Black giant man: A basketball legend, who is Bill Russell?
Bill Russell was the player with the most championships in NBA history. From the mid-1950s to the late 60s, he had 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics! It is a record that is next to impossible to break.
But what made Russell even more gigantic was that he was always at the forefront, taking a firm stand against racial discrimination throughout his life.
Those who follow American sports closely know; The players of the champion teams are given a ring as a token of that success. Like Olympic medals. The difference is that it is worn on the finger, not the neck. Only two great legends in the history of sports; Montreal ice hockey player Henri Richard and basketball player Bill Russell have shared an unbelievable record for having more rings than the number of fingers (11). We lost Russell, one of these great champions, on the last day of July at the age of 88. Richard was sent off to eternity about 16 months before that.
William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.
The death of Bill Russell, of course, received wide coverage in the international sports media, especially in the United States. The younger generation of basketball enthusiasts, who are locked in front of NBA screens at the expense of sleep most nights of the year, and follow every step taken by LeBron, Curry, and Durant on social media, was somewhat surprised by this situation. After all, how could a “grandfather” who could barely walk with the aid of a cane, whose triumphal cries and champagne celebrations faded in ancient black and white frames, could be treated as Michael Jordan, Kobe, or Shaq?
Bill Russell is the player who has won the most championships in NBA history. More importantly, Russell had 11 titles in just 13 seasons, meaning he had two seasons off the ball in his professional career without any championship glory. It should also be emphasized that the age of stepping into professionalism in his era was later than today, and because the physiology of sports was not developed that much, the players did not have a chance to extend their careers with scientific support. For example, LeBron James, who entered the league at the age of 19, left his 19th season behind and looks like he will play quite a bit more. Championship rings? Their numbers haven't even reached the fingers of a hand yet!
In this comparison, Michael Jordan 6, plenty of soil, Kobe Bryant 5, Shaquille O'Neal 4, and Russell stand like plains that make the mountain look high. Robert Horry has 7 rings, Kareem Abdulcabbar has 6 rings, and Tim Duncan and Magic Johnson have 5 rings each. Those who can come closest to Russell are Sam Jones, Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, and John Havlicek, who went down in history by grabbing 8-9 rings with the advantage of being his teammate but did not leave such a deep mark on the game.
WHO IS BILL RUSSELL?
Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in West Monroe, Louisiana, USA, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell. His full name is William Felton Russell. When he was 12 years old, his mother died suddenly. He attended high school at McClaymonds High School in Oakland, California. He also started playing basketball at this time.
Bill Russell, who is 2.08 m tall and plays in the center position, won the NCAA championship with the University of San Francisco in 1955 and 1956. During this period, they showed an unbelievable performance by winning 55 consecutive matches.
Bill Russell was the captain of the USA Basketball Team at the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia, and was one of the most important players to win the gold medal for his team. He started his NBA career by transferring to Boston Celtics in 1956.
Bill Russell played a major role in 11 championships with the Boston Celtics in the 13 years he played basketball, from 1956 to 1969. Bill Russell also coached the Boston Celtics from 1966 to 1969.
Bill Russell coached the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973-1977 and the Sacramento Kings from 1987-1988.