The NBA Retires Bill Russell’s No. 6 Jersey Across the League
August 18, 2022
By Dr. Valerie Wardlaw
Contributing Writer
For the first time in the history of the NBA, Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey is being retired across the league. The NBA, and the National Basketball Players Association announced that the No. 6 worn by basketball great Bill Russell is being permanently retired by all 30 teams. 
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said, “Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.
Bill’s unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honored in a unique and historic way.”
Only baseball’s Jackie Robinson’s No.42 and hockey’s Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99 have been retired across their respective leagues.
Beginning this season, all players will wear a patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys and every NBA court will display a clover-shaped logo with the No. 6 on the sideline.
For current players who wear No. 6, they may continue to do so but the number cannot be issued again, the league said.