Power Rankings: LeBron should subtract 10 from retired-number suggestion

Updated Nov. 24

LeBron James says he wants to pay tribute to Michael Jordan by switching over to Bill Russell's number.

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.

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	Spurs · Trends	1
	Can you win an NBA title with an offense-first team? That's what Popovich is trying to do this season. And he may have a better shot than the Seven-Seconds-or-Less Suns. It would not be celebrated as such, but it would be an incredible accomplishment.
	2	Bulls · Trends	2
	The most consistent team in the league for two years running. Tom Thibodeau is the Dr. Doom of the NBA.
	3	Heat · Trends	3
	To live up to expectations, the Heat have to make such a huge jump, they need rocket fuel to get it done.
	4	Thunder · Trends	5
	The Thunder have had nothing but upside and positive feelings the past two years as they climbed into contention. They're facing their first bout of serious adversity. How they handle it determines whether this team has championship mettle.
	5	Pacers · Trends	9
	You know how hippos are made out to be sweet and silly, like big cows, but are actually extremely dangerous and can kill you with stunning brutality? The Pacers are the NBA's hippos.
	6	Lakers · Trends	6
	The Lakers winning the Pacific again would be like the Kansas Jayhawks winning their conference. They have a closet where they just toss the trophies on top of the pile. Looks like Scrooge McDuck's gold.
	7	Clippers · Trends	7
	Uh, anyone else notice that despite all the questions (defense, coaching, shooters, coaching, cohesiveness, coaching), the Clippers are really pretty good?
	8	Celtics · Trends	4
	One more ride, old-timers. One more ride.
	9	Hawks · Trends	11
	Boston and Atlanta began their playoff runs with their cores pitted against one another. It's possible they'll end them as well.
	10	Knicks · Trends	12
	The grind-it-out style of the playoffs means having Carmelo Anthony's super-ISO offense is a whole different thing.
	11	Grizzlies · Trends	8
	The Grizzlies are on the worst-looking five-game winning streak ever.
	12	Nuggets · Trends	10
	Oh, look, Denver, you found your offense under the porch! Good job! Maybe that'll teach you not to be so cavalier with it.
	13	Jazz · Trends	16
	The Jazz hope the first round's title will be "Hidden Tiger, Crouching Millsap."
	14	Mavericks · Trends	17
	I've decided the Mavericks' 2012 season is "Cabin in the Woods." It looks like your standard horror show, but there's so much more going on.
	15	Suns · Trends	13
	If this were Steve Nash's last legitimate playoff run ... #slowclap
	16	76ers · Trends	19
	"Mr. and Mrs. Sixers fans? Hi. Yes, I'm Dr. Easy Schedule. Your team is stable. It's resting comfortably. It was touch-and-go for a while, but we managed to repair the playoff eligibility. It's going to make it. ... You don't look happy?"
	17	Rockets · Trends	15
	Oh, look. The late lottery. There's a new area for the Rockets to explore. #stare
	18	Magic · Trends	14
	The Orlando Magic: The walking, talking reason for the league to enact a "you can trade your playoff spot for a lottery pick" rule.
	19	Bucks · Trends	18
	A pivotal offseason for the Bucks is set to begin. It's extremely unlikely, but imagine if this team lands a top-three pick.
	20	Timberwolves · Trends	22
	To the tune of "Total Eclipse of the Heart:" "Ru-bi-o, every now and then I get a little bit lonely and your leg still isn't healed. Ru-bi-o, every now and then I get a little bit tired of Beasley getting killed on defense ..."
	21	Trail Blazers · Trends	21
	The Blazers were 12-9 on Feb. 1. This completes today's lesson in "How quickly things can go to hell in a handcart."
	22	Kings · Trends	23
	The Kings can look back and point to legitimate growth. But the next steps are even more important. The leap from "promising young talent" to "team that doesn't make you want to gouge your eye out with a lobster fork" is a difficult process.
	23	Hornets · Trends	20
	Monty Williams and Dell Demps need to go bowling, get drunk and forget this year ever happened. Unfortunately, it's New Orleans, so finding alcohol could be a problem.
	24	Pistons · Trends	24
	Well, a young, inexperienced team like that is going to have ... what's that? Tayshaun Prince is how old? Oh, never mind, they're just bad.
	25	Raptors · Trends	25
	Dwane Casey can look back and say he changed the culture. The talent comes next, then the winning. The future is bright in Toronto.
	26	Nets · Trends	26
	I'm sure New Jersey is all choked up over losing the Nets. At least they're used to that when it comes to the Nets -- losing, that is.
	27	Cavaliers · Trends	27
	It had to get worse before it gets better. They've got their next franchise guy. Now they just have to build around him. And do it better this time.
	28	Warriors · Trends	28
	This had better have been worth it.
	29	Wizards · Trends	29
	The Wizards managed to move from pathetic joke to just pathetic by the end of the year. Progress in our time!
	30	Bobcats · Trends	30
	Now let us never speak of this again.