NBA this week

24 second clock: Quick takes from around the NBA

LeBron James wants NBA players to give up their No. 23s to honor Michael Jordan.

The Cavaliers superstar, who has worn 23 since he was a high school sophomore, believes players should pay tribute to Jordan for the Hall of Famer's impact on the game.

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized in some way — soon," James said. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade, you name all the best players in the league right now and the last 10 years, there would be none of us without Michael Jordan."

James said he has been considering the change for some time. He's willing to switch to No. 6 — his U.S. Olympic team number — and wants to start a petition to get every player in the league wearing 23 to give up the number.

"It's time," James said. "He's the best basketball player we've ever seen. Mike does it on the court and off the court. If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan." …

Stephen Jackson dropped onto a bench next to Warriors teammate Acie Law and pulled out his cell phone, checking to see if anybody had left a message during practice.

Maybe someone granting his wish to be traded.

No such luck. The disgruntled swingman was left in limbo for another day.

"A lot of people ask me the same questions about the trade and stuff," said Jackson, who asked to be dealt in August and whose relationship with Golden State has become strained. "It gets redundant to me, but I deal with it."

Warriors coach Don Nelson said the team has been trying to unload Jackson, but it hasn't been easy finding a trade partner.

It's made for an uncomfortable situation in the Golden State locker room, where teammates have said their fragile chemistry can't withstand Jackson's polarizing presence. … Al Jefferson heard all the talk about how the Minnesota Timberwolves and their fans were going to have to be patient while their ambitious rebuilding plan got off the ground.

Jefferson, the cornerstone of the new era for the Timberwolves, did not believe it then. But after the team dropped its eighth straight game on Wednesday night against Portland, the message finally hit home.

"I used to think when everybody used to say that — patience — it was just something they were saying so we didn't have a big head. That it was just the right thing to say," Jefferson said. "But it's really going to take some time. It is. We've got some young players. We've got a new system that we're trying to learn."

— Deseret News wire services

NBA Rankings

1. Boston Celtics: D-Will impressed by Celtics stars' team play, lack of egos.

2. Los Angeles Lakers: Off to the best start in the Western Conference — not surprisingly.