The Boston Celtics' jersey number 42 holds significant meaning, having been retired league-wide in honor of Bill Russell. Today, we delve into the history of that number, spotlighting Joe Wolf, the seventh of 14 players to don the jersey for the Celtics.

Wolf, a big man, played for the Celtics and followed a collegiate career at UNC. He was selected in the draft following his time with the Tar Heels. Details regarding the year of his selection or specific statistics during his Celtics tenure are not available in this report.

The number 42 is deeply intertwined with basketball history. Russell, a legendary Celtics player and coach, wore number 42 throughout his career. In 1969, Russell was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, where he promptly requested the Lakers retire his number. The Lakers obliged, marking the first time a player's number had been retired by an NBA team.

In 1972, the NBA officially retired number 42 for all teams, honoring Russell’s contributions to the sport and his commitment to civil rights. This meant no new players could be assigned the number 42, although players who already wore it were allowed to continue doing so. The decision was a landmark moment in NBA history, recognizing the impact of a single player on and off the court.

Joe Wolf represents one chapter in the story of those who wore the number before its widespread retirement, a reminder of the players who graced the Celtics in years past and contributed to the team's rich legacy.