National Basketball Association

Jackson likes LeBron's call to retire Jordan's 23

Published Nov. 14, 2009 5:36 a.m. ET

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The Los Angeles Lakers coach who won six titles with Jordan in Chicago compared the idea to the NHL's retirement of No. 99 to honor hockey great Wayne Gretzky in 2000.

Jackson said Jordan changed the NBA much as Gretzky did hockey.

Asked about the issue before his Los Angeles Lakers played the Denver Nuggets on Friday night, Jackson said the only potential pitfall he sees with retiring No. 23 league-wide is it might be "a little step on the toes for a guy like Magic (Johnson) or (Larry) Bird."