Stern: NBA Plays ‘Grinch’ to Keep Players From Switching Numbers

NBA Commissioner David Stern said Friday that he got a small kick out of Michael Jordan’s numbers game, even if it is contrary to NBA rules.

Jordan, shedding the No. 45 he had worn since he returned to pro basketball, surprised the world and wore his original No. 23 Wednesday night in the Chicago Bulls’ playoff victory over the Orlando Magic.

“Well, as a fan, it is kind of fun, OK,” said Stern, who attended Friday’s game at the Forum. “But I think as an administrator, it is the job of league officials to be the Grinch that stole Christmas. If all of our players decided that they wanted, on any given night, to wear their lucky numbers, that would be a real problem for us.”

The Bulls were fined $25,000 for Jordan’s quick change. Any additional action against Jordan or the Bulls is to be determined after the playoffs.

“We try to put some rules into effect,” Stern said. “The one we have been living with to this point is that players can change to any number they like--at the beginning of the season.”