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Engraved portrait of Bill Russell
Sports · 1960s

Bill Russell

In memoriam 1934–2022
Basketball (center)Sport
Boston Celtics (1956-1969)Teams
11 NBA championships, 5 MVP awardsTitles
22.5 rebounds per game career; eight straight titlesRecords
William Felton Russell, Monroe, LouisianaBorn
The Turning Point

After leading the University of San Francisco to back-to-back NCAA titles and captaining the 1956 U.S. Olympic gold-medal team, Russell joined the Boston Celtics and immediately transformed them with his defense and rebounding. The Celtics won their first championship in 1957, his rookie season, launching a dynasty. He became a true star in 1957, when his shot-blocking redefined the center position.

Bill Russell in 1962, during the Celtics dynasty years.
Bill Russell in 1962, during the Celtics dynasty years.

From San Francisco to Olympic Gold

Russell dominated college basketball at the University of San Francisco, leading the Dons to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. That summer he captained the United States to a gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics, cementing his reputation as the best defensive big man in the game.

Russell dribbling for the Boston Celtics.
Russell dribbling for the Boston Celtics.

Anchor of a Dynasty

Joining the Boston Celtics in 1956, Russell turned defense and rebounding into a winning art. The Celtics captured 11 championships in his 13 seasons, including eight in a row, the longest title streak in major North American team sports.

Leader On and Off the Court

Russell became the NBA's first Black head coach in 1966 and was an outspoken voice in the civil rights movement. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, and after his death in 2022 the NBA retired his number 6 across the entire league.

Career Timeline

  1. 1934Born in Monroe, Louisiana
  2. 1955Leads San Francisco to first NCAA championship
  3. 1956Wins Olympic gold with U.S. team in Melbourne
  4. 1956Drafted and traded to the Boston Celtics
  5. 1957Wins first NBA title as a rookie
  6. 1959Begins record eight straight NBA championships
  7. 1963Named NBA Most Valuable Player for fifth time
  8. 1966Named Celtics player-coach, first Black NBA head coach
  9. 1969Wins 11th title, then retires from playing
  10. 1975Inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame
  11. 2011Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom by Obama
  12. 2022Dies at age 88; NBA retires his No. 6 league-wide

Biggest Hits

1969
11-time NBA ChampionMost titles by any player in NBA history
1965
5-time NBA MVPMVP in 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1965
1966
Eight Straight ChampionshipsNBA record run from 1959 through 1966
1969
12-time NBA All-StarSelected nearly every season of his career
1956
Olympic Gold MedalCaptained U.S. team to Melbourne Olympic title
1956
Two NCAA ChampionshipsLed San Francisco Dons to 1955 and 1956 titles
Did You Know
  • Russell never averaged 20 points per game in a season, yet is considered one of the greatest winners in sports for his 11 titles in 13 seasons.
  • In 1966 he became the first Black head coach in any major U.S. professional sport when he took over as Celtics player-coach.

Portrait: Unknown author · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

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