Former NBA player Al Harrington has recalled a bold 2005 story involving LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and the iconic No. 23 jersey. Harrington shared the story during an appearance on the To The Baha podcast, where Raymond Felton and Hong were also present.

Harrington talked about what he says was James’ mindset early in his career. According to him, LeBron wanted to build a legacy that could go beyond Jordan’s connection with No. 23.  Harrington said James had this mindset while talking about his goals and Jordan’s legacy.

"When I'm done with number 23, they'll never remember that dude (Jordan)," James said in 2005, according to Harrington.

Harrington’s account on To The Baha Show on YouTube suggests that James wanted to build a legacy that would eventually overshadow Jordan’s association with No. 23.

Although the comment dates back to 2005, Harrington’s recent podcast appearance has brought the story back into the spotlight and offered a glimpse into James’ mindset early in his NBA career.

James wore No. 23 for most of his career. He wore it during both of his stints with Cleveland, with the Lakers, and now with Philadelphia.

His success while wearing No. 23 also makes the story more interesting. James won the 2016 championship with Cleveland and the 2020 title with the Lakers while wearing No. 23.

He won two more championships with Miami while wearing No. 6, in 2012 and 2013, according to the Basket News report.

James’ long-standing connection to Jordan also provides context for the comments he has made about the NBA legend in recent years.

While James has consistently distinguished his own playing style from Jordan’s, he has also expressed deep respect for his predecessor.

LeBron James continues to show respect for Michael Jordan

Earlier this year, James spoke to ESPN about the comparisons between him and Michael Jordan. He explained why he believes their playing styles are very different.

"I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different," James said. "I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of; he did. He looked for the shot.

"There are a lot of things where I would say my game is a lot different and a little better than his…… We're both great basketball players."

James made it clear that he sees their games as different, but he still respects Jordan as one of the greatest basketball players ever.

He also spoke about Jordan’s strengths: his midrange shooting, post game, hard work, and desire to win. He also remembered how much he studied Jordan while growing up.

James’ ESPN comments show that his respect for Jordan remains intact, even as he views their games and careers differently. Combined with Harrington’s recollection, those comments provide further context for the long-running conversation surrounding James, Jordan, and the legacy of No. 23.

Written by

Kapil Manghnani

Kapil Manghnani brings over 4.5 years of experience in sports journalism, covering a wide range of sports, including Soccer, NHL, Tennis, Gymnastics, NASCAR, Swimming, and more. He has written for leading sports platforms, producing everything from breaking news and features to in-depth analysis, opinion pieces, long-form stories, and short-form content. Beyond articles, he has also scripted long-form storytelling videos for YouTube channels. His work focuses on delivering well-researched, engaging, and reader-first sports content across multiple formats.

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Edited by

Rudra Dubey