(Translator's note: The Athletic journalist Jay King is the author of this article, and the content of this article does not represent the views of the translator.) ）
Welcome to the NBA 75, The Athletic's one-by-one inventory of NBA's 75 biggest stars to mark the league's 75th anniversary. We will continue to publish the top rankings, which are selected by The Athletic's NBA Working Group.
The NBA officially established the Lifetime Achievement Award for the first time in 2017, and Bill Russell became the first recipient of the award. The legendary Boston Celtics center, who came out of Simonro, Louisiana, received the supreme honorary trophy from the awards ceremony host "Skyhook" Abdul-Jabbar, who is also a legendary center. Standing behind him, along with the awards ceremony, were the greatest big players selected by the NBA: O'Neal, Mourning, Mutombo, David Robinson.
On the night of the end of June, five NBA stars except Russell won a total of 13 NBA championship trophies in a total of 86 seasons, and the NBA legend they saluted had 11 championship rings in each person, and they could not wear them with both hands.
Combining the height of a big player with the dexterity of a point guard, Russell defines the talent of the sport. He shows how in basketball, he uses his wit and body to beat opponents and win games from the defensive end. When it comes to champions, Russell's achievements are unprecedented. Abdul-Jabbar said to the audience at the opening of the awards ceremony.
Next, a video was released summarizing Russell's career achievements and outstanding contributions to the league, and the audience immediately gave a 20-second round of applause. Abdul-Jabbar invited Russell, the 83-year-old man who shook hands with the great centers on the stage under the support of Morningn.
The first words he uttered in front of the microphone: "Where did they get these big men?" ”
This question caused laughter in the audience, but his next sentence caused laughter in the hall. Russell took a cane that Jabbar had handed him, stared at the five centers standing to his right, paused, and counted the number of people with his left index finger, one, two, three, four, five. Then the left hand covered his lips and pretended to whisper something they could not refute:
The five centers burst into laughter, the audience boiled, and the old man's joke baggage conquered the whole field. This is another famous scene of the NBA legend's contribution.
Russell, who ranks 4th among the 75 biggest stars in TA history, is seen by many as a champion on the field and a civil rights leader under the field. What is often overlooked is his wisdom, extraordinary leadership, and ability to navigate the audience with humorous and funny jokes. He was a man of sophistication, eloquent speech and witty words. He has many followers, and his words and deeds count because his life is so legendary.
Barkley, who ranks 22nd among the 75 biggest stars in TA history, said of Russell on the TNT show Inside the NBA last December: "When I met Jack Nicklaus and Bill Russell on the golf tour of Ernie Els( a well-known golfer), out of admiration, I never called them by their first names, but I always called Mr. Nicklaus and Mr. Russell. ”
Russell inspired not only those on the field that night, he also inspired another player on the continent many years ago.
Bill Wharton didn't get a chance to come to the scene to watch Russell play, but he knew the Celtic center was unique.
3,000 miles away, Bill Wharton, then 9 or 10, discovered the charm of basketball. His parents, Ted and Gloria, knew little about sports, but the young Wharton was obsessed with the sport. There was no live television broadcast at the time, and Walton often listened to the Lakers' games on the radio.
Despite not seeing the scene, the narrator Chick Hearn's broadcast made Walton feel as if he were there. Clad in his opponent's jersey, Chick Hearn portrayed him as the emperor on the pitch, a supremely dominant winner. In this way, little Walton on the other end of the radio learned of the talented Russell.
According to Wharton, Chick Hearn was just doing his narration work. But he explained it so well that Walton became a fan of Russell. Russell won't be the most scoring player on the pitch, nor will he stick the ball or have to play every round, he'll just focus on the team's wins.
Wharton believes that Russell is not only the player with the most titles in history, but also a selfless superstar, an indomitable competitor. He advocated civil rights reform and was eventually awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010. He was a warrior and faced the darkness of society countless times. He is also an idol among idols, promoting the process of social development.
"He's the one who really makes a difference." Wharton said.
Little Walton, who was sitting in front of the FM radio, could constantly feel Russell's motivation for him. He still has a few years to go to high school, and he does not know that one day in the future he will meet Russell and become a close friend, nor does he know that he will sit next to Russell on the long bus to the away field in the future, listening to his life, career legends and life credoes. He didn't realize he would one day put on the Celtics jersey and play a key role in one of the best teams in history.
That was many years later, but at the time, it seemed like a dream.
"I was a red-haired kid from San Diego who just wanted to do something special and meaningful, and that became the driving force of my life," Wharton said. Eventually I found the target, from the man 3,000 miles away. I felt like that's what I'm going to do, I want to be great, and in the end everything is far beyond imagination. ”
Wharton remembers seeing Russell for the first time in college, and the experience of playing for the Celtics brought the two closer together. He also remembers sitting next to Russell talking about his life's lofty ideals and participating in major commemorative events together, such as Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Day in 2006.
Walton has always held Russell in the highest esteem, and he soon realizes that he has become a part of this legendary life. In 2021, when Russell was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach, he chose Wharton as one of the introducers. Wharton also attended Russell's wedding vow reaffirmation ceremony earlier this year, which shows the closeness of the two.
As a child, Walton always looked up to Russell as a member of the NBA's ultimate team. He tried to get his hands on every issue of Russell's Sports Illustrated, as did other books and newspapers. In the 1960s, Wharton's mother worked as a caretaker at the local library, and Wharton begged her mother to borrow a copy of Go Up For Glory from the library, which detailed russell's childhood and the racial discrimination and prejudice she encountered as a black man. Wharton enjoyed reading the book so much that he said he never returned it to the library.
"When I got into the NBA, I wrote a check and bought it." Wharton said with a smile.
In those days, everyone was compared to Chamberlain, and it seemed that only Russell always prevailed. Careers collided face-to-face, with Russell taking the upper hand with a 57-37 loss. Walton said: "Every time we meet, Russell will tell his teammates to let him defend Chamberlain alone. He would say to his teammates: 'Brothers, this is how we win: I'm going to defend Chamberlain, and Chamberlain alone may score a lot of points.' Keep an eye on your opponents and don't let them score. Chamberlain alone is not enough to beat us as a whole. You know, Russell isn't dominant in terms of body type. Chamberlain's talent for height and strength is historical. Russell had to do her best to fight him. ”
"Chamberlain was amazingly powerful, completely crushing his opponents. Russell was at a disadvantage in that regard, yet Russell found his way to win from the weak, and that was what really inspired me. Wharton added.
Russell won an honor unrivalled. 11 NBA championships make history. He has won the regular season MVP 5 times, second only to Abdul-Jabbar's 6. He won five rebounds and averaged 22.5 rebounds per game in his career. In 13 seasons, he was selected as an All-Star 12 times, and only once lost the All-Star in the 1956 rookie season due to missing part of the regular season in the Olympic Games. He won an Olympic gold medal with Team USA that year and led the Celtics to the NBA championship a few months later. Prior to that, he led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA championships with a record of 55 consecutive wins. In NBA games, the Celtics see it as a reliable choice in the decisive moments of a key game.
Cardinal Auerbach, the founder of the Celtic dynasty, said of Russell in his book: "At the beginning of the game, when the mid-circle jump ball, Russell seemed so outstanding, both on and off the field. ”
It is worth mentioning that Russell achieved an impressive record of 10 wins and 0 losses in the playoffS playoff G7 decider during the player period, averaging 18.6 points and 29.3 rebounds per game, including the great performance of 30 points and 40 rebounds in the 1962 Finals G7 against the Lakers. In those 10 games (including 3 extra-time), Russell played 488 minutes in a total of 495 minutes of match time. His last G7, and the last game of his career, was a 108-106 victory over the Celtics over Oxlade-Chamberlain's Lakers. At that time, the Celtics had an aging lineup, and the Lakers had a "Big Three": Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West.
Ahead of that G7 game, former NBA player and commentator Jack Twyman interviewed Russell in the locker room: "What happens next?" Russell looked into the microphone, looked at the camera, looked at Jack Twyman and said, "We're going to win." Jack Twyman, a future Hall of Famer and tv commentator, took a step back and asked incredulously, "Well, how do you know?" Russell looked at him, sneered at the camera, and said, "We've done it before." ”
Russell received two championship rings as a Celtic player and coach in the final two seasons of his career, and he was subsequently inducted into the Hall of Fame in both capacities. He was the first black coach in the four major sports leagues in North America. He was also one of the first five all-black players in the NBA. He was twice named to the National College First Team and twice named National College Player of the Year. He has been featured in the NBA's official announcement of the 25th anniversary, 35th anniversary, 50th anniversary, and 75th anniversary of the best team. But in his career, he has never averaged more than 20 points per game in a single season.
"He wrote the history of basketball. He was also born fearless. Bill Walton said.
In Wharton's eyes, Russell's greatness has surpassed his achievements. He controls the game with his own unique style. His scoring isn't going to be high, but he can also hit a hooker with his left hand if the team needs to. He's running all over the place, and underprepared opponents won't be able to keep up with him. Walton believes that the offensive and defensive transition is the moment that belongs to Russell, who will block the opponent's shot and put the ball directly into the hands of his teammates to launch a counter-attack to score, rather than fanning out of bounds.
Wharton said: "Basketball games are like beautiful music. Aside from suspensions and dead balls, the game has been flowing. From offense to defense, and then from defense to offense, this is the moment when Russell showed his talent. He's everywhere and his control over the timing of the game is perfect. ”
As the old saying goes, man may never meet his hero. But Walton was glad he had. Looking back, he said, "I'm the luckiest person in the world." At the age of 9 or 10, he set up his idol, and finally met him, met, knew, worked together, and finally found that he was better than he thought in reality. ”
Growing up in Louisiana, Russell often encountered racial discrimination. One night, the Ku Klux Klan set its sights on Russell's grandfather. His grandfather was also on guard, waiting for the other party to find the door. The Ku Klux Klan opened fire first, his grandfather then returned fire, and the fierce gun battle continued until the Ku Klux Klan fled. Russell himself detailed this in an article in "The Star Opens the Stage."
When Russell joined the Celtics, he was the only black player on the team who had struggled with racism throughout his career. Some restaurants refused him access because of his skin color. Insulting language is also heard from time to time during matches. Someone broke into his house and sprayed insulting handwriting on the wall.
In a 2020 interview with Slam magazine, Russell said about race, saying: "The Celtics used to have a black player named Chuck Copper, but when I joined the team, I was the only black person on the team at the time. The Celtics, from president Walter Brown to Cardinal Auerbach to my teammates, have been good to me. But the local fans are not the same as the city, and they will angrily shout something ugly at me during the game. I use these unkindnesses as motivation to motivate myself to fight them back by winning games. A few years later there were only a handful of blacks on the team, and there were only about 15 black players in the league at that time, so I always complained about the problem of too few black players, and that complaint made a difference. The Celtics voted on how to increase attendance, with more than half of the fans suggesting 'reducing the number of black players on the team'. I'm not going to let these blind and opinionated so-called 'fans' hurt me, I'm playing for the Boston Celtics, for this organization and my teammates, I'm not playing for the city and these 'fans'. ”
Former teammate Bob Cush later wrote to Russell apologizing for not being able to support him at that time. Years later, Bob Cush said in an interview with the media: "You know what? I could have stepped forward and shared the pain with him, but unfortunately I never took that step. ”
Bill Wharton says Russell's putting his dreams into action wasn't a temporary one, it was his life's goal. He suffered from unfair treatment and innocent discrimination because of his skin color, and he fought the evils of racism. In the face of difficulties, he will not be willing to give in like ordinary people. He was and has been a model of human rights equality.
Before serving as a commentator and analyst for TNT's Inside the NBA, Kenny Smith was the main point guard who won two championships with the Houston Rockets in the 1990s. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 6th pick in the 1987 NBA Draft.
Kenny Smith's first head coach was Russell, who was fired after coaching the Kings in the 1987–88 season with a 17-41 start. Barkley has been making fun of Kenny Smith for this, saying that his rookie is the reason russell's dismissal. Smith jokingly threw the pot at former teammate Reggie Toys.
That rookie season, on every road trip, Kenny Smith was arranged to sit next to Russell. Kenny Smith revealed on Inside the NBA last December: "Russell has a rule: every time I fly and bus, I have to sit next to him. I'm going to drive him home. So I've heard all the stories that you know, so many stories. There were a lot of opportunities to get in touch with him, and we were staying together this summer, and I introduced him to my kids. ”
"I also have a rule: I don't usually call a coach 'coach'. But I called him the 'coach'. Kenny Smith said.
On the way to the road, the Kings veterans seated rookie Kenny Smith next to head coach Russell as a "punishment" for him. For Kenny Smith, the opposite turned out, which he considered to be the best time of his life.
For athletes who truly understand history, it is rare to get any collection with Russell fingerprints. The collection was a great honor for Russell and he deserved it. His collections range from an Honorary Degree Certificate from the Ivy League to a autographed letter from baseball pioneer Jackie Robinson (the first black player in NBA).
From these collections he drew the strength of the struggle with his black teammates. Clock back in 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, Russell and his four black teammates refused to appear in an exhibition game because they were refused to dine at a local restaurant.
Barkley said on the podcast: "Russell has been a great presence in my mind all these years. His contribution to the civil rights movement in this country is immeasurable. He and boxer Ali will always be my heroes. Now if you're worth $100 million, or $30 million or forty million a year, you can easily become a messenger of social justice. But the two of them carried all the heavy responsibilities on their shoulders in their time. ”
Ernie Johnson, host of TNT's "Inside the NBA," has always listed Russell as a priority invitee to the All-Star Weekend Legends Brunch event, an NBA All-Star Weekend event. The annual All-Star Weekend also coincides close to Russell's birthday (February 12th). Contact with Russell is always enjoyable, and talking to him will make you feel his senseless side. Ernie Johnson remembers one time in an interview together, Russell teased his iconic butterfly bow tie.
Russell asked, "Ernie, what are you wearing?" What is this bow tie called? ”
Ernie Johnson: "It's called a butterfly bow tie. ”
Russell: "Where did you buy it?" ”
Ernie Johnson: "I always buy bow ties at Beau Ties of Vermont, my favorite place"
Russell: "You've been cheated, you're sure you've bought a fake." ”
Ernie Johnson was stunned, as if to say, isn't it? This is the latest model.
This is Russell. Whether it's sincere or funny. Whether controversial or innocuous. He dared to speak out. Because of his authenticity, the basketball world has treasured him for decades.
Kenny Smith admits to being completely stunned when he first met Russell, which is not easy for a rookie. He said: "I have no idea what to say. I didn't know whether to call him 'Coach Russell,' 'Bill,' or 'Mr. Russell.' My teaching assistant at the time was Willis Reed, and I was completely stupid. ”
As a rookie, Kenny Smith wants to learn and grow as quickly as possible like a sponge. Getting guidance from the NBA "The Lord of the Rings" is a fantastic opportunity. In a 2013 interview, Kenny Smith said Russell taught him to learn from his teammates that teamwork is important whether he wins or loses.
Bill Walton was also deeply touched by this. When Walton joined the Celtics in 1985, the team's legendary stars helped him integrate into the team. Bob Cousy and Tommy Heinthorn often watch the game, KC Jones is the team's head coach, and Sam Jones and Tom Sanders often appear in training and games. Even living in Seattle, Russell has always looked for opportunities to get involved in the team's affairs.
Wharton said: "Russell was highly involved. We were interviewed together in the Celtics locker room and talked about history in front of the camera, not only basketball history, but also life. After each interview, I was touched by him, healed, and with a belief that tomorrow would be better. ”
It's been 16 years since Russell retired, but Walton can still feel his influence in the Celtics. His selfless style of play has evolved into team culture: actively passing the ball during matches, finding teammates in empty places, cheering each other on. Eventually, after several years of recovering from injury, Walton integrated into the team.
"When you become part of the legend, it's also changing you," Wharton said. For the rest of my life, I'm always chasing more dreams, trying to reinvent the glory, and I want to achieve something special. Especially with Bill Russell and the Cardinal around, it's hard to imagine. ”
Wharton remembers almost every personal experience about Russell. Only one university offered him a basketball scholarship. It took him to grow from 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet 8 inches in the late high school period before Russell won his golden age. He can jump to heights that are difficult for his opponents to reach. At the peak of his career, he could touch the top edge of the rebound. It can also be said that he is a world-class high jumper with superb basketball skills.
On the basketball court, Russell changed the game forever. When he started playing, the coaches always stressed the need to lower the center of gravity when defending, but he always jumped off the cap and eventually grew into a generation of capper masters.
"After that, he won two NCAA titles with a record winning streak and earned the title of Player of the Year," Wharton said. (Later NBA Draft), some teams didn't want to choose him because of his skin color, he was like an outlier. Whether as a person in life or a player on the pitch, he looks different from ordinary people. You know, when you are the first person to eat crabs, it is never easy, but he bravely took over this responsibility and carried the weight forward. ”
Wharton always went out of his way to learn more about Russell's history, everything about him. For example, after the assassination of Medgar Evers, the leader of the black civil rights movement, in Mississippi in 1963, Russell went to Mississippi to play, and he wanted to do something to keep Medgar Evers' spirit alive. So he contacted Charles Evers (Medgar Evers' brother) and asked what he could do to help him. Charles Evers came up with an idea: to start Mississippi's first comprehensive basketball camp. Russell agreed, though he knew it would expose him to the death threat of a segregationist.
"As long as these discrimination and prejudices persist, Russell will not stop fighting," Wharton said. He knew he could beat it, and he did, and it was up to us. ”
In 2013, when the Celtics unveiled the statue for Russell, a number of celebrities came to the event, including Jimmy Brown, Dr. J, "Glider" Drexler, musicians Bill Withers and Johnny Matisse, among others. At first, Russell was hesitant about the Celtics erecting a statue for him because he felt it embarrassed him a little. It wasn't until the Celtics agreed to fund a training program that Russell finally agreed. He is such a person, even if he has achieved extraordinary glory, he is still trying to help the people around him.
Wharton sat in the second row of the unveiling ceremony, and as always, he was glad to be a part of Russell's life. "I always do my best to get involved in everything Russell does, whether it's sports, or business, or family life," he says. I want to do everything I can to help him, because he has helped me tremendously. He means everything to me and that's all I owe him. ”
"Someone always has to stand up first, and he's happy to be that person." In the past he led the charge, and he will continue to be the vanguard of this era. Wharton said.
Written by Jay King
Compilation: Thick beard