The NBA is retiring Invoice Russell’s No. 6 league-wide beginning with the 2022-23 season. Russell handed away final month at 88 years outdated. Gamers who at present put on No. 6 can be allowed to maintain doing so, however the league gained’t difficulty No. 6 to anybody else ever once more.
Along with retiring Russell’s quantity league-wide, all NBA groups may also put on a patch on the best shoulder of their jerseys honoring Russell for subsequent season. Each area may also have a “clover-shaped brand with No. 6,” based on Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Russell’s No. 6 is the third jersey to be retired league-wide in one of many main American skilled sports activities leagues. MLB has retired Jackie Robinson’s No. 42, and the NHL has retired Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99.
There are solely three jersey numbers in American staff sports activities which were formally retired league-wide
MLB – Jackie Robinson’s 42
NHL – Wayne Gretzky’s 99
NBA – Invoice Russell’s 6 pic.twitter.com/UjejbjmfPd— SB Nation (@SBNation) August 11, 2022
Russell leaves behind a momentous legacy. He gained 11 championships with the Boston Celtics as a participant, and was named league MVP 5 occasions. He was additionally a player-coach for the Celtics for the final three years of his profession. Along with his work on the court docket, Russell can also be a civil rights icon who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2011.
The league posted this tribute to Russell’s function within the Civil Rights Motion earlier this month:
In reminiscence of Invoice Russell, we rejoice the pioneers who fearlessly built-in our league, the legends who excelled in opposition to the backdrop of the Civil Rights Motion, and stars of at this time utilizing their platform to advocate for justice and equality.
— NBA (@NBA) August 2, 2022
LeBron James is essentially the most notable No. 6 within the NBA at this time after altering from No. 23 final season. Listed here are the opposite gamers who wore No. 6 final 12 months.
Russell is certainly one of many biggest and most vital athletes within the historical past of American sports activities. For so long as the NBA exists, the No. 6 won’t ever be issued to a brand new participant ever once more.
