On July 31, 2022, NBA legend Invoice Russell handed away on the age of 88. The Corridor of Famer had probably the most historic careers in league historical past. Russell is a 12-time all-star, 11-time NBA champion, and five-time league MVP.
To commemorate his influence on the NBA, his #6 was retired league-wide forward of the 2022-23 season. On the time, gamers like LeBron James and DeAndre Jordan wore that quantity. Nevertheless, they have been grandfathered in and allowed to put on it. Jordan is now not within the NBA, and James has since switched to #23. OKC’s Jaylin Williams wears #6. It was not too long ago introduced that he would be the ultimate participant in NBA historical past to put on Invoice Russell’s legendary quantity.
Jaylin Williams has the distinct honor of being the ultimate participant to put on #6 in NBA historical past
With Invoice Russell’s No. 6 being retired league-wide in 2022, Jaylin Williams would be the final participant ever to put on the quantity 🤯 pic.twitter.com/oks1xXG55g
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 2, 2025
Within the 2022 NBA draft, the Thunder used a second-round choose to pick Jaylin Williams out of Arkansas. Upon being drafted, Williams was uncertain what jersey quantity to put on. When he requested his dad for recommendation, he was instructed to take #6. That’s what Williams ended up taking as a rookie. Little did he know the importance of that selection years later. Corridor of Famer Invoice Russell handed away in July 2022.
To honor him, the league retired his #6 jersey league-wide. On the time, DeAndre Jordan wore#6, and he was grandfathered in. Thunder’s Jaylin Williams was the opposite participant who sported a #6 jersey. The 23-year-old heart has been grandfathered in to maintain that jersey quantity shifting ahead. Jaylin Williams can have the distinct honor of being the ultimate participant in NBA historical past to put on #6.
Jaylin Williams on being the final participant to put on No. 6: “I’m honored. I do know the No. 6 was retired by the nice Invoice Russell.”
Mentioned his dad picked out the quantity for him pic.twitter.com/OQwBKkxiNr
— Clemente Almanza (@CAlmanza1007) October 1, 2025
This previous offseason, Jaylin Williams signed a three-year, $24 million extension with OKC. He’s beneath contract with the workforce by means of the 2027-28 season. Over the course of three years within the NBA, Williams has appeared in 165 video games and made 46 begins. He performed 47 video games in 2024-25 and made 9 begins. Williams was a part of the Thunder squad that received the 2025 NBA Finals.
The 23-year-old huge man is a top quality piece off the bench for Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault. Williams is a strong backup heart who can shoot from past the arc. For his profession, Jaylin Williams shoots .390% from deep. That’s spectacular for a frontcourt participant. As he’s performed prior to now, Jaylin Williams will function a depth piece off the bench for the Thunder. Can OKC repeat as NBA champions in 2025-26?
