No more #6
For the first time in league history, all 30 NBA teams had officially retired the number 6, in reverence to Hall of Famer and NBA great Bill Russell, who died July 31 at the age of 88.
The league also plans to add Russell commemorative patches on players’ jerseys for the 2022-2023 NBA season which opens in late October. The sidelines on every court will have a clover-shaped logo with the number 6 inside of it.
But before announcing the league-wide retirement of the number, the Sacramento Kings and the Orlando Magic already retired number 6, in honor of their sixth man – the fans.
Spending the whole of his career with the Boston Celtics, the legendary Russell spent 13 seasons in the league and won 11 NBA championships, two of those titles as a player-coach for the team. He was the first Black coach in any US professional sport, winning back-to-back titles during his tenure in 1968 and 1969. A 5-time MVP, Russell was a 12-time All Star and was named to the All-NBA team 11 times.
Aside from Russell, here are the players from every team who had worn the number most recently:
Atlanta Hawks – Lou Williams, 2021-22
Charlotte Hornets – Jalen McDaniels, 2019-present
Chicago Bulls – Alex Caruso, 2021-present
Cleveland Cavaliers – Moses Brown, 2022
Dallas Mavericks – Kristaps Porzingis, 2019-22
Denver Nuggets – DeAndre Jordan, 2022-present
Detroit Pistons – Hamidou Diallo, 2021-present
Golden State Warriors – Alen Smailagic, 2019-21
Houston Rockets – Kenyon Martin, Jr., 2020-present
Indiana Pacers – Lance Stephenson, 2010-12, 2022
LA Clippers – Moses Brown, 2022-present
LA Lakers – Eddie Jones, 1995-99; Lebron James, 2021-present
Memphis Grizzlies – Kenneth Lofton, Jr., 2022-present
Miami Heat – Eddie Jones, 2000-05, LBJ, 2010-14
Milwaukee Bucks – Luca Vildoza, 2022-present
Minnesota Timberwolves – Jordan McLaughlin, 2019-present
New Orleans Pelicans – Tyrone Wallace, 2022
New York Knicks – Kristaps Porzingis, 2015-19; Quentin Grimes, 2021-present
Oklahoma City Thunder – Jaylin Williams, 2022-present
Orlando Magic – Patrick Ewing, 2001-02
Philadelphia 76ers – Julius Erving, 1976-87
Phoenix Suns – Walter Davis, 1977-88
San Antonio Spurs – Avery Johnson, 1992-93, 1994-2001
Sacramento Kings – Bob Burrow, 1956-57 (the team was still known as the Rochester Royals)
Toronto Raptors – Corey Joseph, 2015-17
Utah Jazz – Nickeil Alexander-Walker, 2022-present
Washington Wizards – Kristaps Porzingis, 2022-present
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