SI.com · Jul 31, 2022
NBA Legend Bill Russell Dies at 88
Celtics legend and 11-time champion Bill Russell died on Sunday, his representatives announced in a statement. He was 88 years old.
Russell led the University of San Francisco to two national championships before embarking upon an unparalleled NBA career. The Celtics took him with the No. 2 pick in the 1956 draft, and he led the team to a run of dominance unmatched in professional sports. Boston won 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons during Russell’s playing career, a stretch that included eight straight from 1959 to ’66. Russell was named the league’s MVP five times in that span.