Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell was a champion on and off the court, and he was recognized for both Monday night at the first ever NBA Awards Show as the recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award.
After receiving the award, Russell pointed to the five presenters — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dikembe Mutombo, David Robinson, Alonzo Morning and Shaquille O’Neal — and hit them with a hilarious jab.
All five are Hall of Famers, but their impressive basketball résumés don’t compare to Russell’s.
Russell won a record 11 NBA championships with the Celtics, the last two of which he won as player-coach of the C’s in 1968 and 1969. He also was the first ever African-American head coach in any of the four major North American sports leagues (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB).
In addition to Russell’s on-court accomplishments, and there are many, he also is a civil rights hero. He’s made a tremendous impact in all walks of life.
Thumbnail photo via Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports Images
