- The NBA is set to retire the No 6 jersey across all Leagues to honour the legend, Bill Russell
- Russell, the former NBA star, died last month at 88 years
- Last season the no-six jersey was won by several players, including LeBron James
The National Basketball Association and the National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday that they will retire Bill Russell’s No 6 Jersey by retiring his number six jersey across all 30 teams.
In the history of NBA, Bill Russell is the first player to have his jersey officially retired by the league.
In addition, during the 2022–2023 NBA season, every court will have a shamrock-shaped emblem with Russell’s No. 6 displayed on the sideline at the scorer’s table. Players will also wear a memorial patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys.
“Permanently retiring Bill Russell’s No. 6 Jersey across every NBA team ensures that his transcendent career will always be recognized.” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement
From 2022/23 season no NBA player will be given jersey no 6
Bill’s remarkable career will always be acknowledged because of the number 6 being worn by every NBA team
It has been decided that beginning with the 2022–2023 season, no NBA franchise will be able to give the number 6 jersey to any player.
Bill Russell passed on on the 31st of July at 88. Photo: NBA
It’s possible that players who now wear the number 6, like LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, may keep doing so in the future. Last year, the number six was worn by a total of 25 different players, including LeBron James.
According to the league, the Celtics’ intentions to pay tribute to Russell will be made public later. The Boston Bruins will honour Bill Russell with what they call “a separate and unique acknowledgement” on their uniforms.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) had previously acknowledged Russell’s contributions by bestowing him the Finals MVP Award in 2009.
Russell, an NBA champion 11 times over, passed away on July 31 at 88.
More than 250 players in the history of the NBA have donned the jersey number 6. Bill Russell is one of 12 players who have been inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Bill Russell’s career
During his 13-year playing career, all of which was spent with the Celtics, Russell was selected as an All-NBA player 11 times and was voted NBA MVP five times.
In 1966, he was appointed player-coach with the Celtics, making him the first African American to hold that position in any American professional sport. Under his direction, the Celtics won back-to-back championships in 1968 and 1969.
Russell still ranks second all-time in NBA history in both the number of rebounds grabbed (21,620) and the average number of rebounds grabbed per game (22.5).
He has 4,104 total boards and an average of 24.9 rebounds per game. This makes him the best rebounder in the history of the NBA postseason.
The ultimate victor, Bill Russell, guided San Francisco to three straight NCAA championships before transitioning to the NBA. He also triumphed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, taking the gold medal.
In addition, Russell was well-known for his work in the civil rights movement. He participated in the March on Washington with Martin Luther King Jr. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama.
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