Bill Russell, trailblazing NBA legend and Boston Celtics great, has died at the age of 88. Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Celtics, making him one of the most successful stars in NBA history; but Russell also became a symbol of sports activism, staunchly defending civil and human rights throughout his career.
According to a statement posted on social media, Russell died "peacefully" next to his wife Jeannine. Arrangements for his memorial service will be announced soon, according to the statement.
"But for all the winning, Bill's understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life," the statement said. "From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippi's first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar [Evers'] assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom ... Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness and thoughtful change.
"Bill's wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you'll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill's uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6."
William Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, and his family moved to the Bay Area, where he attended McClymonds High School in Oakland. Russell was a multisport athlete at the University of San Francisco; and after being drafted by the Celtics in 1956, became a five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star in the NBA. Russell was a remarkable shot-blocker who revolutionized NBA defensive concepts. In 1966, Russell became the first Black coach of a major league team in any sport when he was named player-coach of the Celtics. He was the first Black player to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Throughout his career in the 1950s and 1960s, Russell was an outspoken critic of racism and crusader for civil rights. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama in 2011, the nation's highest civilian honor. And in 2017, the NBA awarded him with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
As news of his death was confirmed, notables across social media praised the legacy of Bill Russell.
