Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey retired for the first time in the entire NBA

The National Basketball Association announced Thursday plans to do away with the jersey number of the late Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell. Russell, , his 11-time NBA champion and activist, died on July 31 at 88 years old. According to the 

league, Russell's No. 6, which he had throughout his 13-season NBA career, will not be issued by any of his NBA teams. 

The player currently holding the No. 6 jersey is exempt from this rule and all his NBA players will have a commemorative shirt on their jersey during his 2022-23 season as a tribute to Russell. wear a patch 

All his NBA courts, according to the league, the scorer forms his No. 6 lover on the sideline near his table. You can also see the logo with the . 

Certain teams in leagues often do away with uniform numbers for influential or exceptional players However, this is the first time that uniform numbers have been abolished. Retired across the NBA. The Celtics eliminated Russell's uniform number on his team in 1972. 

"Bill Russell's unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights movement deserves to be honored in a unique and historic way," said his NBA commissioner. says Adam Silver. he said in a statement. "Permanently retiring his No. 6 jersey with every NBA team ensures that Bill's extraordinary career will always be recognized." spent with the Celtics. During his time as a player, he won the Most Valuable Player award five times and was named an NBA All-Star 12 times. After his retirement as a player, Russell returned to his beloved team as a coach, becoming the league's first black head coach and leading the Celtics to his second championship. 

Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. 

In addition to his sporting career, Russell was well known as a social justice and civil rights activist. , Russell marching with the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. devoted himself to increasing equality throughout the league. In 2010, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Barack Obama. 

"This is a significant honor for him, one of the greatest champions of all time," said Tamika Tremaglio, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association. said in a statement on Thursday. "Bill's actions on and off the court throughout his life have helped shape generations of players for the better.