RIP BILL RUSSELL

[Ohioplayer00]

A great loss just not for basketball but for the world in general. One of the TRUE GOATS!

 

[2 For The Brew]

I was just about to start a thread - thanks for kicking this off.

A tremendous winner and a courageous man who overcame horrible treatment as a public figure. Massive respect for this great man.

Thirteen years in the NBA, eleven championships with two of those as player-coach & the first black head coach in any major league sport. He cared more about winning than stats. The ultimate team player in the sport we all love.

RIP Bill Russell.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

As a great defensive player one of the things that went unappreciated in his game on defense is when he blocked a shot he didn’t send it 2-3 rolls in the stands…..he had this innate ability to the block a shot and not only keep it play but guide to one of his teammates so they could retain possession.

 

[Randolphkeys]

As a great defensive player one of the things that went unappreciated in his game on defense is when he blocked a shot he didn’t send it 2-3 rolls in the stands…..he had this innate ability to the block a shot and not only keep it play but guide to one of his teammates so they could retain possession.

Also amazing that the NBA didn't keep statistics on blocked shots until the 73/74 season, five years after his last game as a player. I went to USF for grad school. Can't say I went because of Bill Russell, but I wouldn't have heard of the school without reading a biography of Russell. Until an early 80s recruiting scandal, USF was a powerhouse NCAA basketball program and Russell put them on the map. I also loved the interactions he had with current players. Russell talked trash through his 80s, which all the modern stars loved. Great man.

 

[jjvors]

As a great defensive player one of the things that went unappreciated in his game on defense is when he blocked a shot he didn’t send it 2-3 rolls in the stands…..he had this innate ability to the block a shot and not only keep it play but guide to one of his teammates so they could retain possession.

And not merely guide it to his teammates, but launch a fast break as well. He should have gotten a block, a rebound, and assist on one play, but all he got was a rebound.

 

[Stark]

One of the greatest winners and the leader of the NBA’s first dynasty.

RIP Bill.

 

[jjvors]

This seems like a good time and place to memorialize Bill Russell's career:

CAREER REGULAR SEASON STATS
SEASON TEAM AGE GP MIN PTS FGM FGA FG% FTM FTA FT% REB AST PF

1968-69 BOS 35 77 42.7 9.9 3.6 8.4 43.3 2.6 5.0 52.6 19.3 4.9 3.0

1967-68 BOS 34 78 37.9 12.5 4.7 11.0 42.5 3.2 5.9 53.7 18.6 4.6 3.1

1966-67 BOS 33 81 40.7 13.3 4.9 10.7 45.4 3.5 5.8 61.0 21.0 5.8 3.2

1965-66 BOS 32 78 43.4 12.9 5.0 12.1 41.5 2.9 5.2 55.1 22.8 4.8 2.8

1964-65 BOS 31 78 44.4 14.1 5.5 12.6 43.8 3.1 5.5 57.3 24.1 5.3 2.6

1963-64 BOS 30 78 44.6 15.0 6.0 13.8 43.3 3.0 5.5 55.0 24.7 4.7 2.4

1962-63 BOS 29 78 44.9 16.8 6.6 15.2 43.2 3.7 6.6 55.5 23.6 4.5 2.4

1961-62 BOS 28 76 45.2 18.9 7.6 16.6 45.7 3.8 6.3 59.5 23.6 4.5 2.7

1960-61 BOS 27 78 44.3 16.9 6.8 16.0 42.6 3.3 6.0 55.0 23.9 3.4 2.0

1959-60 BOS 26 74 42.5 18.2 7.5 16.1 46.7 3.2 5.3 61.2 24.0 3.7 2.8

1958-59 BOS 25 70 42.6 16.7 6.5 14.2 45.7 3.7 6.1 59.8 23.0 3.2 2.3

1957-58 BOS 24 69 38.3 16.6 6.6 15.0 44.2 3.3 6.4 51.9 22.7 2.9 2.6

1956-57 BOS 23 48 35.3 14.7 5.8 13.5 42.7 3.2 6.4 49.2 19.6 1.8 3.0

Overall: 963 42.3 15.1 5.9 13.4 44.0 3.3 5.8 56.1 22.5 4.3 2.7

Link: https://www.nba.com/stats/player/78049

 

[macbdog]

A true legend. I'll never forget how he just owned the Cavs, it was like they didn't even exist.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

A true legend. I'll never forget how he just owned the Cavs, it was like they didn't even exist.

Excuse me?? “Owned the Cavs”?
Mr Russell retired a year before the Cavs even came into the league!

 

[Randolphkeys]

Excuse me?? “Owned the Cavs”?
Mr Russell retired a year before the Cavs even came into the league!

If Bill Russell owned the Cavs instead of Ted Stepien, we would have been good a lot sooner.

 

[KevinLoveFan]

Mom told me all about him. Her favorite athlete ever. Ultimate winner. Defensive innovator -- king of the strategically placed shot block; probably would still be the all time leader if they had kept track of the stat in his day. Civil rights icon like Muhammad Ali. Commanded respect. One of the greatest legacies in all of sports.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Kind of fun fact about Russell and Chamberlain: Both were track and field standouts who learned basketball as a second sport. In Oakland, he ran the 400 meters and completed in high jump before developing into a two time state champ in high school hoops.


Look at this shit... in Chuck Taylors!

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Kind of fun fact about Russell and Chamberlain: Both were track and field standouts who learned basketball as a second sport. In Oakland, he ran the 400 meters and completed in high jump before developing into a two time state champ in high school hoops.


Look at this shit... in Chuck Taylors!

I have always tried to tell people on this board NOT to sell Mr Russell’s game short! The brother could play!!!!

 

[jjvors]

Kind of fun fact about Russell and Chamberlain: Both were track and field standouts who learned basketball as a second sport. In Oakland, he ran the 400 meters and completed in high jump before developing into a two time state champ in high school hoops.


Look at this shit... in Chuck Taylors!

Looks faster than Giannis.

 

[Ohioplayer00]

Do the right thing,Silver….permanently retire the #6!