Bill Russell, one of the great NBA legends and a sports icon in the fight against racism in the United States, died this Sunday at the age of 88, family members and the basketball league itself reported.
goodbye russell
“Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at the age of 88, with his wife Jeannine at his side,” said the former player’s family, without mentioning the causes of death.
The first black player to achieve NBA superstar status, Russell was the leader of the unforgettable Boston Celtics dynasty, winning 11 championship rings between 1957 and 1969.an NBA record.
The last two titles, in 1968 and 1969, he achieved while also being the first black coach in the history of the league.
“Bill Russell was the greatest champion in all
team sports,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged in a statement.
“The countless accolades he garnered for his storied career with the Boston Celtics – including a record 11 championships and five MVP awards – only begin to tell the story of Bill’s immense impact on our league and society at large,” he said.
In addition to his exceptional career on the slopes, Russell was also a sports emblem of the fight against racism and for civil rights in the United States.
Russell, who suffered numerous episodes of racism during his career, marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and was one of the first great activists in American sports along with figures such as Mohamed Ali or Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In 2011 he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then President Barack Obama. “Bill represented something much bigger than the sport: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he imprinted in the DNA of our league,” Silver acknowledged.
indelible legacy
Known above all for his defensive qualities, with a height of 2.08 meters, Russell played his entire NBA career, between 1956 and 1969, in the green uniform of the Celtics, with whom he played 12 finals to win 11 titles, the highest figure also for an athlete from a major North American professional league. Before his NBA career, marked also by his extraordinary rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain (Lakers), Russell won the gold medal at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.
Among many other accolades, The NBA gave his name to the MVP trophy that is awarded each year to the best player in the Finals. Other NBA legends and players sent their condolences for one of the league’s great icons.
“I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of basketball’s greatest winner, a legend, Hall of Famer, mentor and friend of mine for over 30 years, Bill Russell.”Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson wrote on Twitter.
“Rest in peace. Thank you for paving the way and inspiring so many. Today is a sad day but also a great day to celebrate his legacy and what he stood for.”Jaylen Brown, one of the current figures of the Celtics and one of the first players to march in the great anti-racism protests of 2020 in the United States, said on his side.
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AFP
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