Bill Russell is one of the greatest players in NBA history, being drafted by the Celtics in 1956 and leading the team to a miracle of eight consecutive championships, 11 titles in 13 years, and in 1968 and 1969, Russell won twice as a player and head coach. Russell won the regular season MVP five times and averaged 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in his career.
Because of the number of champions, fans called him the Lord of the Rings. When he played, Chamberlain, Petit were better in stats than he was, Jerry West, Baylor and others scored better than him. These players take turns reaping the credits in the regular season, but unfortunately, the playoff winners are always led by Russell.
On August 1, 2022, Russell passed away peacefully at the age of 88.
On August 11, the NBA League officially announced that in honor of legendary star Russell, the NBA League will permanently retire the No. 6 jersey. In the future, in the NBA, there will be no more No. 6 jerseys, but players who are now wearing No. 6 jerseys, such as LeBron James, Porzingis, Caruso, Harrell, Lou Wei, etc., can continue to wear them, of course, the league also allows them to change their jersey numbers.
Now there is a question, and that is, who can carry russell's coffin?
Russell was the first black superstar in NBA history, the first black coach in the history of North American sports, and the first black coach to lead a team to a championship. For the tradition of his hometown is not very familiar, but there was a video of 7 people carrying the coffin on the Internet, we counted the number of people carrying the coffin as 7 people, so who is eligible to carry the coffin?
In an interview with a newspaper reporter a year ago, Russell said that if he died, he hoped Duncan would carry the coffin for him. Because of Duncan's character, as well as his willingness to sacrifice on the field and his willingness to do dirty work, he is very similar to Russell who ran on the field when he was young. I have to say that this is inheritance.
So who else but Russell's designated Duncan is the remaining 6?
First, Russell as a legendary figure of the Celtics, the second largest bird bird of the Celtics, should be the right candidate.
The NBA in the 80s reached an unprecedented peak in the United States, the magic bird competed, the heat and competitiveness of the NBA also reached an unprecedented height, and the big bird made the Celtics maintain a top competitiveness throughout the eighties. There should be no objection to saying that he was one of the first three greatest figures of the Celts, and that his status and honor made him sufficient to take on the role of carrying the coffin.
At the same time, big bird is also very affectionate to Russell, he himself said: "I have always had great respect for Russell, not only as a person, but also as a player and a great champion. Every time I met him and spent time with him, I always felt excited and I missed him. ”
In view of his feelings, if he is invited, he should not refuse.
Second, the historical giants of the Purple Gold Dynasty should also have one person, and there are two candidates here, the magician and O'Neill.
Both the Magic and O'Neal are eligible to compete for the strongest player in Lakers history, arguably on par. Magic, at the peak of his career, got AIDS, although he gave up his career, but in every year of his career, he has been in a competitive state all the time, starting from the rookie season to win the FMVP, 9 career finals and 5 championships, which is a brilliant achievement of a top player. The strongest point guard in history, the top pass, the top basketball IQ, and the historical level of team leadership ability, enough to take on the role of the coffin carryer.
O'Neal is in the same position as Russell, both are the top center in history, the most dominant player. O'Neal is the only center forward to build a dynasty team since the 21st century, and has won three Finals MVP. Historically rare physical fitness, explosive scoring ability, dominates one of the strongest players on the inside line. He qualifies to compete for the first center in history. He is also qualified to perform the role of the coffin bearer.
Third, Africa, the birthplace of black people, wants to produce one person, and Mutombo absolutely deserves it.
Uncle Mu's defense in the league that year can be said to make all the stars tremble, especially his classic action "shaking his fingers" has become a celebration action after the cover imitated by many people.
In the 1993–94 season, Michael Jordan suddenly retired and BA entered the crowd, with Mutombo leading the Civilian Nuggets to advance to the playoffs in 8th place in the West, and their opponents were "Rainman" Sean Kemp and "Glove" Gary Payton, the supersonic speed led by the two stars inside and outside.
At that time, the first round of the playoffs adopted a 5-3 win system, the supersonic 2 consecutive games, and then the storm suddenly changed, Mutombo covered the sky, so that the supersonic had no power to fight back, and the Nuggets won three consecutive games to win. In these 5 games, Mutombo sent 31 blocks, a feat that opened the first black eight miracle in NBA history. He proved with his actions that great defensive players can also change the outcome of a game.
Fourth, one person and one city is the most perfect ending, so there must be one person here. Nowitzki and Curry have such qualifications.
Curry is the unanimous MVP winner, the navigator of the small-ball era, a player who can change the era, and his influence in history goes without saying. The NBA has entered the era of traditional basketball for so many years, and it was Curry who brought basketball into a new era, changed the concept of traditional basketball, widened the boundaries of the sport, he opened the three-point era, and made "shooting like Curry" a trend. In terms of its impact on basketball culture alone, it is epoch-making.
Such an honor is enough to be on par with Jordan, and Nowitzki is naturally inferior, so Curry should occupy a position.
In view of the speed of China's development, we naturally want to send one person, given Russell's appreciation of Yao Ming, Yao Ming is the best candidate.
Russell is very familiar with space city, very concerned about the Rockets, when Yao Ming first entered the NBA, Russell was full of expectations for him, when Yao Ming was unable to open the situation, Russell personally invited Yao Ming to his home in Seattle to encourage him to get out of the predicament.
Worried about Yao Ming's body, he said to him: "Yao, you have played so many games in the NBA, and you still have to go back to China to play, even if your body is very good, you can't afford such consumption!" ”
After Yao Ming retired due to injury, Russell also said with great regret: "If I point a gun at you and don't let you go, maybe your career will be more than that."
Later, Russell became Yao Ming's Hall of Fame referrer. In 2016, Yao Ming was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and Russell, Mutombo and Wharton, who had gray hair and beard, sat behind Yao Ming, and his eyes were full of love and regret for Yao Ming.
Just against this expectation, Yao Ming should also go.
Sixth, this needless to say, I believe everyone has guessed, that is Jordan, his praise does not need too much, a "basketball god" is enough.
In fact, there is another one who is also very qualified to serve as a coffin bearer, but it is a pity.