NBA Fans were sent into instant debate mode after a post claimed the league was considering retiring jersey No. 23 in honor of LeBron James.
@Hoopss shared the claim, writing, “There is speculation that the NBA is planning to retire the number 23 league-wide in honor of Lebron James. If so, no one will be able to wear the number 23 in the future after LeBron James.”
There is speculation that the NBA is planning to retire the number 23 league-wide in honor of Lebron James If so, no one will be able to wear the number 23 in the future after LeBron James. pic.twitter.com/gO2cpwd8zY
— Hoops (@Hoopss) January 13, 2026
The wording alone was enough to light up timelines.
NBA Fans immediately pushed back, many of them tying the number directly to Michael Jordan.
@AGCypher replied, “This is disgraceful and disgusting if true… There is only ONE 23 & it’s MJ.” That reaction quickly became one of the most quoted lines under the post.
Another reply followed the same direction.
@randrewcworth wrote, “It’s not even a question that it should only be retired for the one and only goat [goat emoji],” posting it alongside a clip of Jordan’s famous rock-the-cradle dunk.
As the rumor spread, NBA Fans filled the thread with highlights, photos, and career comparisons. Some asked where the speculation even came from. Others said it felt like clear rage-bait.
Within minutes, NBA Fans were treating the post less like news and more like a spark for another Jordan-LeBron argument. Screenshots of the graphic were reposted with new captions. Old clips resurfaced. The number 23 itself became the center of the conversation.
Several NBA Fans pointed out that no official report backed the claim. Still, that didn’t slow the reactions.
What stood out was how quickly NBA Fans leaned into emotion. The replies were less about league policy and more about legacy.
For many NBA Fans, the idea of a league-wide retirement of 23 wasn’t just about LeBron. It reopened the long-running debate over what that number represents.
By the end of the day, NBA Fans had turned one unverified post into another full-scale timeline war between eras.
NBA Fans Turn Fake Jersey Rumor Into Another LeBron Debate About Ratings And Legacy
The jersey rumor didn’t stay isolated for long. It quickly fed into a broader wave of criticism and debate already circulating among NBA Fans.
@Hero_OfThe_Day posted another thread that same day, writing, “Many are telling me LeBron James should be BLAMED for turning Americans away from the NBA. One even called him the ‘Father of modern day Flopping’ [face with tears of joy emoji].” The post ended with, “SETTLE THE DEBATE— Is Lebron MOST responsible for the decline in NBA popularity?? [fire emoji].”
LOOK at this!! 👀🗣️🗣️
Many are telling me LeBron James should be BLAMED for turning Americans away from the NBA. One even called him the ‘Father of modern day Flopping’ 😂😂
SETTLE THE DEBATE— Is Lebron MOST responsible for the decline in NBA popularity?? 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/KfzsCs8TbP
— HeroOfTheDay (@Hero_OfThe_Day) January 10, 2026
NBA Fans flooded that thread almost immediately.
@Drodgoat1091 replied, “A 6’9 260+ adult male who’s built like a brick shithouse shouldn’t be flopping like a fish out of water the way leflop does… It’s an embarrassment to the league and just shows why he never ever should be in the goat debate.”
Another user focused on a different part of LeBron’s career.
@durkee1650 wrote, “NBA started losing viewership right around the time lebron started super team hopping. Player empowerment has made people sour from watching. Less competitiveness and hardly any adversity during that time.”
As those replies spread, NBA Fans framed the conversation around nostalgia, style of play, and how they believe the league’s image has changed.
Many NBA Fans referenced Jordan’s era, saying it pulled the league upward during a low point. Others argued that the modern game feels different and less appealing to them.
Some NBA Fans defended LeBron. Many criticized him. Most tied their views back to what they think the league should look like.
By the end of the thread, NBA Fans had once again turned a rumor into a referendum on popularity, history, and identity.
Different posts. Same result.
Another long debate where NBA Fans used LeBron as the center point for how they feel about the NBA itself.
