Los Angeles Lakers – LeBron James, #23
Los Angeles Lakers controlling owner and team president Jeanie Buss has already announced that the team will retire James’ number once he retires.
LeBron James helped bring a championship to Los Angeles in 2020. That alone gets your number retired at Crypto.com Arena. He also passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time leading scorer in a Lakers uniform. Others may be considered but LeBron’s number 23 will be the next retired number in LA.
The Lakers only retire the numbers of champions. LeBron James fits the bill.
Other Players in Consideration: Michael Cooper, Anthony Davis, Derek Fisher
Memphis Grizzlies – Mike Conley, #11
Zach Randolph’s number 50 is lonely in the rafters at FedEx Forum. The number 11 worn by Mike Conley, Jr. may soon join them.
Conley played twelve seasons in Memphis from 2007-19. He is the team’s all-time leader in points, assists, steals, and games played. He was the floor general during the team’s best stretch that saw Memphis make the playoffs for seven seasons in a row.
Tony Allen’s #9 will eventually be retired by the Grizzlies. The team announced as much in 2021, however, Allen requested that his jersey retirement be postponed.
Other Players in Consideration: Rudy Gay, Marc Gasol, Ja Morant