Before their NBA Finals rematch from last season with the Boston Celtics, the Golden State Warriors have raised the iconic no. 6 jersey of the late great Bill Russell up in the rafters of the Chase Center.
Russell had humble beginnings and spent the majority of his childhood in Oakland, wherein he also won back-to-back NCAA championships with the University of Francisco.
“His number is being retired around the NBA, but the significance here is that Bill was from Oakland, played high school ball there, and played at USF. He made such an impact on the Bay Area that it feels more special here than it would in any other city, other than Boston,” the Warriors said in a statement.
Russell’s jersey No. 6 was universally retired in the NBA to pay tribute to his outstanding accomplishments and being a decorated figure not only in basketball but also in the civil rights movement. On July 31, he peacefully passed away at age 88.
The Warriors went on to win the marquee showdown against the Celtics on Sunday, 123-107.
