The unfortunate news came from the NBA that legendary star "Lord of the Rings" Bill Russell died at the age of 88.
Russell is one of the NBA's most legendary stars, and in his 13 seasons with the Celtics (1956-69), he won a total of 11 championships, the most championships in NBA history, and the championship ring is not enough to wear on both hands, and he is a veritable "Lord of the Rings". In addition, he has won five MVP titles, 12 All-Star selections and two all-team selections. In 1975, Russell was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. In his career, he averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game, a personal single-game rebounding record of 51, and has won 40+ rebounds in eight single games and 30+ rebounds in 134 times, cementing his position as one of the most dominant centers of all time. He was also named to the 25th, 50th and 75th Greatest Players in NBA History.
In his time, Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were the two masters of the interior. Chamberlain is statistically superior (career average of 30.1 points and 22.9 rebounds per game) and has the upper hand in the head-to-head confrontation between the two. In the game against Russell, Chamberlain averaged 28.7 points and 28.7 rebounds per game. Russell averaged 14.5 points and 23.7 rebounds per game, but Russell was always the last to laugh, winning nine more titles than Chamberlain and maintaining a record of 85-57 in head-to-head combat.
Of course, in the process, Russell also received a lot of help from noble people. During his time with the Celtics, he partnered with many Hall of Famers, including head coach Auerbach and players Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Tom Heinthorn, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Bill Shaman, Clyde Lovellett, Frank Ramsey, Tom Sanders, Arnie Ryson, Bailey Howell and Andy Phillip.
Russell took over as Celtics head coach in 1966–67, becoming the first African-American head coach in NBA history. He served as a player--coach for three seasons and won two titles in this particular role. After retiring, Russell served as head coach for the Seattle Supersonics (1973–77) and Sacramento Kings (1987–88), twice leading the Supersonics into the playoffs.
After ending his basketball career, Russell also worked as a basketball broadcaster for a time, working for ABC and CBS Sports during the 1970s and 1980s.
Because he often faces racist discrimination from fans and institutions, outside of the sports field, Russell is also actively involved in social activities against racism and various injustices. In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of the historic precedent he set in breaking down the coaching skin color barrier, as well as his other accomplishments.
After learning of Russell's death, NBA players expressed their condolences. NBA President Adam Shawa also issued a statement for Russell, saying: "Bill Russell is the greatest champion of all team sports... Bill represents something more important than sport: the values of equality, respect and inclusion, which he has been deeply imprinted in the DNA of the league. At the height of his athletic career, he was a vocal advocate for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed on to generations of NBA players who followed him. Through ridicule, threats, and unimaginable adversity, Bill went above and beyond and stuck to his belief that everyone should be treated with respect. ”
As one of the greatest Celtics players of all time, one of the greatest NBA players, and one of the most successful athletes in American history, Russell will be remembered in the history of sports, and more importantly, as an important figure in the American civil rights movement, Russell will also be remembered in American history.