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 Russell handed away final month at 88 years outdated.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 will likely be allowed to maintain doing so, however the league received’t situation 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 suitable shoulder of their jerseys honoring Russell for subsequent season. Each enviornment may also have a “clover-shaped brand with No. 6,” in accordance with 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 crew sports activities which have been 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 received 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 courtroom, 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 towards the backdrop of the Civil Rights Motion, and stars of as we speak 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 as we speak after altering from No. 23 final season. Listed below are the opposite gamers who wore No. 6 final yr.
Russell is definitely one of many best and most necessary 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.
