RIP Bill Russell
- Thread starter paultzman
- Start date
But he didn't make the Dream Team!
MainMan wrote:
And some dismiss him whenever he comes up in GOAT conversations.
I mean, c'mon:
* 11 NBA Championships as a player
* 2 NBA Championships as a coach
* 2 NCAA Championships
* 1 Olympic gold medal
* 5 NBA MVPs
* 11-time All NBA player
Those last two numbers should put to rest any claim that he wasn't a top ten or so of all time. He averaged almost 23 rebounds per game in his career and there was no better defender in the post.
Was not a Celtic fan at all in those days but always respected and admired Russ.
And some dismiss him whenever he comes up in GOAT conversations.
I mean, c'mon:
* 11 NBA Championships as a player
* 2 NBA Championships as a coach
* 2 NCAA Championships
* 1 Olympic gold medal
* 5 NBA MVPs
* 11-time All NBA player
Those last two numbers should put to rest any claim that he wasn't a top ten or so of all time. He averaged almost 23 rebounds per game in his career and there was no better defender in the post.
Was not a Celtic fan at all in those days but always respected and admired Russ.
Johnny Rapper
Well-known member
As much as I hated the Celtics, I always respected and thought of BR as one of the most dominating players in NBA history. And while his stellar play against the Knicks would piss me off, I always wished he was a New York Knickerbocker.
The games between Bill and Wilt were incredible. Those championships were won when Wilt was playing which was quite a force to contend with. I also don't think we will ever see another player/coach who leads an NBA (or any sports team) to two Championshipsin a row.
I remember Russell talking about all the big numbers Wilt Chamberlain put up, and with a big smile said, “Yea, and he was the second best center in the N.B.A.,” followed by a huge laugh.
Neither did Lebron James!
A winner indeed -- not only as a player, but as well as a man as well.
I went to my first pro basketball game at the old eighth Ave. MSG in the fall of '57, a doubleheader between the pre-Wilt Warriors and Celtics and then the Knicks vs. the Detroit Pistons with George Yardley. Three of the teams were playing one game and the Celtics were playing something far different and much better to watch. That new game, built around Bill Russell, was the formula for winning until the advent of the three point shot and still has tremendous influence. Russell, Cousy, Heinsohn, Loscutoff, Sharman, Ramsey, wow.