Amazingly, like Chamberlain, they were great track and field stars including the high jump. Hard to imagine giants high jumping but they did it with grace and athleticism. Russell was an all-time great with winning and therefore a unique understanding of teamwork in addition to great personal prowess. A great athletic role model and man to study as well as admire.
He blocked a shot and then jumped again to snare the loose ball. Not as flashy as most of today's players but way more effective.
I had never heard that before...except every time a blocked shot goes out-of-bounds.
I have him the way ESPN had him in their 2016 list at #7 with Bird ahead of him. They flipped Bird and Russell on the new list.
Best all around player and leader.
I agree with this. I remember from childhood (mid-late 50's) watching pro basketball on tv. Red Auerbach and the Celtics really wrote the book on transition basketball and Russell was the centerpiece of that defense. As you said his blocked shots set up the fastbreak. Cousey and Sam Jones leading the fastbreak. Satch Sanders another great defender. Russell and Auerbach turned basketball games into a juggernaut of offensive speed through defensive intimidation. Russell was like a coach on the floor leading the initiation of the fast break. Very, very heady player who was going to impose his will against the entire opponent team. He must have a nightmare to opposing players.
That attitude. Loved the clip at an award for him, where he looked at Shaq, Dikembe, David Robinson, and Alonzo and said “I’ll kick your ”. The place went nuts.Thought I'd post this. For non subscribers, maybe you have a free read. This is Kareem talking about Bill, and their relationship spanning many decades. Starting when Kareem was "Lew" in NYC, and the Celtics practiced at his HS before a game against the Knicks.
"I attended his games whenever the Celtics played the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and I would watch them for four to five years when they practiced at my school gym. I learned how to dominate in the paint by applying defensive pressure. If you can deny the opponent any rebounds, it’s easy to have a fast-break game. If you can effectively block their shots, you force them to adjust their game into an offense they’re not as familiar with. Watching him, I realized that Bill seemed to know what each player was going to do before they did. He anticipated their move like a chess master, then sprang into the air to block them before they knew what was happening. He didn’t play one-size-fits-all defense; he customized his defense to fit each player."
The Bill Russell I Knew for 60 Years
I first met the legendary basketball player when I was 14, and he showed me how to be a better player—and a better man.www.theatlantic.com
And in his prime he would have. The man just wasn't built to lose.
Thanks for posting this 5 minute video on youtube inside the link on Bill Russell. I think everyone should review it because it defines greatness that is composed of physical and intellectual ability with unselfishness and maximum effort. Out of that mixture came the confidence of ultimately winning because it was going to be a 100% effort on all levels by everyone.Thought I'd post this. For non subscribers, maybe you have a free read. This is Kareem talking about Bill, and their relationship spanning many decades. Starting when Kareem was "Lew" in NYC, and the Celtics practiced at his HS before a game against the Knicks.
"I attended his games whenever the Celtics played the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, and I would watch them for four to five years when they practiced at my school gym. I learned how to dominate in the paint by applying defensive pressure. If you can deny the opponent any rebounds, it’s easy to have a fast-break game. If you can effectively block their shots, you force them to adjust their game into an offense they’re not as familiar with. Watching him, I realized that Bill seemed to know what each player was going to do before they did. He anticipated their move like a chess master, then sprang into the air to block them before they knew what was happening. He didn’t play one-size-fits-all defense; he customized his defense to fit each player."
The Bill Russell I Knew for 60 Years
I first met the legendary basketball player when I was 14, and he showed me how to be a better player—and a better man.
