The NBA and NBPA introduced that they are going to honor the lifestyles and legacy of 11-time NBA champion and civil rights pioneer Invoice Russell via completely retiring his uniform quantity, 6, all through the league. The enduring Naismith Memorial Basketball Corridor of Famer would be the first participant to have his quantity retired around the NBA.
“Invoice Russell’s unprecedented luck at the courtroom and pioneering civil rights activism need to be venerated in a singular and historical approach,” mentioned NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. “Completely retiring his No. 6 throughout each NBA crew guarantees that Invoice’s transcendent profession will at all times be known.”
“It is a momentous honor reserved for one of the vital largest champions to ever play the sport,” mentioned NBPA Govt Director Tamika Tremaglio. “Invoice’s movements off and on the courtroom all through the process his lifestyles helped to form generations of avid gamers for the simpler and for that, we’re endlessly thankful. We’re proud to proceed the party of his lifestyles and legacy along the league.”
Along with retiring Russell’s quantity, the NBA pays tribute to the Boston Celtics’ legend all through the 2022-23 season. All NBA avid gamers will put on a commemorative patch at the proper shoulder in their jerseys, and each NBA courtroom will show a clover-shaped brand with the No. 6 at the sideline close to the scorer’s desk. The Celtics, for whom Russell performed his complete profession and coached, could have a separate and distinctive reputation for him on their uniforms, to be introduced quickly.
Russell’s jersey quantity, which he wore for his complete 13-season profession from 1956-69, might not be issued once more via any NBA crew to any participant.
Gamers who these days put on No. 6 might be grandfathered.