Bill Russell, the player with the most rings in NBA history, dies

East sunday july 31 the world of basketball dressed in mourning after the news of the death of bill russell at 88 years old. The renowned basketball player holds the record for the player with the most rings in the history of the NBA a total of 11. All of them achieved with the boston celtic in the 50’s and 60’s.

The news was released through a statement prepared by their own relatives: “Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. Bill’s wife and her many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers.”.

bill russell who was known as ‘The Hawk’, was characterized in the defensive aspect and is remembered for being one of the best rebounders and blockers in the history of the NBA. During his career he captured 21,620 balls, and is, along with Wilt Chamberlain, the only players who have taken 50 rebounds or more in a game.

In 1975 he entered the ‘hall of fame’ of the basketball as a player, and last year he did it as a coach. With this he joined John Wooden, Lenny Wilkens, Bill Sharman and Tom Heinsohn as the only five basketball players to achieve it.

In addition, in 1996 he was named one of the 50 best players in NBA history. So great was his legacy that, upon his retirement in 1972, the Bolton Celtics retired his number six jersey.

In addition to his facet as an athlete, Bill Russell has always been an activist in the fight against racism in the United States. During his youth he marched on several occasions with Martin Luther King to defend the rights of African Americans.

In 1963, when segregation in the US was radical, he was encouraged to form the first integrated black and white basketball camp. This compound was guarded by members of the Ku Klux Klan and protected by black activists. He also refused to attend the hall of fame ceremony because he considered it a racist act and in 1961 he refused to play a game because he and some teammates were not allowed to enter a restaurant.

Bill represented something much bigger than the sport: the values ​​of equality, respect and inclusion that he imprinted in the DNA of our league.”, declared Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA after his death.

Source-larepublica.pe