Bill Russell is an NBA legend. His legacy is built on a foundation of winning 11 championships in 13 playing seasons, making him the greatest winner in U.S. professional team sports history.
Over his illustrious career, Russell averaged 15.1 ppg, 22.5 rpg, and 4.3 apg. He earned five MVPs, 12 all-star team berths, and won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. If the NBA had always given them out, Russell most likely would have won at least a half dozen Finals MVP awards too.
One of the smartest players in league history, Bill Russell controlled games via defensive backboard domination. He was a master at blocking shots in a way so that either he or a teammate could grab the loose ball. Along with stopping the opposing team from scoring, this ignited the Celtics’ fast break offense.
Much of the impact Russell had on the game was psychological. When thinking about the effect on the opposition by stopping them and igniting the fast break, Russell remarked, “Yes, we did that to you. And if you come back, we'll do it again.”
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Article written by Ethan S