time NBA Finals MVP, and all-time leading scorer signed with the Sixers during the offseason after spending the past eight seasons with the Lakers, aiming to chase his fifth career championship and bring the franchise its first title since 1983.