July 31, 2022
Eleven time NBA champion Bill Russell has passed away at the age of 88. An official announcement was made by his family on social media.
A basketball icon, Russell played in the NBA for (13 seasons) leading the Boston Celtics to 11 championships and winning countless awards. In 1966 he became the first black coach in the NBA.
Russell was also widely known for his extensive civil rights work. In 1963 he walked in Washington for the Civil Rights March and defended Muhammad Ali for choosing not to serve in the military for religious reasons. In 2011, former President Barack Obama awarded Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He continued his activism up to his passing.
Reactions have been pouring in with condolences and praise for a man considered NBA royalty, including the Boston Celtics, Barack Obama and the NBA.
Russell leaves behind a wife and three children.
Comments