What is Bronny James' jersey number for Lakers? Looking at LeBron James' son's Purple & Gold official threads

Now that Bronny James is a member of the NBA and of the LA Lakers, some of his fans cannot wait to see him wearing the Purple & Gold. Aside from wanting to see him in his Lakers jersey, some fans might also be wondering what jersey number he will be wearing.

James has already decided on what number will be displayed on his jersey. The Lakers' announced through a post on X that the 55th overall pick of the 2024 NBA draft will be sporting the number nine.

During his brief time at USC, Bronny wore a number six jersey, much like his father, LeBron James, when he played with the Miami Heat. LeBron switched from 23 when he first left the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010.

The four-time NBA champion explained that the number six is significant to him because Bronny James was born on the sixth of October, while his other son Bryce was born in June, the sixth month of the year.

In high school, Bronny wore the number zero. However, this particular number is also unavailable since it is the number that the 2023 17th overall pick Jalen Hood-Schifino chose.

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Why can't Bronny James wear number 6?

By taking a glance at the LA Lakers roster, it is easy to see that no one is wearing the number six. Additionally, the organization has not retired the number. So why is Bronny James not allowed to wear it? To answer that question, fans need to look beyond the Lakers organization.

Bill Russell is one of the most decorated NBA legends to ever grace the hardwood. Among his accolades are a staggering 11 championships, five league MVPs and 12 All-Star selections. He did all these while wearing the number six for the Boston Celtics.

As such, no other Celtic can ever wear that number again. This is a standard practice for all franchises in the NBA. However, when he died in 2022, the league decided to retire the number across all 30 teams to honor the legacy that Russell left behind not only on the court but also due to his impact on the civil rights movement.

This decision meant that Bronny James, or any other player who'll enter the NBA moving forward, can no longer choose to wear this number whether they play for the Boston Celtics or not.