The NBA will officially retire the No. 6 jersey in honor of Bill Russell, according to a statement released on Thursday. Russell – who passed away on July 31st – will become the first ever player to have his jersey number retired across the league.
One of the best players to ever play the game, Russell stood for far more than on-court success. He was a civil rights activist and one of the most iconic names in sports. Without the path he paved, the NBA wouldn’t be where it is today, and there is no question this honor will remind everyone of that for years to come.
The NBA also announced that all players will dawn a jersey patch this season to commemorate Russell, while each court will feature the iconic No. 6.
“This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game,” NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said in a statement. “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.”
The NBA did clarify that players who currently wear No. 6 – which includes Alex Caruso of the Chicago Bulls – will be grandfathered. In other words, they may continue to wear the number if they prefer, but no new player will ever again dawn Russell’s famous No. 6, which I think we can all agree is the right call.