During Game 1 of the Eastern Conference first round, Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is sporting a bespoke pair of green sneakers with Bill Russell’s face on the side.

Russell, the renowned Celtics center and humanitarian, is depicted smiling and sporting a red shirt and black jacket. Russell’s No. 6 jersey was retired by the NBA after he died in 2022 at the age of 88.

Russell won 11 titles with the Celtics as a player and two as a coach. But, as Brown stated before Boston’s season opener in October, his influence extends far beyond the basketball floor.

“During the peak of racial tension in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honor that transcended sports,” Brown said in a statement. “The amount of respect he receives from his people will live on forever, and I’m honored to shake his hand.” He was a great champion both on and off the court, for which we are eternally grateful.”

Brown started Game One despite missing the Celtics’ last two regular-season games due to a hand injury. Brown averaged a career-high 26.7 points per game during the regular season.