“He overcame all obstacles to help all those who are of my color” Scottie Pippen breaks down whilst paying heartfelt homage to Bill Russell
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Scottie Pippen talks about Bill Russell
The news of the demise of legendary Bill Russell left nothing but sorrow in the world in and around the NBA world. It was obvious as impact of the Boston Celtics greatest ever on the sport is hard to ignore. Bill Russell redefined how basketball is played, and off the court, and also he changed the way sports are viewed in a racially divided country. While many NBA stars shared their condolences on social media, Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen added Russell’s work related to equality.
The centerpiece of the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years, Russell earned his last two NBA titles as a player-coach – the first Black coach in any major US sport. Russell died on Sunday at the age of 88. His family posted the news on social media, saying his wife, Jeannine, was by his side. Russell was not well enough to present the NBA Finals MVP trophy in June due to a long illness.
Bill Russell is a winner on the court and a Warrior off the court
Boston Celtics won a record of 17 titles in the league and most of those came in the Bill Russell era. Celts dominated the 50’s and 60’ where Russell led them to 11 titles. He played in 13 seasons and made it to all 13 postseasons. He still holds some records that are impossible to break, like 8 consecutive NBA Championships, 11 titles, and massive 25 rebounds per game in the playoffs.
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A Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player, and 12-time All-Star, Russell 1980 was voted the greatest player in NBA history by basketball writers. He was the most prolific winner in NBA history, Russell marched with Martin Luther King Jr, and supported Muhammad Ali.
In 2011, Obama awarded Russell the Medal of Freedom alongside Congressman John Lewis, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and baseball great Stan Musial. “Bill Russell, the man, is someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men,” Obama said at the ceremony.
He added, “He marched with King; he stood by Ali. When a restaurant refused to serve the Black Celtics, he refused to play in the scheduled game. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the team-mates who he loved better players and made possible the success of so many who would follow.”
Bill Russell said that when he was growing up in the segregated South and later California his parents instilled in him the calm confidence that allowed him to brush off racist taunts. Russell recalled the experiences and in 2008 he reflected on the fights he fought for equality.
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He said, “Years later, people asked me what I had to go through. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I’ve never been through anything. From my first moment of being alive was the notion that my mother and father loved me.”
Bill’s death is not only a loss to the NBA world but to humanity in general. He truly was a great person, a champion, an inspiration to youngsters, and a great family man. Oakland’s other megastar and last player to hold the Finals MVP trophy in Russell’s presence, Stephen Curry too shared his condolences to the great athlete.
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Kunal Chawda
(600 Articles Published)