The late great Bill Russell wasn’t just a man or an athlete; he was a movement, a tour de force that sent a ripple through the sports world. His vast impact showed how the NBA decided to retire his number 6 league-wide. I thought the NBA finally hit the nail on the head with one of their decisions, and I applaud Magic Johnson for pushing for his number to be retired league-wide.
After the decision was made, it got me thinking, “which other athletes are known for the number 6?”. Voila, we have an article highlighting the most famous players who have donned the 6. Without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Julius Erving
Dr. J; the man, the myth, the legend. No one is more synonymous with the number 6 more than Julius Erving, a man who revolutionized the NBA with his acrobatic aerial play at the rim, and who walked so that players like Michael Jordan and Vince Carter could run. First gaining popularity at New York staple Rucker Park, Dr. J was a legend in the making from a young age.
After signing with the 76ers in the NBA, Erving went on to have a storied career, one that saw him capture an NBA title in 1983, and an NBA MVP award in 1981. The man reinvented the game of basketball; some pundits even have gone so far as to call him the “Thomas Edison of the NBA” during his peak. Whatever you refer to him as he’ll always be best known as “The Doctor”.
Xavi
Graduating from the famed “La Masia” Barcelona FC academy, it was clear Xavi was destined for great things from a young age. As an 18-year-old he made the Barcelona squad, and gradually moved up from there. Through the late 90s and early 2000s the young midfielder was making a name for himself on and off the field, and by the late 2000s, he was now being considered as one of the very best to ever do it.
Having guided Spain to two Euro Cups and one World Cup, Xavi cemented his legacy as one of the very best to ever do it. And which number did he wear while doing it? Yes, that’s right, the esteemed number 6, a classic soccer number worn by many a midfielder in the past, but none better than Xavi.
LeBron James
The King. LeBron James is most famously known for rocking the number 23 during his first stint with the Cavaliers, but even more so for rocking the number 6 after his controversial move to the Miami Heat in the summer of 2010. The King definitely knows how to entertain, and his stint with the Heat was all that and some more.
After his move to the Lakers, James enjoyed a couple of years with the number 23 but now has gone back to his number 6. Now with Bill Russel’s number being retired league-wide, it seems James will be able to still wear it due to the “grandfather rule” but all future players will be denied access to the legendary number. Well, no one wears it better than LeBron.