NBA Legend Bill Russell passes away at 88 / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Reuters-Scanpix Credit Reuters-Scanpix

The basketball world has been saddened this day by the unfortunate news of one of the greatest basketball players ever, Bill Russell passing away at the age of 88.

Bill Russell

Position:C-Height:206 cmBirth place:Monroe, United States of AmericaProfileNewsStatistics

Russell had the most remarkable career of any player in the history of team sports. He played in the NBA from 1956 to 1969, winning 11 titles with the Boston Celtics, which is more than any player ever in the sport.

Russell was awarded with the US highest civilian honor when the Medal of Freedom, by former President Barack Obama in 2011, was awarded to him. And in 2017, the NBA awarded him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, NBA Finals MVP award is named after Russell.

Russell also won the championship title twice as a coach, since he played the role of player-coach for the last two seasons of his career.

Until Michael Jordan's titles in the 1990s, Russell was considered by many as the greatest player in NBA history.

"I was an innovator," Russell told The New York Times in 2011. "I started blocking shots although I had never seen shots blocked before that," added Russell.

"The first time I did that in a game, my coach called timeout and said, 'No good defensive player ever leaves his feet'", recalled Russell in 2011.

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