Tabatabaie: The NBA should universally retire Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey

AP Photo/Harold Filan

When Russell first suited up for the Celtics he was the only black player on the team. This was a point of contention for some of the fans and media around Boston. Russell faced threats of violence, racial slurs, and vandalism at home and on the road.

Russell endured, and soon was a member of the first all-black starting lineup in NBA history. In 1966, Russell became the first black head coach in NBA history, winning two titles as Boston’s player-coach.

Bill Russell enjoyed a loving and trusting relationship with legendary head coach Red Auerbach. He and Celtics owner Walter Brown were vehement that talent and character were much more important than phenotype in an era of violent racism. Russell’s friendship and admiration for Auerbach is long and well-documented.

It wasn’t just on the basketball court or among his teammates and Celtics supporters where Bill Russell stood tall for racial and social justice. He understood the importance of his platform and made sure to use it whenever and wherever he could.

Russell’s life as a civil rights advocate cannot be overstated. It took him to challenge apartheid conditions in places like Mississippi and segregated restaurants up north. It took him to the steps of the Washington Monument alongside Dr. Martin Luther King and to Cleveland to support Muhammad Ali’s protest of the Vietnam War. Bill Russell’s courage and conviction took him to the forefront of change and justice in the United States.

Many players past and present in the NBA community have advocated for change from Elgin Baylor and Shareef Abdur-Rahim to Jaylen Brown and LeBron James. Russell helped light a torch that has been burning bright for decades, but one that has been carried and tended to by many. His unique position as a founding father of the league, however, deserves special consideration.