If you’ve got a purple-and-gold No. 6 jersey hanging in your closet, you’re not alone. Around here, that number carries two stories at once. League-wide, the NBA permanently retired 6 in August 2022 to honor Bill Russell. Locally, the Lakers’ most recent wearer was LeBron James, who switched from 23 to 6 in 2021 and then back to 23 for 2023–24. So yes, you can still wear your old six at Crypto.com Arena, and you’ll even spot a few in the crowd. Here’s how that number lives in Los Angeles today, and the practical stuff fans actually need on game night.
Put simply, no Laker will be issued No. 6 going forward. That’s the league rule after Russell’s passing, with a grandfather clause that allowed active players who already wore 6 to keep it until they changed or retired. LeBron used that option for two seasons in L.A., then moved back to 23. If you’re headed downtown and wondering about arena vibes, there’s no formal “6” banner in the Lakers’ rafters, but the number’s league-wide status still shows up in small ways, from commemorative references around the NBA to fans in classic tees.
If you’re chasing history beyond LeBron, the number had a quirky Lakers lineage even before him. Past wearers include Eddie Jones in the late 90s and, more recently, Jordan Clarkson, Kent Bazemore and Lance Stephenson. The franchise’s own numerical roster lists all of them under No. 6, a reminder that in Los Angeles a number’s story is usually a relay, not a solo act.
The Lakers play at Crypto.com Arena, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015. If you’re meeting friends, the building uses three main public entries with specific corners you can actually find on a map: the Kobe Bryant Entrance at Chick Hearn Ct. and Georgia St., the Star Plaza Entrance at Chick Hearn Ct. and Figueroa St., and the Figueroa Entrance at 12th and Figueroa. Don’t overthink it. Pick one and make that your rally point so your group isn’t texting from three different doors at tipoff.
There’s also a strict bag rule you should plan around. Crypto.com Arena does not allow backpacks, totes, purses or clear bags of any size. The only standard exception is a small clutch or wallet under 5" x 9" x 1", which can be inspected at the door. Medical and parental bags smaller than 14" x 14" x 6" are permitted, but they must go through an X-ray screening lane. If you show up with something bigger, you can rent a Binbox locker outside next to the Kobe Bryant Entrance; it’s the difference between making the anthem and spending the first quarter hoofing it back to your car.
Travel-wise, Metro makes downtown easier than people think. The A or E Line to Pico Station puts you two minutes away on foot. The walk is straightforward: exit Pico Station, go one block west on Pico Boulevard, turn right on Figueroa, and the arena is two blocks north on your left. Base fare on Metro is $1.75 per ride with two-hour transfers, and kids under 6 ride free with an adult. If you park-and-ride, some stations list posted lot prices, like the E Line’s Culver City and La Cienega/Jefferson garages at $3 on many days, with free parking at La Cienega/Jefferson on weekends and holidays. It’s cheaper than jockeying for an event-rate garage on Figueroa, and you skip the postgame gridlock.
Meeting up before the game? The on-site TEAM LA store sits along Chick Hearn Court, next to the arena’s administration tower. It keeps regular hours of 10 a.m.–6 p.m., daily on non-event days, with a specific event-day wrinkle: it closes to the general public 1.5 hours before doors open for that night’s event. If there’s a doubleheader weekend on the calendar, it may be closed to non-ticketed guests altogether.
Even if 6 isn’t on a banner, the story of Lakers greatness is right outside the arena on Star Plaza, where the bronze lineup sets the tone for every home game. You can walk up from Figueroa or Chick Hearn Court and see Magic Johnson, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shaquille O’Neal, Elgin Baylor, and longtime voice of the team Chick Hearn. In 2024, the club added the long-awaited Kobe Bryant monument, and in 2026 a statue of coach Pat Riley joined the lineup. This is outside the turnstiles, so you don’t need a game ticket to visit. If you want photos without the postgame rush, drop by in the late morning or early afternoon, then swing around the corner to Team LA before its 6 p.m. close on non-event days.
One small but time-saving tip for statue-goers heading into a game later that night: if there’s an event, remember that Team LA’s exterior access shuts down 1.5 hours before arena doors. If you need a last-minute cap or a name-and-number tee, go early or plan to shop inside after your ticket is scanned. The interior merchandise areas remain open to ticketed guests through the event, and the main concourse locations typically run until near the end of the night.
For fans who want to represent No. 6 respectfully today, the move is either a LeBron 6 from his two-year stint or a classic name who wore 6 before him. You have two reliable, official places to shop. Downtown at the arena is about convenience on game day. In the South Bay, the stand-alone store leans quieter and local, good for a weekday stop when you’re not battling crowds.
| Option | Where it is | Hours | Event-day policy | Parking / Transit |
| TEAM LA Store (Crypto.com Arena) | 1111 S. Figueroa St., Los Angeles, CA 90015, along Chick Hearn Ct. | 10 a.m.–6 p.m., daily on non-event days | Closes to non-ticketed guests 1.5 hours before doors; may close during weekend doubleheaders | Lot W parking is available during store hours; A/E Line to Pico Station is a 2-minute walk |
| Lakers Team Shop (El Segundo) | 729 N. Douglas St., El Segundo, CA 90245 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Saturday | Not tied to arena event hours; a calmer option on game days | Easy street and complex access in El Segundo; near the team’s training base |
That El Segundo address matters because it sits a short drive from the Lakers’ headquarters and practice home, the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. It isn’t a tourist attraction with scheduled tours, but during the G League season the building hosts South Bay Lakers home games. For those, the Box Office at 2275 E. Mariposa Ave., El Segundo, opens 1.5 hours before tip, and doors open 1 hour prior. If the NBA price points and traffic are wearing you down, a G League night in that intimate gym scratches the basketball itch and gets you in and out with time to spare.
If you’re on the Westside, park at the E Line’s Culver City or La Cienega/Jefferson garages. Many event nights it’s $3 to leave your car, and on weekends and holidays La Cienega/Jefferson is typically free. Ride the E Line to Pico Station and walk. Your base rail fare is still $1.75, and Metro’s fare capping means the system keeps track of your taps so you don’t overpay across multiple trips in a day or week. For families, strollers are allowed on board and kids under six ride free with an adult, which simplifies those weeknight tips when school’s the next morning.
The arena’s entrance names actually help you navigate. If your seats are on the Star Plaza side, meet at the Star Plaza Entrance at Chick Hearn Ct. and Figueroa. If you’re walking up from the L.A. Convention Center or parking in the South Garage, the Figueroa Entrance at 12th and Figueroa is the direct shot. Coming from Georgia St. or a rideshare drop along the east end of Chick Hearn Ct., the Kobe Bryant Entrance is easy to spot and it’s the same corner where the Binbox lockers sit if someone in your group forgot the no-bag rule.
This is the one that catches out-of-towners and even a few locals every season. The baseline is no bags. If you need to bring medications, baby supplies or similar items, keep that special-use bag under 14" x 14" x 6" so it can be X-rayed at the designated entry. For everyone else, think in terms of a wallet or pocket-size clutch under 5" x 9" x 1". If it’s bigger, plan on the locker outside by the Kobe corner. You’ll be surprised how many minutes you save at screening with nothing but a phone and a card in your pocket.
Crypto.com Arena’s general rule is that children 3 and older need their own ticket. If you’re arriving tight to tip, remember that the arena’s doors follow the event listing and can vary by night. For the South Bay Lakers in El Segundo, the timing is tighter and more consistent: Box Office opens 1.5 hours before, doors open 1 hour before. Different buildings, different rhythms, but both are predictable once you’ve done it once.
There are two good paths. One is to lean into Lakers history before LeBron’s switch, which gives you cover to wear a No. 6 for a past Laker like Eddie Jones. The other is to embrace LeBron’s two-year chapter in six for what it was in L.A., then pair it with something current, like a 23 cap or scarf, so you’re acknowledging the present-day number without ditching a jersey you love.
If you need to buy in person, the clock is your friend. On a non-event weekday, you can pull up to the downtown Team LA store 10 a.m.–6 p.m., grab what you need, and be out before the evening commute. On event days, shop downtown well before the store’s 1.5-hours-before-doors cutoff, or head to El Segundo’s Lakers Team Shop, which runs 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and isn’t tied to that night’s arena door times. Either way, you’re buying official stock, which helps with sizes and returns if you’re gearing up the whole family.
One more local note for out-of-towners trying to see “Lakers stuff” without a game ticket: the statues on Star Plaza are outside and visible from the public walkways on Figueroa and Chick Hearn Court, and the arena’s addresses and phone lines are posted if you need to ask Guest Services about the day’s access. If you want a quieter, behind-the-scenes feel for where the team actually works, the El Segundo footprint around 2275 E. Mariposa Ave. and 729 N. Douglas St. tells the current story of the organization in a way a downtown selfie can’t.
Absolutely. The league retired No. 6 in honor of Bill Russell and LeBron switched back to 23, but fans still wear No. 6. At the arena you’ll see sixes from LeBron’s two seasons and from past Lakers who wore the number. Just remember the arena’s no-bag policy so your clutch or wallet stays under 5" x 9" x 1".
Take the A or E Line to Pico Station. Walk one block west on Pico, turn right on Figueroa, and the arena is two blocks north on your left. From there, the Star Plaza Entrance at Chick Hearn Ct. and Figueroa is the most direct for most lower-bowl and plaza meetups.
Yes, with a caveat. On event days, the Team LA Store closes to non-ticketed guests 1.5 hours before doors open. If you don’t have a game ticket, shop earlier. If you do have a ticket, you can still buy inside the arena after your ticket is scanned.
Check out the South Bay Lakers at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo. For those games, the Box Office at 2275 E. Mariposa Ave. opens 1.5 hours before tip and doors open 1 hour prior. It’s a compact setting that still puts you close to the organization.
If you’re choosing how to rep No. 6 today, pick the story you like best, then plan your route and your shopping around arena timing. A Metro tap to Pico, a quick stop at Team LA or the El Segundo shop, and a photo on Star Plaza turns a number into a real Los Angeles night.
Published: September 9, 2026