Russell stood at 6 feet, 9 inches and weighed 215 lbs.Only average height for a center in the 60s, Russell would be dwarfed by many of the centers of the modern era (Shaquille O'Neal, for example, is 7'1" and well over 300 lbs). What Russell lacked in size he more than made up for with tenacious defense and an incredible wing span. Born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana, Russell attended college at the University of San Francisco. It was there that his basketball ability gained national attention. In Russell's three seasons at San Francisco, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds, exceptional numbers even in that time period, while shooting 52% from the field.
Red Auerbach wanted badly to have Russell on the Celtics, for he knew that Russell was the key to unlocking the championship door for his team. The St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks picked Russell 2nd overall in the 1956 NBA draft. Auerbach, in what was considered a bold move at the time, traded all-star center and future HOFer Ed Macauley to the Hawks in return for Russell. The 1956 draft would indeed be the beginning of the Celtics dynasty, as Auerbach selected Tommy Heinsohn just 4 picks after Russell, then selected K.C. Jones in round 2. Both Heinsohn and Jones (as well as Macauley) are possible "great players" subjects in the future. Russell, Heinsohn, and Jones along with Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy, would form the core of the first teams of the Celtic dynasty.
Russell was a dominating force from the first moment he stepped on an NBA court. Russell made it resoundingly clear on which end of the court he would dominate most: defense. Though most stats were not recorded during Russell's era, rebounds certainly were. Russell averaged an incredible 19.6 rebounds per game in his rookie season. He would average a solid 14.7 points per game as well, despite the fact that he wasn't the first scoring option (or second for that matter) on the team. In fact, that would be Russell's philosophy his entire career: dominate on defense, let the other guys do it offense, then if they can't get it done dominate on offense as well. Of course, the "other guys" on Russell's teams were usually a bunch of future hall of famers, so they could get it done pretty well most nights.Russell's defensive dominance would only grow as the years went on. For 10 consecutive years beginning in 1957-58, Russell would average over 20 rebounds per game: 22.7, 23.0, 24.0, 23.9, 23.6, 23.6, 24.7, 24.1, 22.8, and 21.0 respectively. Russell would tail off in his final two seasons to a "paltry" 18.6 and 19.3 rebounds per game.
Russell became a better scorer as well. Traditionally, it is thought that Russell's best scoring year came during the 1961-62 season, when he averaged a career-high 18.9 ppg. A closer look at the numbers, however, show that he was just as effective a scorer as early as the 1957-58 season. Russell averaged 16.6 ppg that season, but he also played far fewer minutes (38.3 mpg compared with 45.2 mpg during the 61-62 season). On a "points per 40 minutes" scale, Russell actually averaged more points in 57-58 than he did in 61-62: 17.3 to 16.7.
Russell was not a great passer early in his career, averaging only 1.8 assists per game in his rookie season. He became a far better passer as his career went on, however, and by the end of his career he was one of the best passing centers in the history of the NBA. Russell averaged 5.8 apg during the 1966-67 season, a very high rate for a center in any era.
Russell, for his career, averaged 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game, while averaging an incredibly high 42.3 minutes per game and shooting 44% from the field (a high number at that time). Most importantly though, he led his team to 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons.
Think about that...11 championships in 13 season. Think of the most modern sports dynasties: The Yankees of the 90s, the Bulls of the 90s, and the Patriots of...well...right now. The Yankees won 4 world championships in 5 years between 1996-2000. But guess what, they haven't won one since and they have only made it back to the World Series twice. The Chicago Bulls are the only modern dynasty you can legitimately compare to the Celtics, as Michael Jordan led them to 6 championships in 8 years. Many will argue that had Jordan not briefly retired following the 1992-1993 season, the Bulls would have won 8 straight titles. I happen to agree. But Russell's Celtics did win 8 straight titles - then after their streak was broken they won two more (not to mention the one title they won two years before the streak of 8 began). There is no way in hell Jordan's teams would have done that. Tom Brady's Patriots team won three Super Bowls in the span of four years (2001-2004), which is impressive, but once again, nowhere near the Celtics dynasty.
What I am getting at is this: Bill Russell was the most important piece of the puzzle and the on court leader of the greatest team ever assembled. For that reason and that reason alone, throwing statistics completely out of the equation, Russell deserves to be recognized as the one of the greatest sports figures of all-time.
But, just for fun, let me throw some final stats at you:
*12-time all-star (aka every season after his rookie year)
*5-time most valuable player (only MJ has received more)
*4-time rebounding champ (he finished 2nd six other times to Wilt Chamberlain, the greatest statistical player in NBA history)
*3 All-NBA First Teams (8 All-NBA second teams, once again thanks to "Wilt the Stilt")
*Made the inaugural All-Defense 1st team in his final season
*Finished in the top 10 in assists per game 5 times
*Became the first black coach to lead a team to a major American sports championship
Oh yeah, and he won 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons.
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