Invoice Russell, one of many NBA’s all-time biggest gamers and a 11-time champion with the Boston Celtics, has died on the age of 88, his household introduced on Sunday.
“It’s with a really heavy coronary heart we wish to move alongside to all of Invoice’s buddy, followers, & followers: Invoice Russell, probably the most prolific winner in American sports activities historical past, handed away peacefully as we speak at age 88, along with his spouse, Jeannine, by his facet,” his official Twitter feed mentioned. “Preparations for his memorial service will probably be introduced quickly.”
A 6-foot-10 shot-blocker, Russell attended the College of San Francisco and received two NCAA nationwide basketball titles there, with legendary UCLA coach John Picket calling him “the best defensive man I’ve ever seen.” He was drafted by the NBA’s St. Louis Hawks however was quickly traded to the Boston Celtics, the place he led a dominating dynasty, with the Celtics profitable eight straight NBA championships from 1958 to 1966.
In all, Russell received 11 NBA titles with Boston, together with two as a player-coach, changing into the primary Black coach in NBA historical past. He additionally received 5 NBA MVP trophies and 12 NBA All-Star appearances. At present, Russell is named one of many NBA’s finest gamers of all time: He was elected to the Basketball Corridor of Fame in 1975, and the NBA’s Finals MVP trophy was renamed the Invoice Russell NBA Finals Most Precious Participant Award to honor him in 2009.
