The legacy of Bill Russell and the effect he had on the people around him was discussed by the man who was the greatest basketball player of all time. There is a time and a place for it.
Bill Russell will be the first player to have his number retired by the NBA.
The NBA will use a Russell patch on the right shoulder of jerseys and a logo with the No. 6 on the court for the 2022-23 season.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that Bill Russell deserved to be honored in a unique and historic way. "Permanently retiring his No. 6 ensures that Bill's career will always be remembered."
The league said that players who wear No. 6 will be grandfathered in and will not be issued a new number. 25 players wore the same number during the season.
Russell passed away on July 31st.
The Boston Celtics great was the most prolific winner in NBA history, an 11-time champion during a 13-year career, and the first Black coach in any of the major U.S. pro sports to win a championship.
According to the NBA, the Celtics will have separate and unique recognition for him on their uniforms.
The honor is reserved for one of the greatest players to ever play the game, according to the NBPA. Bill's actions on and off the court helped to shape generations of players for the better and we are eternally grateful. His life and legacy are celebrated by the league.
Russell worked in the civil rights field. He received the Presidential medal of freedom from Barack Obama.
Russell is a member of an exclusive club with his retired number.
The number 42 was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997 in honor ofJackie Robinson, who broke the big league's color barrier. The last player in the majors to wear 42 was Mariano Rivera of the Yankees.
The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's number 99 in honor of the sport's all-time leading scorer.
The same treatment is given to Russell now. It makes sense that he and Robinson are related again. Russell said that Robinson showed him how to be a man in sports.
Robinson held Russell in high regard. Russell was asked to be a pallbearer by Rachel Robinson.
There are more than 250 players who have worn a No. 6 jersey in the NBA. The others are Julius Erving, Patrick Ewing, Ben Wallace, Don Barksdale, Chuck Cooper, Larry Costello, Tom Gola, and Alex Hannum.
Since Russell's last season in 1968, nobody has worn No. 6 for the Celtics.
The AP contributed.
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