Four-time Kia MVP LeBron James James has alternated between No. 6 and 23 throughout his NBA career.
The NBA and NBPA announced Thursday that Bill Russell’s No. 6 jerseys will be retired across the NBA, a first for the league.
Players who currently wear No. 6 may continue doing so, but the number cannot be issued again. Nobody has worn No. 6 for the Celtics since Russell’s final season, 1968-69. Boston retired Russell’s No. 6 in 1972.
Current players wearing no. 6 jerseys:
• LeBron James
• Alex Caruso
• Kristaps Porzingis
• Lou Williams
• Montrezl Harrell
• Lance Stephenson
• Nickeil Alexander-Walker
• Hamidou Diallo
• Bryn Forbes
• Quentin Grimes
• Jalen McDaniels
• Jordan McLaughlin
• Kenyon Martin Jr.
• Moses Brown
• David Duke Jr.
• Melvin Frazier
• Keon Johnson
• Javonte Smart
• Rayjon Tucker
Russell is one of 12 players currently enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame who wore No. 6 at least at some point in their careers. The others: Julius Erving, Patrick Ewing, Ben Wallace, Don Barksdale, Chuck Cooper, Larry Costello, Tom Gola, Cliff Hagan, Alex Hannum, Buddy Jeanette and Neil Johnston.
The NBA and NBPA announced today that they will honor the life and legacy of 11-time NBA champion and civil rights pioneer Bill Russell by permanently retiring his uniform number, 6, throughout the league.
Full release: https://t.co/jFjZwKtiB2 pic.twitter.com/LdXT4Mf8W7
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) August 11, 2022
Major League Baseball permanently retired No. 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson, while the NHL permanently retired Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99.
There have been more than 250 players in NBA history to wear a No. 6 jersey, including 24 who did so in at least one game last season — most notably, James, who has alternated between 6 and 23 throughout his NBA career.
Russell, who died on July 31 at the age of 88, 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 US pro sports to win a championship.