This week, the world of professional sports lost one of its true greats. Bill Russell, a two-time inductee into the hall of fame who led the Boston Celtics 11 championships, has died at the age 88. Russell was a passionate advocate for equality of race in basketball and society. A number of NBA legends have taken the time to remember Russell in the wake of his death. These include Stephen Curry, Charles Barkley, and Michael Jordan.
Many people would argue that Michael Jordan is the greatest player to ever have stepped on a basketball court. If you want to know more, ask the question of The Last Dance(Streamable with a Netflix subscription), he’d probably tell you that Bill Russell deserves that title. After Russell’s passing, the Chicago Bull-turned- Charlotte Hornets owner released a statement that was shared on his team’s Instagram account. He reflected lovingly on the late Celtic and the importance he had for the sport in it.
Michael Jordan’s b-ball contemporary, Charles Barkley, shared similar sentiments about the storied athlete. The NBA, which is still Barkley’s TV homeIt shared the statement via its social media accounts. The Round Mound of Rebound has a reputation for honesty and I think that we can all agree that his thoughts about the Boston great are right on target.
Reactions also came from fellow Charles Barkley’s co-hosts, Shaquille O’Neal Kenny Smith, the latter reflectingOn what it was like to have been drafted by Bill Russell many years ago. Russell is a subject that many current NBA players are sharing their memories with, including Stephen Curry, the champion-winning Golden State Warriors. Curry marked Russell’s passing with a perfect photo and sweet message:
Legendary Miami Heat player who has retired Dwyane Dwyane Wade discusses a lot of things about NBA GOATS, so it’s no surprise that he paid tribute via his Instagram stories. The future hall of famer posted a few tributes to Wade, including one sweet photo taken after he won one of his three championships.
While the late player was a true Celtic to the very end, he earned the respect of so many icons from the team’s cross-conference rival, the Los Angeles Lakers. The legendary point guard, businessman, as well as the late player, are all included. Magic Johnson is a documentary star on Apple TV+. This tribute from the always upbeat legend is truly touching “idol,”It also included many wonderful photos.
Fellow Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also heavily influenced by the late center and got candid about the man’s legacy in an entry on His blog. The player talked about how he met the Boston Celtic, and how they became friends during the playoffs. ‘60s and ‘70s alongside other sports greats like Muhammed Ali and Jim Brown. He summed up this up when he recalled their experience at the 1967 Cleveland Summit, where a number of Black athletes met to determine the sincerity of Ali’refusing to be drafted into the U.S. Army
Bill, Jim Brown, and Ali were the most well-known members of the summit. However, he didn’t try to use that fame to influence us. His logic and dispassionate approach encouraged us to listen with open ears to Ali’s words. This reasonable approach was more effective than trying sway us. He understood Ali could speak passionately and eloquently for himself and that, if we were open to his words, we would be able to see the truth. It was a tremendous lesson in humility and leadership which stayed with me for many more years.
Bill Russell is a man that basketball fans and the general public owe a lot. Bill Russell, the man whose name graces NBA Finals MVP Trophy, rarely bristles during interviews. Instead, he seemed more pleased with the progress that’s been made in professional sports since he played. The former player-coach saw quite a lot. From the historic 1992 Dream Team to even In 2020, the NBA bubble will be establishedDue to the pandemic. He may be gone, but he’ll surely never be forgotten.
We here at CinemaBlend extend our deepest condolences to Bill Russell’s family and loved ones during this time.