Updated Nov. 24
LeBron James says he wants to pay tribute to Michael Jordan by switching over to Bill Russell's number.
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| Wilt Chamberlain's dominance sparked rules changes long before Michael Jordan ever laced up his high-tops. (Getty Images) |
Forget what it says on the back, it sounds to me like LeBron is looking for an excuse to print a new name on the front of his uniform next season.
I'm not here to tell anyone where to play. But when it comes to Jackie Robinson-type tributes, let's get something straight:
Major League Baseball didn't retire Robinson's No. 42 because he was the greatest player of all time. It was done to honor the impact he had on the sport -- and sports in general.
If LeBron wants to say Jordan is the MVP of NBA history, he's welcome to do so. But when it comes to changing the game ... please.
No one stands taller than Wilt Chamberlain.
The Dipper was so dominant in his day, rules had to be changed to allow even Russell to be competitive.
Some would say they were good changes -- instituting offensive goaltending and widening the key, for example. Others would argue making Chamberlain stand farther from the basket is akin to permitting a guard only two dribbles per possession.
The point is: Basketball doesn't have to go to the latter extreme, because LeBron can be stopped. Chamberlain couldn't.
Everyone knows about his 100-point game, but here's the true testimony to Chamberlain's dominance: Playing in an era of great centers, he still averaged almost 23 rebounds per game over the course of his career.
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That's more than double the number that's getting some of today's big men into the Hall of Fame.
Imagine if Jordan scored twice as many points as the other top players. That would have meant averaging more than 50 a night.
And if Magic Johnson had twice as many assists as other elite ball-handlers. We're talking 20 a game.
Neither -- and in fact nobody -- has come close to such unimaginable figures.
You want to retire a number? Tell Steve Nash, Tyreke Evans and about a dozen other NBAers who wear Wilt's No. 13 to show some respect and try something new next season.
I got an idea: Switch over to No. 23. You know, the guy who has the league changing rules -- allowing his two-step to the hoop this year -- to help him dominate games, rather than bringing him back to the pack.
As a tribute to Chamberlain (OK, and the fact that Pau Gasol's return makes them the best team in the league), I have moved the Lakers -- one of three teams to have retired the No. 13 jersey -- to the top of this week's CBSSports.com NBA Power Rankings.
| Power Rankings | ||||||||||
| Current | Team | Previous | ||||||||
 | 1 | Cavaliers · Trends | 1 | |||||||
| LeBron scores 24 straight; Knicks conclude, Maybe we should sign this guy. ... Must-see TV: Cavs face Magic, Nuggets, Celtics over the next three Thursdays. | ||||||||||
 | 2 | Lakers · Trends | 2 | |||||||
| Lakers beat Spurs at own game: stars rest in home triumph. ... Bryant might sit out All-Star Game; you don't believe that, do you? | ||||||||||
 | 3 | Jazz · Trends | 5 | |||||||
| Most impressive aspect of eight-game streak: Six quality wins. ... Like old days: Andrei Kirilenko shoots 16 for 20 in victories over Blazers, Nuggets. | ||||||||||
 | 4 | Nuggets · Trends | 3 | |||||||
| Chauncey Billups added to All-Stars; now he's in 3-Point Shootout, too. ... Coming off Suns-Lakers-Jazz (two losses), club goes Mavericks-Spurs-Celtics. | ||||||||||
 | 5 | Magic · Trends | 6 | |||||||
| Fully amazing: Vince Carter explodes for 48 vs. Hornets. ... Something wrong with this picture: Two wins over Celtics since Jan. 28, two losses to Wizards since Jan. 8. | ||||||||||
 | 6 | Hawks · Trends | 4 | |||||||
| Still not an All-Star? Josh Smith records triple-double vs. Bulls. ... Loss at Oklahoma City continues road blues: Just two victories outside Atlanta since December. | ||||||||||
 | 7 | Celtics · Trends | 7 | |||||||
| No time to rest: Paul Pierce hurting, but All-Star Game beckons. ... Trouble with the big boys: Last four losses to Magic (twice), Hawks, Lakers. | ||||||||||
 | 8 | Thunder · Trends | 11 | |||||||
| Interesting debate: Who's better pure scorer, Kevin Durant or Carmelo Anthony? ... Stealing the show: Russell Westbrook-Thabo Sefolosha might be league's best defensive backcourt. | ||||||||||
 | 9 | Suns · Trends | 15 | |||||||
| Trade talks heating up: Club hotly pursuing 76ers swingman Andre Iguodala. ... Why make deal? Team wins four straight on road as Amar'e Stoudemire averages 27.8. | ||||||||||
 | 10 | Raptors · Trends | 9 | |||||||
| Darn those home-and-homes: Streak ends at Indiana, but Toronto's climb up the standings continues nonetheless. ... Rumors now have Chris Bosh and LeBron teaming, but where? | ||||||||||
 | 11 | Mavericks · Trends | 8 | |||||||
| No sixth man: Club doesn't respond to brief Dirk Nowitzki benching, loses to Timberwolves. ... Mark Cuban's big worry: Will Kobe be OK for Texas-sized Valentine's Day party? | ||||||||||
 | 12 | Trail Blazers · Trends | 12 | |||||||
| Team comes first: Brandon Roy elects to rest hamstring rather than play in All-Star Game. ... Club struggling in tough stretch; four of next five are rough, too. | ||||||||||
 | 13 | Rockets · Trends | 17 | |||||||
| Biggest win of year: Road rout of Memphis pushes club upward in Western playoff chase. ... High-scoring Aaron Brooks sending message: Consider me as All-Star replacement. | ||||||||||
 | 14 | Bulls · Trends | 10 | |||||||
| Go figure: Hot club turns cold, loses to Clippers, 76ers, Hawks. ... On sale: Asking price on Tyrus Thomas goes down after backup rips his coach. | ||||||||||
 | 15 | Spurs · Trends | 13 | |||||||
| Club can't hang with Kobe-less Lakers in L.A.. ... New look doesn't suit: Usually resilient team just 5-8 since Jan. 15. | ||||||||||
 | 16 | Bobcats · Trends | 14 | |||||||
| Bring back the East: Club falls below .500 following losses to Blazers, Lakers, Hornets. ... Time to turn things around: Wizards, Timberwolves, Nets, Clippers by month's end. | ||||||||||
 | 17 | Grizzlies · Trends | 16 | |||||||
| Dropping five of six plummets playoff hopeful to 10th in West. ... Oh for a transfer: Winning club would have sixth-best record in East. | ||||||||||
 | 18 | Bucks · Trends | 19 | |||||||
| Taking care of business: Club gains in playoff race with wins over Knicks, Pacers. ... Next stop, .500. Rematches with Knicks, Pacers loom; two with Pistons upcoming, too. | ||||||||||
 | 19 | 76ers · Trends | 21 | |||||||
| Club playing best ball of season, and 19-31 isn't out of sight in Eastern playoff race. ... Out of nowhere: Thaddeus Young shoots 15 for 19 and averages 18 points in wins over Hornets, Rockets. | ||||||||||
 | 20 | Hornets · Trends | 18 | |||||||
| Reality setting in: Club is 1-4 in February in Chris Paul's absence. ... No rest for the weary: Still to come this month are the Celtics, Jazz, Cavaliers, Magic, Mavericks. | ||||||||||
 | 21 | Heat · Trends | 20 | |||||||
| Buyer or seller? Slumping club must decide as trade deadline approaches. ... Good teammate: 13-assist game at Boston helps Dwyane Wade crack league's top 10. | ||||||||||
 | 22 | Wizards · Trends | 23 | |||||||
| Showcase game: Potential trade partners have eye on Caron Butler after he scorches Magic for 31 in win. ... Hot team turns cold: Rare snow-out pushes Atlanta game to March. | ||||||||||
 | 23 | Pacers · Trends | 25 | |||||||
| Playing like All-Star: Danny Granger averages 24 in wins over Raptors, Pistons. ... Little man sighting: T.J. Ford shoots 13 for 18 in first two outings after 18-game benching. | ||||||||||
 | 24 | Clippers · Trends | 22 | |||||||
| Club strips Mike Dunleavy of coaching duties; rumor has it team would like Isiah Thomas to replace him as GM, too. ... New coach vows to run, then club scores 81 vs. Spurs. | ||||||||||
 | 25 | Knicks · Trends | 26 | |||||||
| Hardware shopping: Club positioning hot-shooting Nate Robinson for run at Sixth Man Award. ... Last quality win: New Year's Day vs. Hawks. | ||||||||||
 | 26 | Pistons · Trends | 28 | |||||||
| Thank goodness for Nets: Detroit has two wins vs. New Jersey, four vs. rest of league since Dec. 12. ... No regular Joe: Jonas Jerebko has 15 double-figure games since Dec. 4. | ||||||||||
 | 27 | Timberwolves · Trends | 29 | |||||||
| Now that's improvement: Nine-win club on Jan. 27 has now won four in a row. ... GM so excited about recent play, vows no big deals at upcoming deadline. | ||||||||||
 | 28 | Kings · Trends | 24 | |||||||
| Straight flushed: Club has three-, four-, five-, six- and seven-game losing streaks this season. ... Kevin Martin pours in 22 or more in four of six; Kings hope scouts have been watching. | ||||||||||
 | 29 | Warriors · Trends | 27 | |||||||
| That really hurts: Snakebit club loses Corey Maggette to dislocated thumb, Monta Ellis to sprained knee. ... Head-scratcher: Team waives Speedy Claxton and valuable expiring contract. | ||||||||||
 | 30 | Nets · Trends | 30 | |||||||
| Taking pride in defeat: No double-figure losses since Jan. 23. ... Circle the calendar: Club hosts Wizards on Feb. 28; could be game that prevents 0-for-February run. | ||||||||||
