Boston Celtics and NBA Legend Bill Russell Dies at 88

Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, has died, his family announced Sunday. He was 88.

A world-beater on the court and an Olympic gold medalist, Russell was also known as a pioneer in the fight for civil rights, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and speaking out about his treatment as a Black player in a city — and country — where race was often a flash point. He broke the color barrier in major U.S. sports as its first Black head coach.

His family posted a message celebrating the life of one of the NBA’s greatest-ever players.

“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” they said.

His death was followed by a flood of remembrances from the Celtics and NBA communities.

The Celtics issued a team statement Sunday mourning his passing and celebrating his “enormous legacy in basketball, Boston, and beyond.”

“To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was,” the team wrote. “Bill was a champion unlike any other in the history of team sports – an 11-time NBA champion, including winning eight consecutive titles, a five-time MVP, an Olympic Gold Medalist and the NBA’s first Black head coach.”

“Bill Russell’s DNA is woven through every element of the Celtics organization, from the relentless pursuit of excellence, to the celebration of team rewards over individual glory, to a commitment to social justice and civil rights off the court.”

Wyc Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca and the Boston Celtics ownership group also released a brief statement saying Russell “embodied character and commitment and he was truly one of the finest people to ever live.”

“He will be remembered forever and deservedly so.”