With the news that Bill Russell’s iconic number six jersey is set to be retired across the entire NBA, it’s time to look at which other players deserve the same treatment.
The NBA’s greatest winner Bill Russell has been acknowledged for his excellence in the game, as the League Commissioner Adam Silver announced a season-long memorial to the legendary centre.
Along with the #6 being retired, the teams will wear a patch on their jerseys and will have a number six on all courts to recognise Russell.
Russell passed away just under two weeks ago, prompting gestures to solidify the Celtics legend’s legacy.
His greatness on the court was mirrored by his courageous efforts off the court, inspiring the next-generation of African-American athletes to overcome racism.
The #6 joins the likes of Wayne Gretzky’s #99 and Jackie Robinson’s #42 to be retired league-wide in their respective sports.
Some jersey numbers are synonymously linked with a certain player, as their greatness transcends the sport in which they were successful in, it’s time to go through which players could also have their jersey retired across an entire league or sport.
Michael Jordan, #23
Arguably the greatest player to ever step foot on a basketball court, Michael Jordan made the number 23 one of the most popular choices for players across the world.
Jordan’s greatness in the 90’s, as he dominated basketball with the Chicago Bulls, inspired the next generation of basketball players to try and be ‘Like Mike’.
One team has already acknowledged the greatness of Jordan without him playing for the franchise, as the Miami Heat retired the #23 in 2003.
Jordan’s on court accomplishments will likely never be matched, but his game-changing Jordan brand has become one of the most recognisable names in both sport and the fashion industry.
Lebron James, who many consider to be better if not equal to Jordan basketball-wise, took the number 23 to honour the legendary career of the ‘Goat’.
Jordan’s iconic #23 has transcended sports with the likes of David Beckham and Shane Warne donning the number on the back of their jerseys.
Shane Warne, #23
Shane Warne, the greatest spin-bowler in the history of Cricket and a man that inspired a nation to try and bowl leg-spin.
The Victorian native gave a new life to a dying form of bowling and became the most successful spin bowler in the process.
Warnie was immortalised over a decade before his shocking passing, with a bronze-statue outside the MCG.
The King of Spin was an icon for Australians on and off the pitch, living a carefree life that many admired. Warnie’s legacy is not limited to cricket, undoubtedly going down as an Australian sporting legend.
Warne’s jersey should be retired across the Australian Test and domestic setups as a nod to the greatest spin-bowler’s cricket legacy.
Tom Brady, #12
In a world where there is constant debate as to who each sports ‘GOAT’ is, Tom Brady is the unanimous greatest American Football player of all-time.
Brady is undoubtedly the NFL’s greatest winner, with seven Super Bowls in ten appearances to go along with three Super Bowl MVP and five regular season MVPs.
The thing that separates Brady from most is his sustained quality, maintaining his top-level talent at an advanced age. The 45-year-old has shown little signs of slowing down in recent years and looks set to continue his historic NFL career for the next couple of years – despite constant retirement rumours.
Brady’s impact on the sport is second-to-none and he should be acknowledged for his all-time greatness that will almost certainly never be topped.
Michael Schumacher, #7
Michael Schumacher, arguably the greatest racing driver of all time, should have his number retired not only in Formula 1, but across any motor-racing category.
Schumacher dominated the early-2000’s of Formula 1, with five consecutive championships from 2000-2004.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe German set records that are still yet to be broken to this day, including the most drivers championships in Formula 1, which he shares with Lewis Hamilton on 7.
Schumacher’s dominance forced the sport to try and change the way the cars were made in an attempt to halt his excellence behind the wheel.
The name Schumacher transcends motor-racing and gave Formula 1 a global superstar at the turn of the millennium, thus should be rewarded with a sport-wide jersey retirement.
