NBA Honors Bill Russell With Historic Move

For the first time in the history of the NBA, a uniform number has been retired, league-wide. No player will ever again don the No. 6 of the legendary Bill Russell. The 11-time NBA champion passed away at the age of 88 just over a week ago.

BREAKING: The NBA will retire the No. 6 league-wide honoring the late, legendary player and activist Bill Russell, per @NBAPR.

Players who currently wear No. 6 — such as LeBron James — will be grandfathered. pic.twitter.com/Bax7Wc3ew7

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 11, 2022

The exception for the league-wide rule is that players who currently wear the number will be allowed to continue to wear it. That list includes some guy named LeBron James. 

It was just last week that the (also legendary) Magic Johnson called on the league to make this historic move. 

In addition, all players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys this season, and every NBA court will display a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer’s table.

Russell now joins the great Jackie Robinson, whose #42 has been long retired by major league baseball, as players to be honored with such a move.

The Boston Celtics' great, Russell won 11 championships in his 13 seasons on the court, and was a trailblazing civil rights activist off it.

An honorable move by the NBA to recognize the legacy of Bill Russell.