Anthony Davis Explains Why Nike Stopped LeBron James Jersey Swap

BYAlexander Cole6.5K Views
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LeBron James & Anthony Davis
AD was a little upset by the whole ordeal.

Anthony Davis and LeBron James are the new dynamic duo in the NBA and Lakers fans couldn't be more excited about what is in store for their team. The two players have been dying to play with one another and LeBron displayed his excitement by originally gifting AD the number 23. Both players have worn the same number throughout their careers and James wanted to make Davis feel comfortable on the team. LeBron had worn the number 6 in Miami so the plan was for him to go back to that same jersey. Unfortunately, Nike blocked this jersey swap and Davis had to take the number 3.

During a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, AD explained that Nike put an ax to the jersey swap because it wouldn't have made sense financially. 

"We don't care who you guys are, it's too much money," AD said when asked what Nike had told him and James. "I was a little hurt."

This proposed jersey swap is a missed opportunity for Nike as they completely blew up what would have been a beautiful PR opportunity for the Lakers. Either way, Lakers fans will be blessed with the presence of two of the best players in the NBA which will definitely be enough to make the season worthwhile.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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