Celebrating Bill Russell’s 86th birthday in photos
Today is the 86th birthday of Boston Celtics legendary big man Bill Russell, one of the greatest to play, both for Boston and the sport.
He’s also an outstanding champion for civil rights.
Dating all the way back to the Civil Rights era itself, Russell has championed the rights of people of color in the NBA and wider world.
While he has retreated from the public eye in his post-playing years to varying extent, he maintains a presence among contemporary Celtics and NBA players alike though his legacy as much as his rare but impactful public appearances and comments.
In celebration of his seven-decade-spanning career as an esteemed member of the wider NBA world and nearly as long career as an activist, Celtics Wire has assembled a collection of photos spanning those decades in his honor.
Russell was born in rural north Louisiana, and moved to northern California while still a child. He would later play basketball for the University of San Francisco, where he would win two NCAA championships with future Celtics teammate, K.C. Jones.
Bill Russell dunks the ball while playing for the University of San Francisco in 1955 (AP Photo)
Future Celtics teammate K.C. Jones, captain of the University of San Francisco Dons, right, with Bill Russell in 1956 (AP Photo).
Russell holding his Most Valuable Player trophies at Madison Square Garden in 1956 (AP Photo)
THE DAWN OF THE CELTICS DYNASTY
While the bulk of Boston’s banners with Russell would come later, in the 1960s, the Celtics won their first with the USF product in 1957.
Bill Russell signs a contract with the Boston Celtics in 1956. To his left is Celtics co-owner and president Walter Brown, and behind him is co-owner Lou Pieri (AP Photo).
Russell playing the then-St. Louis Hawks at Boston Garden in 1957 (AP Photo).
Russell with teammate Bob Cousy (right) and other Celtics in 1960 (Boston Globe photo).
THE REIGN TAKES HOLD – THE EARLY 1960S
Boston would go on to win eight straight championships in the early-to-mid 1960s during Russell’s prime, becoming a nearly unstoppable force few teams have even hinted at replicating since.
Bill Russell shooting over Jim Krebs of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1962 NBA Finals (Harold P. Matosian/AP).
Russell with Bob Cousy after winning the 1963 NBA championship (AP Photo).
Celtics in 1963 (left to right): Red Auerbach, Frank Ramsey, Jim Loscutoff, Bill Russell, Tommy Heinsohn, and Bob Cousy (AP Photo).
THE LEGEND GROWS — THE MID-1960S
Russell’s Celtics collided with the rising star of Wilt Chamberlain in 1964 — then with the Philadelphia 76ers — who would slow and eventually stop the relentless winning of Boston in that decade for a time.
Russell being congratulated by Red Auerbach after scoring his 10,000th career point in Boston (AP Photo).
Auerbach showers with clothes on as Russell celebrates Boston’s 7th consecutive NBA championship in 1965 (AP Photo).
BILL THE PLAYER-COACH
Russell would transition into coaching as a player-coach (the first black coach in the NBA) as he began to age, using his knowledge of the game to direct his teammates while playing alongside them on the back nine of his playing career.
Russell smiles after being named coach of the Celtics in 1966, becoming the first black coach in the NBA (AP Photo).
Celebrating with Auerbach after the Celtics won their eighth-straight title in 1966 (AP Photo).
THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST
The Louisiana native was compelled to lend his support for the nascent civil rights movement after his experiences with racism from childhood all the way up to his pro playing career. He has never shied away from being outspoken on key social justice issues since.
Lew Alcindor (right), later known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with Russell (left) and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in 1967, united by their struggles for civil rights (Bettmann Archive/ Getty Images).
Ex-Cleveland Browns running back Jim Brown and other prominent African-American athletes supporting boxer Muhammad Ali’s refusal to fight in the Vietnam War in 1967. Pictured: (front) Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Lew Alcindor; (back) Carl Stokes, Walter Beach, Bobby Mitchell, Sid Williams, Curtis McClinton, Willie Davis, Jim Shorter, and John Wooten (AP Photo/Tony Tomsic).
THE LATTER DYNASTY — THE LATE 1960S
The decline of his playing ability and increasing distaste for the contemporary political situation began a slow retreat from public life that would wax and wain over the next few decades. Russell would still manage to win another three titles with Boston before retiring in 1969.
Russell posts up against Wilt Chamberlain of the Philadelphia 76ers at a 1968 game played in the Boston Garden (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images).
Auerbach hugs Russell and John Havlicek in 1968 after the NBA Championship win over the Los Angeles Lakers (AP Photo).
In 1969, Russell battled Wilt Chamberlain — then of the Lakers — in the NBA Finals (AP Photo).
COACH RUSSELL — THE 1970 AND 1980S
The 11-time champion would transition to coaching for the Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings in the 1970s and 80s, but mostly kept a low profile for much of the interim between the two NBA coaching stints.
Bill Russell coaching the Seattle Supersonics in 1973 (Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Russell speaking with reporters in Sacramento after he being named coach of the Kings in 1987 (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski).
One-time teammates Russell, Kings coach, and K.C. Jones, Celtics coach, before the start of a game in 1988 (AP Photo).
THE 1990S – A NEW ERA
Starting in the 1990s, Russell would increasingly re-connect with the NBA community as his Hall of Fame career began to receive increased attention in contrast with the rise of Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
Russell presents Michael Jordan his fifth Maurice Podoloff Most Valuable Player Trophy for the 1997-98 season (Jeff Haynes/AFP/Getty Images).
Bob Cousy with Bill Russell and John Havlicek at Fleet Center in 1999 (AP Photo).
Ex-rivals Russell and Chamberlain share a laugh during a tribute to Russell in Boston in 1999 (AP Photo).
THE 2000S – MEETING A NEW GENERATION
As the NBA soared to new heights of popularity, Russell got to know yet another new crop of future stars, while receiving long-overdue recognition from the league.
Russell with Kobe Bryant at All Star Weekend 2007 (Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images).
Russell learns the MVP award has been renamed in his honor in 2009 (AP Photo/Matt York).
THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM
One of Russell’s proudest moments, his life of dedication to civil rights and excellence in sport was honored by President Barack Obama in 2011.
Russell receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the nation’s highest honors, from President Barack Obama in 2011 (Bloomberg photo).
Getting the Medal of Freedom from another angle (Alex Wong/Getty Images).
HIS OWN STATUE
Russell was similarly honored not long after by the City of Boston in 2013 for his contributions to the culture of the city and the sport more generally.
Russell at the unveiling of his statue in 2013 (Boston Herald/Patrick Whittemore).
Russell and his statue on Boston City Hall Plaza (Boston Herald/Patrick Whittemore).
STAYING CONNECTED TO THE NEW GENERATIONS
The Hall of Fame big man continues to stay in touch with the sport’s brightest stars — occasionally even delivering some playful trash talk on their games.
Bill Russell, center, just before he told Shaq and Kareem-Abdul Jabbar he’d kick their asses at the 2017 NBA Awards. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello).
Bill Russell presenting the Golden State Warriors’ Kevin Durant with the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in 2017 (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images).
THE FIGHT CONTINUES
For Russell, the struggle for civil rights is not a box you check off, but a constant fight for all of us, even today.
Russell kneeling to show support for Stephon Clark, a Sacramento resident shot and killed by police earlier this month while holding a cellphone in 2017 (Bill Russell/Twitter).
Russell finally accepted — in a private ceremony with his wife and friends — his Hall of Fame ring. In 1975, he refused to be the the first black player to go into the Hall before Chuck Cooper and other pioneers of Coopers era.
Happy Birthday, Bill Russell — you are a national treasure, and the greater NBA community and world is the richer for having you in for as long as it has.
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