RIP Bill Russell

[Uncle Rico]

https://twitter.com/realbillrussell/status/1553790050839588865?s=21&t=xp3tLJtKwl2wc-KovASNwQ

Basketball’s greatest winner.  Better human than basketball player and that’s quite the accomplishment

[tower912]

Shoot.  And then a block and a rebound.  Leading to another championship.

Murf played against him.   Actually curious if he will say something.

[Herman Cain]

Russell was such a dominating force for so long. The Celtics just left everyone in the dust all the years he played .

[MuggsyB]

Huge loss to basketball.   The bottom line is Mr. Russell was the best player on 11 title teams.  Obviously he played with other Hall of Famers but the object of the game is to win and there was no one better.  In any team sport.  For those that saw him play would it be hyperbole to say he's the greatest overall defender in history?

[Herman Cain]

Huge loss to basketball.   The bottom line is Mr. Russell was the best player on 11 title teams.  Obviously he played with other Hall of Famers but the object of the game is to win and there was no one better.  In any team sport.  For those that saw him play would it be hyperbole to say he's the greatest overall defender in history?

I will take it another step and say he was The Greatest Player in history. Look at his performance head to head against Wilt Chamberlin . Look at his rebounds . Look at his blocked shots .  Look at his assists. Consistent scoring .

[MuggsyB]

I will take it another step and say he was The Greatest Player in history. Look at his performance head to head against Wilt Chamberlin . Look at his rebounds . Look at his blocked shots .  Look at his assists. Consistent scoring .

Statistically Chamberlain has better numbers head to head.  Except wins of course. 

[Jockey]

Statistically Chamberlain has better numbers head to head.  Except wins of course.

Easier to win with a bunch of HoFers.
But that is meaningless. He was a top 10 all- timer - maybe top 5.

He was courageous and a man of principle. One of the most influential athletes for good ever. He deserves ALL of the accolades he will receive this week. Boston was an extremely difficult place for black athletes.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Jesuit basketball's GOAT

[tower912]

Statistically Chamberlain has better numbers head to head.  Except wins of course.

And championships.

[dgies9156]

Favorite Bill Russell story was He was doing a commercial for AT&T long distance — back in the days when you paid for it.

He was sitting at a desk and was to flip a basketball over his head and toward a basketball hoop. When he missed an absolutely ridiculous shot, which was flipped over his head, Mr. Russell’s line was supposed to be, “I can miss, but you can’t with AT&T.

Mr. Russell flipped the ball over his head and lo and behold, the ball swished through the cylinder. As the crew filmed and broke up laughing hard, Mr. Russell looked at the camera, smiled and said, "I can’t miss and neither can you with AT&T." Even the background laughing made the commercial.

[MuggsyB]

Favorite Bill Russell story was He was doing a commercial for AT&T long distance — back in the days when you paid for it.

He was sitting at a desk and was to flip a basketball over his head and toward a basketball hoop. When he missed an absolutely ridiculous shot, flipped over his head, Mr. Russell’s line was supposed to be, “I can miss, but you can’t wit AT&T.

Mr. Russell flipped the ball over his head and Lo and behold, the ball swished through te cylinder. As the crew filmed and broke up laughing so hard, Mr. Russell looked at the camera, smiled and said, I can’t miss and neither can you with AT&T. Even the background laughing made the commercial.

15 total titles Brother dgies.  That's kind of untouchable wouldn't you say?  He seemed to erase the paint opportunities in an era where guys scored in the paint. 

[nyg]

15 total titles Brother dgies.  That's kind of untouchable wouldn't you say?  He seemed to erase the paint opportunities in an era where guys scored in the paint.

He won 11 championships in his 13 year career, including 8 championships in a row.  Will never happen again in any sport.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

He won 11 championships in his 13 year career, including 8 championships in a row.  Will never happen again in any sport.

More due to the nature of sport and not Bill Russell.

[nyg]

More due to the nature of sport and not Bill Russell.

Whatever, yes there were less NBA teams, etc.  But the Celtics accomplishments of that run 11 out of 13, will never happen in current sports. 

[JWags85]

Easier to win with a bunch of HoFers.
But that is meaningless. He was a top 10 all- timer - maybe top 5.

He was courageous and a man of principle. One of the most influential athletes for good ever. He deserves ALL of the accolades he will receive this week. Boston was still is an extremely difficult place for black athletes.

FTFY

[Herman Cain]

Statistically Chamberlain has better numbers head to head.  Except wins of course.

If you watched them in the games head to head, Russell was the dominant player in the post season.
Russell was a clutch player in the big moments.

The year Wilt averaged 50.4 MPG. Russell won the MVP.

Wilt is my number 2 all time, which speaks to Russell greatness. 

[MuggsyB]

More due to the nature of sport and not Bill Russell.

Cut the bcrap Fluffy.  I don't give a rat's ass about the "nature of the sport".  This is a legend who won 11 NBA titles (as the best player and leader), along with two NCAA titles, and two high school championships.  He's the greatest winner in the history of team sports and yet you find a way to disparage him. That's not to say I or the so called experts would slot him as the best player in NBA history, but your comment is ridiculous and quite frankly stupid.

[MuggsyB]

He won 11 championships in his 13 year career, including 8 championships in a row.  Will never happen again in any sport.

Absolutely.  But according to Fluffy it's not particularly impressive.  Smh.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Cut the bcrap Fluffy.  I don't give a rat's ass about the "nature of the sport".  This is a legend who won 11 NBA titles (as the best player and leader), along with two NCAA titles, and two high school championships.  He's the greatest winner in the history of team sports and yet you find a way to disparage him. That's not to say I or the so called experts would slot him as the best player in NBA history, but your comment is ridiculous and quite frankly stupid.

There were dominant teams in a major sports in that era. The way the game was set up back then made it much easier for dominant teams to stay together. Which means more championships.

I’m hardly disparaging him by stating that.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Absolutely.  But according to Fluffy it's not particularly impressive.  Smh.

Never said that. Too bad you have to resort to dishonesty to make your points. Ah well…

[MuggsyB]

There were dominant teams in a major sports in that era. The way the game was set up back then made it much easier for dominant teams to stay together. Which means more championships.

I’m hardly disparaging him by stating that.

Irrelevant comment, period.  It doesn't change the fact that  he won 11/13 and another four before the NBA.  You can only play in the era you're a player.  Yes, you did disparage him by insinuating that winning titles was no big whoop.  Was he the best player on 11 NBA title teams?  There have been dominant teams, in all team sports, in every decade. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Irrelevant comment, period.  It doesn't change the fact that  he won 11/13 and another four before the NBA.  You can only play in the era you're a player.  Yes, you did disparage him by insinuating that winning titles was no big whoop.  Was he the best player on 11 NBA title teams?  There have been dominant teams, in all team sports, in every decade. 

Do you always lie to make your points?  Chicos did that too. Must be a short person thing.

[MuggsyB]

Do you always lie to make your points?  Chicos did that too. Must be a short person thing.

You're in denial Fluffy. And when you are called out you attempt to manipulate and are inordinately unsuccessful.  That doesn't mean that on every topic you have idiotic points, but in this case you have failed spectacularly.  Maybe take 5 minutes, look at Mr. Russell’s career, and stop projecting utter nonsense for self-serving purposes.. 

[panda]

More due to the nature of sport and not Bill Russell.

Good point - Being the best of the best during his timeframe really isn’t that impressive after the fact.

[Lennys Tap]

I’m with Rico - really great basketball player, but more importantly, a truly great human being.