“If I was to play basketball again, would be for you” Bill Russell emphatically turned down Lakers to show support for Boston and its fans
Follow Us
Bill Russell went down in history for reasons much more greater than the sport of basketball. His legacy is still being praised by several notable athletes of the league especially because of the nature of team spirit he was all about. The former MVP knew exactly what the sport was all about and some would argue he was a top pioneer of it as well.
The Boston Celtics established themselves as the franchise to be quite early on. Russell was a major part of their successful background and why they hold so much pride within themselves. He won them laurels and 11 NBA titles along the way. His death is not the end of his legacy.
The Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers rivalry
For decades that the league has been in existence, two very prestigious teams have set themselves apart from the others. The Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics have been each other’s biggest rival since anyone can remember. Both franchise have a total of 17 Championships with the tie almost being broken the most recent NBA Finals.
Bill Russell had won close to a dozen of those rings during his incredible career. But the Lakers began to work with basketball pioneers who dominated through every decade such as Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant. The 80s saw the most battles between the two teams.
Bill Russell turned down Lakers offer to come out of retirement
Bill Russell decided to hang up his jersey in 1969 but that did not stop former owner of the Lakers Jack Kent Cooke from expanding his franchise. Russell obviously decided to stay loyal to the Celtics. He revealed the incident saying, “They had a ceremony for Jerry West. They had me sitting next to Jack Kent Cooke, who owned the team at the time.”
“About a week later, I get a call. Jack Kent Cooke wanted to talk to me. So, he says, ‘Bill, I’ve been thinking about it. What we’re gonna do is have you come out of retirement and play for the Lakers.’ So I say, ‘Don’t you have a guy named Wilt Chamberlain playing center for you?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ I said, ‘How’d he feel playing back-up center?’ … I said, ‘Jack, I’ll never play basketball again, but, if I were, it would only be for the Celtics.’”
Also read: Vanessa Bryant’s final demand as Kobe Bryant crash photos trial ends
Do follow us on Google News | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
Stay Updated!
Rakibul John Rodgers
(1258 Articles Published)