The ultimate basketball victor, he was a two-time NCAA champion, an Olympic gold medalist, and won a record 11 NBA titles in just 13 seasons with the Celtics. Additionally a tireless civil rights promoter and the first Black head coach
FEATURED LISTS
Lucky charms: Ranking the 37 players who won a championship as Bill Russell’s Celtics teammate
When you win 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons as Bill Russell did, you don’t just earn a lot of hardware for yourself, you also help fill up the trophy cases of plenty of teammates.
Primetime players: 14 notable NBA crossovers with Saturday Night Live
Leveling Up: Eight players who have won an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title
Joy of six: 13 notable facts about jersey #6 and the players who have worn it
One of these things is not like the other: 13 one-sided NBA rivalries
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- As social justice activist
- As great play maker
- As rookie with great postseason performance
- As television broadcaster
- As #2 overall NBA Draft pick
- Author of the book Red and Me
- Drafted by Hawks and traded to Celtics
- Earning league MVP in a controversial voting (1962, 1963)
- Fight with George Dempsey
- Hosting Saturday Night Live
- Injury in 1958 NBA Finals
- Jersey retired by NBA
- Lack of nickname
- Missing out on Finals MVP in a controversial voting (1969)
- On ’59-’60 Boston Celtics (greatest teams)
- On ’61-’62 Boston Celtics (greatest teams)
- On 1956 U.S. Olympic team
- Passed away in 2022
- Ranking of Celtics teammates who won championships with
- Replaced by Hank Finkel
- Retired as NBA champion
- Rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain
- Signing his rookie contract
- Winner of an NCAA title, NBA title, and Olympic gold medal
- Would have earned Finals MVP if it existed
