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Bill Russell, Boston Celtics legend and 11-time NBA champion, dies at 88

The basketball legacy is beyond well-known: 11 championships in 13 years with the Boston Celtics, the first Black coach in the NBA, and the first Black coach to win an NBA title

Bill Russell, former Boston Celtics trailblazer and the only NBA legend to win 11 championships, has died at the age of 88. His family shared the news on Russell's official Twitter page on Sunday afternoon, July 31.

"It is with a very heavy heart we would like to pass along to all of Bill's friends, fans & followers: Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side," said the statement released by the family.

The statement shared a glimpse of his achievements read, "Bill's two state championships in high school offered a glimmer of the incomparable run of pure team accomplishment to come: twice an NCAA champion, captain of a gold-medal-winning US Olympic team, 11 times an NBA champion and at the helm for two NBA championships as the first Black head coach of any North American professional sports team."

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"Along the way, Bill earned a string of individual awards that stands unprecedented as they went unmentioned by him. In 2009, the award for the NBA Finals most valuable player was renamed after the two-time Hall of Famer as the 'Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award," added the statement. "But for all the winning, Bill's understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. 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 Evans' assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010." the statement concluded. 

Barack Obama reacted to Bill Russell's passing with a touching statement. 

"Today, we lost a giant. As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher—both as a player and as a person," Obama wrote. "Perhaps more than anyone else, Bill knew what it took to win and what it took to lead," he added. 

Post the news of his demise broke out fans of the legend, who was born in Louisiana in 1934, started sharing their condolences. One wrote, "This is a sad day for anyone that loves basketball and is around 62 years of age and up. Bill Russell’s last year of playing in the NBA was 1969. He did something that will never be matched. 11 NBA Championships in 13 years of playing. MJ was great, but Russell was greater!" Another wrote, "Rest in peace, Bill Russell, Mr 11 rings Your influence on the game will never be forgotten #TheGOAT"

NBA reacts to Russell's death

Fellow NBA legend Michael Jordan, widely considered to be the greatest basketball player of all time said: "Bill Russell was a pioneer, as a player, as a champion, as the NBA's first Black head coach, and as an activist. He paved the way and set an example for every Black player who came into the league after him, including me. The world has lost a legend. My condolences to his family and may he rest in peace."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Russell was “the greatest champion in all of team sports.” While Jaylen Brown of Boston Celtics wrote, "Rest In Peace thank you for paving the way and inspiring so many Today is a sad day but also a great day to celebrate his legacy and what he stood for." Shaquille O'Neal tweeted by saying, "Thank you for paving the way. You will be missed legend. @RealBillRussell"

Remembering Russell, Stephen Curry from the Golden State Warriors wrote on an Instagram post: "Trailblazer. Icon. Greatest Champ in basketball. Made the world on and off the court a better place. Thank you and rest easy! 11"