THE NBA WILL honour Boston Celtics great and civil rights activist Bill Russell by retiring his No. 6 jersey throughout the league, making him the first player to receive the honor.
A patch commemorating the 11-time champion will be worn on the right shoulder of player jerseys and a shamrock-shaped logo with the No. 6 on courts will be used across the league for the 2022-23 season, the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association said on Thursday.
“Bill Russell’s unparallelled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement.
“Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognised.”
Russell, the cornerstone of a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA titles and a powerful voice for social justice during and after his career, died on 31 July at the age of 88.
US President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama — who awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 — were among those who paid tribute to Russell’s contributions on and off the court.
NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio said the union was proud to support the “momentous honor” of retiring Russell’s jersey.
“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,” Tremaglio said.
Russell wore the No. 6 for his entire 13-season career from 1956-69.
It will not be issued again by any NBA team to any player, although players who currently wear No. 6 — a group that includes Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and the Washington Wizards’ Kristaps Porzingis — can retain it.
The NBA said the Celtics plan a “separate and unique recognition” for Russell on their uniforms, which will be revealed at a later date.
While the league-wide jersey retirement is a first for the NBA, it has happened in other North American leagues.
Major League Baseball permanently retired No. 42 in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson, who broke the big leagues’ colour barrier.
The NHL said upon Wayne Gretzky’s retirement in 1999 that his No. 99 would be retired league-wide.
What a legend! Amazing stuff altogether
Fair play Alex O’Shea.
I wouldn’t do it in a fecking car.
Serious brain training needed for that as well. People forget you need good mental and physical health to keep yourself going with stuff like that! Well done man
That’s some going!
Snickers.
That’s 20mins faster than when I was at my peak, unless you’ve run one,you can’t really appreciate the achievement of running it in a fireman suit.
His feet must of been in agony wearing those boots. But fair play to him.
That must’ve been tough
Great achievement. The thought of having to cook the dinner is tiring me out.
Absolutely amazing, buy that man a drink.
Hero, no doubt
Fair play to that guy, i ran my first marathon last year so i know the amount of training required. The marathon itself is great but the training is horrible.
He must have some engine because he completely burned the world record.
I see what you did there
Fair play to him and running for my favourite charity just makes him more endearing to me
Animal of a man.
Well done Alex.passed you on the straight road and you were in the zone.sum man for one man
And a gentleman to boot! Well done kid.
Fair play to you Alex, thats some record
Well done.
Some time as well.
Alex.
A great achievement.
well done!
FairPlay Alex…You burned up the course!
Fair play to him. I was at the Relay For Life in Donegal over the weekend and there was a lad there who cycled non stop for 24 hours. How do these people do it? Nutjobs if you ask me
Would ya be well