Quantifying Bill Russell's impact on the game is never easy. With limited scores in the 1950s and 1960s, statistics can never tell the whole story. His scoring and rebounding stats were impressive in that era, but they were what we had. We know nothing about blocks or other defensive data, leaving us with anecdotal evidence that is sometimes difficult to understand. These estimates do not seem to be true. Talking about Russell in statistical terms, then and now, never made him fair.
When he took office in 1956, his style of play was simple and primitive: he scored more than the opponent and you left as a winner. Russell then changed the script, focusing on defense rather than offense — determined to stop any scorer who dared to challenge him. He's bucked the tide in a variety of ways — never before has a player, winner, and civil rights fighter like him in the NBA's 75-year history.
Those who are not satisfied that there is no personal data that best captures his dominance should understand that the only number that matters to him is obvious: 11. The number of titles he has won in his 13-year career. As for his personal greatness, before all others, there is one person who first understands it and appreciates it the most. That man was Red Auerbach.
Over the next decade, the two will make history together.
How many players will consider the opponent's vision? How many people can decipher what their adversaries see and then react accordingly? Who built their game not based on body size or athleticism, but on psychology and intimidation? If that doesn't make any sense, then listen to Bill Russell prove that he's a recognized basketball genius as he explains his unique, unique approach to defense.
What's fascinating about Russell is that his understanding of secondary games — that is, races that go beyond the scoreboard — is enormous. It's a contest between the ears: mental games. He believed in causal basketball; blocking an opponent's shot would change not only that attempt, but also subsequent attempts. This can render the opponent useless at halftime, for the rest of the game — and even for the rest of the playoff series. Russell knew this, understood its power, and used it as his primary motivation.
Here, Russell describes the psychological effects of his presence on the field.
Picasso taught modern art. Einstein taught the theory of relativity. Russell teaches rebounds and blocks. With Auerbach's help, Russell broke down two essential elements of basketball he mastered here.
So far, we've heard Russell explain the way he plays – now, let's take a look. Game 6 of the 1963 NBA Finals – Celtics vs. Lakers. Spoilers go like this: Russell played 48 minutes, scored 12 points, grabbed 24 rebounds and nine assists. But keep in mind that these numbers don't capture him completely. Of course, he played very well, with Boston winning the title for the fifth consecutive time. But the fun isn't just about watching Russell score — it's about watching his understated talent every moment on the pitch. When Russell blocks — the video has seven blocks — he controls. With his back to the basket and the ball in his hand, his instinct was not to seek and destroy. Instead, as teammates move around him, he looks for them first, as the center of the Celtics universe. When the Lakers got the ball, they saw him lurking.
Russell's mission as a player is simple: to win every game every year. While the results produced by this approach are unmatched in any professional sport, it's even more noteworthy that Russell knew it was possible. He believes he can decide the outcome of any match with his willpower. A lot of times, that's exactly what he did.
It seems easy to guess the most important achievement for him – perhaps his first title, perhaps his last – but there are moments that may surprise us. Take, for example, the NBA All-Star Game in Los Angeles in 1963. Russell was named the Most Valuable Player and the East won. But it was his father's presence, and the comments he had made the day before, that inspired Russell's MVP performance. In a game made up of the best players in the world, Bill Russell made the decision to perform well
In 1997, as the League celebrated its 50th anniversary, Russell and Chamberlain fought side by side again. As usual, the results are fascinating.
In the 1961–62 season, Chamberlain averaged 50 points per game and Oscar Robertson averaged a triple-double. However, the Brotherhood of Players, who was elected to the league's Most Valuable Player Award at the time, overwhelmingly put Russell at the top of the list, but the gap wasn't particularly close. It also proved to make sense: Russell eventually led Boston to another championship, and in his 7th decisive game against the Lakers, he played what was perhaps his greatest game — 30 points and 40 rebounds. Take a moment to digest these numbers.
What was the world's greatest basketball player like in 1962? As Johnny Moster introduced, Russell showed off some of his rebounding and dunk skills.
For Russell and his Celtics, the inferior position was unfamiliar. Despite winning 10 titles in his first 12 seasons, Boston found itself in that position in 1969, Russell's third season as a player-coach. After winning the fourth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, it seems unlikely to win another championship. However, with ruse and experience, the Celtics somehow made it into another championship series. Waiting for them are eltime Baylor, Jerry West and the Los Angeles Lakers, led by newly acquired Chamberlain. On the surface, this may seem unfair; finally, the Lakers have a chance to reverse a decade of suffering. Boston appeared to be one step behind throughout the series, quickly trailing 0-2, requiring Sam Jones' miracle to avoid the 3-1 holes, which eventually forced a game 7 in Los Angeles. If the Celtics lost, Bill Russell's last game was played on May 5, 1969. The outcome of the match will determine the winner of the season, which is the scene from which Russell played his greatest game during this period. When asked to describe his thoughts on the winner, Russell once said: "Being able to play in an important game." There is a certain level of tension in the big games that everyone can feel. For some players, it makes them better, and for some players who make them weaker. I'm lucky that what I do – tension is helpful. ”
After 13 seasons, he did not overstay or leave prematurely. While he was still able to provide the last example of the Celtic mystery, he played long enough to get off the top. The last resort of the greatest winner in the history of professional sports is to improve the level of those around him. As a whole, Boston was once again crowned champion. For Russell, he didn't anticipate other outcomes.