NBA Permanently Retiring Bill Russell’s No. 6 Jersey

NBA Permanently Retiring Bill Russell’s No. 6 Jersey

Celtics legend Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey will be permanently retired across the NBA, the league announced Thursday. Russell passed away at the age of 88 on July 31.

Russell, an 11-time NBA champion as a player and coach for Boston, was a legend in every sense of the word on and off the court.

“Bill Russell’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in the league’s press release. “Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.”

Quote via NBA Press Relations

Russell was a two-time national champion with San Francisco and a gold medalist with the United States by the time he was 22 — all before embarking on his illustrious 13-year career with the Celtics. The Oakland, Calif. native was a five-time MVP, 12-time All-Star and ranks second all-time in career rebounds (21,620). Russell never shied from the bright lights on the biggest stages in basketball, but his legacy is much greater than the hardware he collected on the court.

Russell led Mississippi’s first ever integrated basketball camp, marched with Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., and boycotted a 1961 exhibition to expose long-accepted discrimination and injustice. When hired in 1966 as a coach by the Celtics, he became the first Black head coach in the history of the NBA. Russell’s activism spanned decades and he was awarded the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom for his success as a basketball player and lifelong work for social justice.

The NBA will also be honoring Russell’s legacy throughout the entirety of the 2022-23 season, the announcement confirmed. A commemorative patch will be featured on every player’s jersey, while every NBA court will display a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline. Russell’s No. 6 jersey will not be issued by any team in the future, but players who currently wear the number will be grandfathered in, the league said.

“This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game,” NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said. “Bill’s actions on and off the court throughout the course of his life helped to shape generations of players for the better and for that, we are forever grateful. We are proud to continue the celebration of his life and legacy alongside the league.”

Quote via NBA Press Relations

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