Bill Russell (basketball)

William Felton Russell (born February 12, 1934) is an American basketball player remembered for his role in the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in the 13 seasons that he played. His major contribution to the sport was raising defensive play to a new level; he is commonly considered the greatest defensive center ever to play the game.

Born in Monroe, Louisiana and raised in Oakland, California, Russell played college basketball at the University of San Francisco, which he led to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 straight victories.

Russell played for the Celtics from 1956 to 1969, winning the NBA championship every year except 1958 and 1967. He served as player/coach from 1967 to 1969, and later was coach of the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973 to 1977, and Sacramento Kings from 1987 to 1988.

Russell has received virtually every NBA honor that exists, and in 1968, he received Sports Illustrated magazine's "Sportsman of the Year" award. He was exceptionally active in the American Civil Rights Movement. At one point, he refused to play a game when he and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant.