Sport: Basketball Country: Global Category: Transactions

LeBron James wears No. 9 out of respect during Sixers practice

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 4, 2026, 6:42 AM

Last updated Oct 4, 2026

LeBron James wears No. 9 out of respect during Sixers practice

Summary

LeBron James participated in Philadelphia 76ers practice wearing No. 9 instead of his usual No. 6. The number 6 is retired in honor of Julius Erving, a franchise legend. James decided to avoid using it to show respect, while No. 9 has personal ties to his past. He will switch back to No. 23 for the regular season. The Sixers are set to begin their season against the New York Knicks on October 20.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•James wore No. 9 during Sixers training camp.
•No. 6 is retired in honor of Julius Erving.
•He plans to wear No. 23 when the season starts.
•James's training camp debut attracted around 10,000 fans.
•The Sixers' regular season begins on October 20 against the Knicks.

Latest Updates

6:42 AMYahoo Sports — The real reason why LeBron James didn’t wear No. 6 during Philadelphia 76ers practice

What they're saying

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LeBron James has been wearing No. 9 during Philadelphia 76ers practices for a very specific reason, and it has nothing to do with a change in his usual number.
— Yahoo Sports

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