This archive report was first published on 13 July 2019.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has blocked his new teammate Anthony Davis' request to swap his number 23 jersey, citing Nike's refusal to approve the move.
According to multiple reports, the apparel and shoe maker would be stuck with tens of millions of dollars in James' number 23 jerseys, which were already in production.
ESPN and Yahoo Sports, citing unnamed sources, reported that the swap would be delayed due to production and financial issues for Nike.
James had wanted to give Davis the number 23 jersey, which he has worn throughout his NBA career, and return to his old number 6 jersey, which he used when he played for the Miami Heat.
However, the Lakers were told that the March 15 deadline for a number change had passed, and the league would have approved the request if the manufacturers had approved the switch.
As a result, James decided to postpone the move to avoid a distraction and respect those fans who had already purchased his number 23 Lakers jersey.
James would have until March 15, 2020, to put in a number change request for the 2020-21 campaign.
