The NBA and Boston Celtics plan to honor Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell for his unparalleled career in the league and his dedication to fighting for civil rights and social justice by retiring his No. 6 jerseys on every team in the league.
The move — unprecedented in the league’s history — honors the singular life that Russell lived on and off the court as not only the NBA’s ultimate winner with a record 13 titles to his name as a player or player-coach. It also pays tribute to the many milestones he helped set as part of the first all-Black starting five and the first Black head coach in league history while using his platform to fight for others at a time when that put his career at great risk.
The players in the league wearing No. 6 jerseys in 2021-22 will be allowed to continue until they switch to a new number or retire from the game; let’s take a look at the players who could wear that jersey number next season.
Keon Johnson (Portland Trail Blazers)
Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Melvin Frazier (Oklahoma City Thunder/FA)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
David Duke Jr. (Brooklyn Nets/FA)
Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Moses Brown (Cleveland Cavaliers/FA)
(Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Kenyon Martin Jr. (Houston Rockets)
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Jordan McLaughlin (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Jalen McDaniels (Charlotte Hornets)
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Quentin Grimes (New York Knicks)
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Bryn Forbes (Denver Nuggets/Minnesota Timberwolves)
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Hamidou Diallo (Detroit Pistons)
Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Utah Jazz)
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers)
Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Lou Williams (Atlanta Hawks/FA)
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Kristaps Porzingis (Washington Wizards)
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Caruso (Chicago Bulls)
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
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