Why Memphis Grizzlies rookie Kenneth Lofton Jr. will wear No. 6 — even after Bill Russell's death

Kenneth Lofton Jr.’s name will soon be the answer to what may become a popular sports trivia question. Lofton is one of the last players in the NBA who will wear the No. 6.

The NBA announced in August that the jersey will be retired throughout the league in honor of basketball and civil rights pioneer Bill Russell. Players currently wearing the number are grandfathered into the number.

Now Lofton, a 20-year-old rookie, will have connections with a man who won 11 NBA championships, five MVPs and played an instrumental role in the advancement of basketball for Black people.

Lofton is one of 16 NBA players currently wearing No. 6, which includes Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. That number will get smaller when final NBA rosters are finalized. Lofton’s reason for wearing No. 6 isn’t as personal as you may think.

“I just grabbed it, really,” Lofton said while laughing.

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The Memphis Grizzlies will play the Boston Celtics on Feb. 12, which is one of the days where Russell will be honored this season since that is his birthday. That’s not Russell’s only connection to Memphis. The former Celtics star played two NBA games in Memphis: March 7, 1966, and March 13, 1967.

The St. Louis Hawks, who moved to Atlanta in 1968, were battling low attendance numbers and appeal in the St. Louis market. The MLB Cardinals were the biggest appeal in the city, and the NFL Cardinals and NHL Blues were on the rise. The Hawks played some games at Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, which included two contests against Russell. In the 1966 meeting, Russell played the full 48 minutes in a 106-104 Celtics win. St. Louis got its revenge next season, when the Hawks won 123-122.

“I’m just happy I got the number, and I’ll be the last person to wear it here in Memphis,” Lofton said.Russell’s most notable moment in Memphis to Grizzlies fans may have come in 2003. During the team’s first annual MLK Day celebration game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Russell was one of five basketball legends honored. The honorees included former Memphis Tigers basketball coach Larry Finch.

Among the players that were on the floor that night were: Pau Gasol, Grizzlies analyst Brevin Knight, Scottie Pippen and two Blazers that would later become Grizzlies, Bonzi Wells and Zach Randolph.

Randolph’s name has been popular in Grizzlies circles lately not only because he’s still regarded as one of the franchise’s most impactful players, but Lofton draws a lot of comparisons to the former All-Star because of their low center of gravity, smooth mid-range shots and ability to finish through taller players around the rim.

In fact, Wells, who played with Randolph and has known him since he was 13 years old, told The Commercial Appeal that Lofton reminds him of a younger Randolph.

Lofton shined in his preseason debut, scoring 17 points on 6-for-8 shooting. He was also one of the standout Grizzlies during Summer League.

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Lofton went undrafted after two seasons at Louisiana Tech. His burly size combined with a 6-foot-7 frame has garnered mainstream attention from NBA fans.

“I just been working on my body a lot more and going into season just keep that up, keep playing hard,” Lofton said.

The connection to Russell only adds to Lofton’s mystique.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies rookie Kenneth Lofton Jr. has ties to Bill Russell