Celtics Legend Bill Russell's No. 6 To Be Retired Across NBA

BOSTON, MA — The National Basketball Association will retire the No. 6 of its ultimate winner — Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell — across the league as part of a season of tributes to the 11-time champion player and coach.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association said on Thursday that the league will "honor the life and legacy" of Russell by permanently retiring the No. 6 across for all teams. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and civil rights pioneer is the first player to have his number retired across the NBA.

Russell, who spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics, died on July 31 peacefully with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. He was 88 years old.

"Bill Russell's unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said. "Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized."

Russell was a two-time All-American at the University of San Francisco who led his team to 55 straight wins and won a gold medal in the 1956 Olympics.

He won nine titles in 10 years as a player with the Celtics as the NBA's dominant defensive force at 6-foot-9. In 1966, he was named the first Black coach in the NBA — and North American professional sports — history when he took over the team as player-coach following Red Auerbach's retirement from the bench.

He went on to win two more titles as a player and coach over the next three years.

President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.

"This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game," NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said. "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."

All NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys during the upcoming season, and every NBA court will display a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer's table.

The NBA said the Celtics will have a "separate and unique recognition for him on their uniforms." which will be announced soon.

No new NBA player will wear the No. 6. Players in the league who have worn it through the 2021-2022 season will have the option to continue wearing it through the end of their careers.

Russell retired in 1969 with 21,620 career rebounds. He averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game for his career.

The NBA recognized Russell with its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was renamed in his honor in 2009.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)