Russell, who passed away on July 31 at the age of 88, won 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics and is the first player to have his number retired on all 30 teams.
“Bill Russell’s unprecedented on-pitch success and pioneering civil rights activism deserves to be recognized in a unique and historic way,” league commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement announcing the news.
“The permanent retirement of his No. 6 on all NBA teams ensures that Bill’s transcendent career will always be recognized.” Added silver.
“This is a significant honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game,” NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said in a statement announcing the news.
“Bill’s actions on and off the pitch throughout his life have helped shape generations of players for the better and for that we are forever grateful. We’re proud to continue the celebration of his life and legacy alongside the league,” Tremaglio added.
As well as retiring Russell’s number, the league plans to honor the five-time MVP by displaying a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of teams’ jerseys, while all seats will feature a shamrock-shaped No. 6 logo on the sideline next to the scorer table.
Russell is the most successful player in NBA history and was the league’s first black head coach.
“He inspired me to be a better man”
A prominent civil rights leader, he marched with Martin Luther King Jr. in 1963, condemning racial segregation and campaigning for Muhammad Ali’s refusal to be drafted into the Vietnam War.
“He became a role model when I realized that some of the things that scared me and bothered me about race relations in America were things that he addressed,” NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar told Don on Monday Lemon from CNN.
“He gave me an opportunity to talk about it that had all the elements of trying to do something better instead of just being angry,” added Abdul-Jabbar, who shared a 60-year friendship with Russell.
In the 1950s, Russell accused the largely white NBA of intentionally excluding black players and became part of the league’s all-black starting roster in 1964.
Despite his on-pitch performances, Russell was racially abused as a player while his family endured threats, break-ins and vandalism.
“He inspired me to become a better man by handling situations … without giving in to all the anger and anger he must have felt,” Abdul-Jabbar said. “Bill showed the world what class is all about.”
CNN’s Don Lemon and George Ramsay contributed to this post.