NBA retires Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey across the league to honor the 11-time champion

• The NBA is retiring the No. 6 jersey across the league to honor Bill Russell.
• Russell, who died last month, wore the jersey throughout his career with the Boston Celtics.
• The NBA called the gesture a "momentous honour" for "one of its greatest champions."

The NBA is retiring the No. 6 jersey across the league to honor the late Bill Russell.

Russell, who died last month aged 88, wore the number throughout his legendary career with the Boston Celtics, during which he won a record 11 NBA titles and five Most Valuable Player awards.

"Bill Russell's unparalleled success on the court and pioneering civil rights activism deserve to be honoured in a unique and historic way," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement on Thursday.

"Permanently retiring his No. 6 across every NBA team ensures that Bill's transcendent career will always be recognized."

Players who currently wear the number for their teams — including Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James — will continue to be able to use the number but it won't be issued again.

No other player in NBA history has had their jersey number retired across the league.

"This is a momentous honor reserved for one of the greatest champions to ever play the game," NBPA Executive Director Tamika Tremaglio said.

"Bill's actions on and off the court throughout the course of his life helped to shape generations of players for the better and for that, we are forever grateful. We are proud to continue the celebration of his life and legacy alongside the league."

On top of being the most decorated NBA player of all-time, Russell captained the USA to Olympic gold in 1956.

He was also the NBA's first Black head coach and a civil rights pioneer who marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama.