NBA to retire #6 across the league for Bill Russell...

[posty 2,608]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34384678/bill-russell-no-6-retired-nba-following-legend-death-last-month

The NBA will honor the legacy of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell by retiring his No. 6 jersey for all 30 teams, the league and the National Basketball Players Association announced Thursday.

Russell becomes the first player in NBA history to have his jersey retired leaguewide.

Along with the number being retired, all NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys during the 2022-23 season and every court will display a shamrock-shaped logo with Russell's No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer's table.

"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 in a statement. "Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill's transcendent career will always be recognized."

Starting with the 2022-23 season, no NBA team will be allowed to issue No. 6 to any player. Players who currently wear No. 6 -- such as Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James -- may continue to do so. According to Basketball Reference, 25 players, including James, Kristaps Porzingis, Alex Caruso, Montrezl Harrell and Lou Williams, wore No. 6 last season.

The league said plans for the Celtics, where Russell played all 13 years of his career, to honor Russell are still being determined and will be announced at a later date. Boston is planning a "separate and unique recognition" for Russell on its uniforms.

The NBA previously recognized Russell's contributions when it named the Finals MVP Award after him in 2009.

"This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game," NBPA executive director Tamika Tremaglio said in a statement. "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."

Russell, an 11-time NBA champion, died July 31 at the age of 88.

During his 13-year playing career, Russell was named NBA MVP five times and was an 11-time All-NBA selection. He was named the Celtics' player-coach in 1966, becoming the first Black head coach in American professional sports, and led Boston to back-to-back titles in 1968 and 1969.

Russell remains second all-time in NBA history in rebounds (21,620) and rebounds per game (22.5). He is also the all-time leading rebounder in NBA postseason history with 4,104 total boards and 24.9 rebounds per game.

The ultimate winner, Russell led San Francisco to consecutive NCAA titles before making the jump to the NBA and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics.

Russell was also known for his work in civil rights. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr., stood with Muhammad Ali and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

Having his number retired leaguewide puts Russell in a very exclusive club.

Major League Baseball permanently retired No. 42 in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson, who broke the big league's color barrier, with the understanding that those who were wearing that number could continue to do so. Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees was the last in the majors to wear No. 42, doing so through his final season in 2013.

The NHL, upon Wayne Gretzky's retirement in 1999, said his No. 99 would be retired leaguewide in honor of that sport's all-time scoring leader.

There have been more than 250 players in NBA history to wear a No. 6 jersey, and Russell is one of 12 players enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame who wore No. 6 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.

Nobody has worn No. 6 for the Celtics since Russell's final season in 1968-69.

[weepaws 3,144]

Didn’t the great DR J wear the number 6? 

[jerryskids 6,543]

Seems like someone is looking for SJW points, but whatever.  Seems like a bit of a slap to Dr. J tho, who IMO was more influential.

[posty 2,608]

12 minutes ago, weepaws said:

Didn’t the great DR J wear the number 6? 

Yeah, but he wasn't as good as Bill Russell...

Ewing also wore #32 with the Nets...

[Thornton Melon 603]

 So the Celts retiring it wasn't enough? I'm actually kind of insulted as a Boston fan

[weepaws 3,144]

Not even close to the same type of player.  The NBA didn’t want the ABA , but they needed Dr J, he treaded the two leagues together. 

I cant agree that one was greater then the other, but it’s a true slap to the greatness of DR J. 

They shouldn’t do it.  

[Mike Honcho 5,073]

Pretty cool - well deserved. 

[RaiderHaters Revenge 4,236]

Why?

[Voltaire 5,180]

Russell was legendary but before my time. I’d known he was the best player on the best team of his era, but I’d not realized he was this legendary that they’d suck his cawk this thoroughly. 
 

Granted Russell has all the rings, but my understanding of that era, again not having watched any of it,  was that Wilt was the most dominant player.

[supermike80 1,793]

Didn't do squat for the pistons. Why do they need to retire his number?

They better do a laker next or it will get ugly 

[phillybear 366]

1 hour ago, weepaws said:

Not even close to the same type of player.  The NBA didn’t want the ABA , but they needed Dr J, he treaded the two leagues together. 

I cant agree that one was greater then the other, but it’s a true slap to the greatness of DR J. 

They shouldn’t do it.  

I agree. When this was announced, I thought it was a disrespect to Julius Erving, who meant so much more to the NBA. 

And while we are at it, why not retire Wilt's number league wide? Wilt is the G.O.A.T., with the only other contender to the mantel being Michael Jordan.

Why not retire MJ's number?

Wilt used to eat Russell's lunch, dinner, then fock his shoes. Yeah, Russell had the better teams, so he got rings, but he couldn't stop Wilt. 

Wilt was the man that focked 20,000 broads. How do you not retire his number for the tail? 

[Gepetto 1,285]

dumb

[wiffleball 4,788]

Gonna suck for these guys

NBA Players Jersey Number

James Johnson 16

Cedi Osman 16

Anthony Gill 16

Ty Jerome 16

CJ Elleby 16

Juwan Morgan 16

 

 

 

[TBayXXXVII 2,480]

I think every league should retire every number worn by a black person.

[frank 2,276]

1 hour ago, supermike80 said:

Didn't do squat for the pistons. Why do they need to retire his number?

They better do a laker next or it will get ugly 

I hadn’t thought of that. The lakers having to retire his number is the best part of this.

[Cdub100 3,824]

Meh whatever.

[jerryskids 6,543]

3 hours ago, weepaws said:

Not even close to the same type of player.  The NBA didn’t want the ABA , but they needed Dr J, he treaded the two leagues together. 

I cant agree that one was greater then the other, but it’s a true slap to the greatness of DR J. 

They shouldn’t do it.  

Exactly, Dr. J was a significant impetus for the NBA/ABA merger.  Russell was a great center on a great Celtics team, but not even the best player at his position in his era.

They say he was a civil rights leader but this seems uninspiring:

Quote

Russell was also known for his work in civil rights. He marched with Martin Luther King Jr., stood with Muhammad Ali and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama.

 

[Cruzer 1,995]

No issue honoring the great Bill Russell, but this isn't the way to do it. 

Name an award, a trophy or something after him - not retire that #. 

[WhiteWonder 2,674]

5 hours ago, posty said:

 

Ewing also wore #32 with the Nets...

[WhiteWonder 2,674]

4 hours ago, weepaws said:

he treaded the two

Threaded. 
 

hth 

[KSB2424 3,148]

5 hours ago, Thornton Melon said:

 So the Celts retiring it wasn't enough? I'm actually kind of insulted as a Boston fan

This. 

[Gepetto 1,285]

1 hour ago, Cruzer said:

No issue honoring the great Bill Russell, but this isn't the way to do it. 

Name an award, a trophy or something after him - not retire that #. 

 

 

Agree and that already exists.

 

What award is named after Bill Russell?

 

The NBA Finals MVP award is named after Russell. "If I had a choice of any basketball player in the league," former Lakers guard, and NBA executive, Jerry West said after losing to the Celtics in the 1968 Finals, "my No.1 choice has to be Bill Russell.

[weepaws 3,144]

18 minutes ago, WhiteWonder said:

Threaded. 
 

hth 

Thank you. 

[edjr 6,578]

Dumb - Unwarranted.  Yay a black guy succeeded in the NBA?   how did that happen?

They should retire Larry Bird's number league wide. 

[edjr 6,578]

10 hours ago, Cruzer said:

No issue honoring the great Bill Russell, but this isn't the way to do it. 

Name an award, a trophy or something after him - not retire that #. 

 

[TimmySmith 2,782]

Not a fan of this stuff. 

[edjr 6,578]

What next? are we going to retire #12 because a white guy exceled at QB?

[Engorgeous George 2,114]

22 minutes ago, edjr said:

What next? are we going to retire #12 because a white guy exceled at QB?

About time Lynn Dickie gets his due.

[edjr 6,578]

Just now, Engorgeous George said:

About time Lynn Dickie gets his due.

Bradshaw

[Engorgeous George 2,114]

7 minutes ago, edjr said:

Bradshaw

O.K. by me.  I respect his having gotten with Jo Jo Starbuck, so O.K.  I guess Dickie will just have to settle for having an item of clothing named after him.

[Thornton Melon 603]

They say players currently wearing #6 will be grandfathered and can keep wearing it, but are there any white players currently wearing #6? Cuz you know they'll be badgered into giving it up.

[posty 2,608]

14 minutes ago, Thornton Melon said:

They say players currently wearing #6 will be grandfathered and can keep wearing it, but are there any white players currently wearing #6? Cuz you know they'll be badgered into giving it up.

Only time will tell...

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[jerryskids 6,543]

4 hours ago, edjr said:

Bradshaw

Stabler 

[Cruzer 1,995]

23 hours ago, Gepetto said:

 

 

Agree and that already exists.

 

What award is named after Bill Russell?

 

The NBA Finals MVP award is named after Russell. "If I had a choice of any basketball player in the league," former Lakers guard, and NBA executive, Jerry West said after losing to the Celtics in the 1968 Finals, "my No.1 choice has to be Bill Russell.

Oh yea, good point. I totally forgot about that............that's quite an honor, should have left it at that. 

[KSB2424 3,148]

I love the idea of retiring numbers for teams, but why the whole league?  

I mean eventually you run out of numbers.  

[weepaws 3,144]

In this case, it doesn’t work, you can’t highlight Russel when DR J wore the same number.  

[Gepetto 1,285]

Yea seems like a pretty big slight to Dr. J and even to Lebron, and MJ not having his retired, which it shouldn't be for the entire league nor should Bill Russel's.

[cmh6476 1,009]

who?

[weepaws 3,144]

1 hour ago, cmh6476 said:

who?

First base.