In a quiet and historic end to an era, the final active player permitted to wear the iconic No. 6 jersey in the NBA is Oklahoma City Thunder center Jaylin Williams.
When the league announced in 2022 that it was retiring the No. 6 league-wide to honor the immense legacy of the late Bill Russell, a handful of players already wearing the number were grandfathered in, allowing them to continue.
With the departure of DeAndre Jordan from the Denver Nuggets, that special group has now dwindled to its last man. Williams, the 34th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, is now the sole keeper of the number on an active court.
The last of his kind
Williams has developed into a quality role player and a locker room favorite for the Thunder, serving as a key “matchup weapon” during their recent NBA championship run. With a new contract extension, Oklahoma City fans will be the last to see the No. 6 in action for years to come.
The number’s permanent retirement is a tribute to Bill Russell, the legendary Boston Celtics center who passed away in 2022 at the age of 88. Considered the greatest winner in American sports history, Russell was a true titan of the game.
Russell defined an NBA era
Russell’s accomplishments are staggering: 11 championships in 13 seasons, five MVP awards, and 12 All-Star selections. He revolutionized basketball with his shot-blocking and defensive dominance, averaging an incredible 22.5 rebounds per game for his career.
His famous rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain defined an era, with Russell’s Celtics winning seven of their eight playoff battles. As Jaylin Williams takes the court for the Thunder, he does so not just as a valuable player for a championship team, but as the final, living chapter of a number made immortal by one of the game’s greatest pioneers.
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