Much of the Los Angeles Lakers' success this season will hinge on the partnership between LeBron James and Anthony Davis. While few doubt the superstar pair will be able to seamlessly blend their playing styles on the floor and they clearly have already established a good off-court rapport, James nevertheless felt compelled to create some more goodwill with his newest superstar teammate earlier in the offseason.

During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Davis recalled how the four-time MVP first broached gifting him the Lakers' No. 23 jersey, only to learn that Nike scuttled their plans.

“We went to dinner – the first time we dinner since the trade happened – and he was like, ‘Man, look: Here's 23,' Davis said of James. “I was like, ‘Oh wow. Thank you, Bron.' And then a lot of stuff happened with, you know, the rules and everything, and so I couldn't get 23. They were like, ‘We don't care who you guys are. It's too much money.'”

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Davis eventually chose to wear No. 3 this season, but not just because it was the one he wore in elementary school. NBA2K 20, for which Davis is this year's cover athlete, played a role in the decision, too.

“But honestly, I just chose No. 3 because I went on 2K, the video game, and I couldn't choose a number,” he said. “They were like, ‘You can't pick 23, you have to pick another number.' So I'm literally in my living room, on the video game, going to myself, edit player, and I'm going through all the numbers. The funny thing is it would go 21, 22, 25, and I'm like, ‘Dang, can't get to 23.' So I saw No. 3 and I was like, ‘This takes me back to elementary school where it all started,' and I went back to No. 3.”

Davis, a six-time All-Star, was acquired by the Lakers earlier this offseason in a blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Pelicans.