Bill Russell Explains Why (And Shows How) He Dunked over Everyone

Clips are of Wilt Chamberlain Archive's current collection of Bill Russell chest to chest and poster dunks. Roughly 98% of his career field goals do not exist on film, so please enjoy these rare clips!
Caught in the posters are:
Elgin Baylor
Gus Johnson
LeRoy Ellis
Unidentified NCAA players (sort of, this reverse dunk looked too cool to leave out)
Bill Cunningham
Walt Hazzard
Darrall Imhoff
Rudy LaRusso
Willis Reed (sort of, this one is a stretch admittedly as he was distracted by Havlicek)
Darrall Imhoff (again)
LeRoy Ellis (again)
Wilt Chamberlain
And finally, another unidentified NCAA player who Russell nearly jumps entirely over

[@oxxymc_takesdubs983]

"well you right....I can't shoot, but watch me dunk" -Bill Russell

[@melissaboo32]

🤣

[@lloydkline1518]

Bill russell was very underated shooter" ulgy jump shooter like lloyd free

[@candycerynee6802]

"The way I play, my team wins" - Bill Russell

[@paulsilas9070]

That's the most profound statement I've ever heard a player say.

[@BigJasonHenderson]

Self-serving logic and bs.

[@NWBASKETBALLCARDS]

@@BigJasonHenderson he got 11 rings in 14 seasons, its facts

[@BigJasonHenderson]

@@NWBASKETBALLCARDS You must be confused because I never disputed that (straw man)...

[@googoo-gjoob]

...........there it is!

[@4orrcountry]

It is ALWAYS most welcome to hear from THE master. When Jabbar entered the NBA a year or two after Russell retired, an interviewer asked Russell on national television, "How would you have done playing against Jabbar?" Russell: "My man, I believe you have the question in reverse."

[@Nuvendil]

4orrcountry yeah, seriously. I mean, just look at some clips of Jabar vs old, heavy, slowed down, post knee surgery Wilt. THAT Wilt holds his own and even outperforms him at times. My favorite is when he blocks the sky hook and it's on the edge of goaltending. But when people point that out they forget that Wilt was jumping four or five inches higher than that with better timing in his day. Back in 61-68, he isn't just blocking that shot, he's *catching* that shot. And Russell's timing and defensive iq were equal to or greater than Wilt's and he had similar vertical reach. Kareem vs prime Wilt and prime Russell, I would go with the latter two every time.

[@elfuego233]

Bill would’ve got clapped

[@mmmmm_monke55]

@@elfuego233 kareem would of got out smarted

[@brucescott4261]

@@elfuego233 ...No, he wouldn't have, either!

[@elfuego233]

@@brucescott4261 bill was old Kareem was young he would just out played him

[@paulsilas9070]

I was 5 years old when Bill Russell retired. I've seen enough video clips, games on KZbin, and interviews to understand that Bill Russell should never be removed from the Mt. Rushmore of the NBA. Mentally there has never been anyone like him and on the court he was spectacular.

[@iNostraD]

Unbelievable competitor, people seem to overlook just how much of a killer he was because of his undeniable charm. Is that Tim Duncan he's talking to?

[@seruresto1386]

Chivo Yep. Behind that smile and easy laugh is probably the most ruthless and focused competitor in NBA history. Russel didnt let any potential advantage go unused. Russel commented that Wilt was visibly taking it easy on Willis Reed when Reed came back from injury in that famous game. Bill said that for his part, he would have run Reed into the ground.

[@christianhenry4173]

@@seruresto1386 Wilt can, Kobe Bryant, Brian scalabrine, Steph Curry in some ways, Tracy Mccgrady, Moses Malone, Elgin Baylor, etc. These guys are in my most underrated greatest players of all time lists.

[@utthamprakash4976]

@@christianhenry4173 Kobe is not underrated, Neither is Scalabrine. And T-mac's career was cut short by injuries

[@sumthing8140]

christian henry Just stop with Scalabrine jokes he was ass

[@Mikey-zt1kn]

christian henry What about Vince Carter

[@WiltChamberlainArchive]

Caught in the posters in order are: * Elgin Baylor * Gus Johnson * LeRoy Ellis * Unidentified NCAA players (sort of, this reverse dunk looked too cool to leave out) * Bill Cunningham * Walt Hazzard * Darrall Imhoff * Rudy LaRusso * Willis Reed (sort of, this one is a stretch admittedly as he was distracted by Havlicek) * Darrall Imhoff (again) * LeRoy Ellis (again) * Wilt Chamberlain * And finally, another unidentified NCAA player who Russell nearly jumps entirely over

[@shootaslay]

Wilt Chamberlain Archive I'm happy you post vids like this.

[@MikeroWav3]

just found ur channel... love it! Love the history of the game

[@archiveprotector]

Wilt was a winner! Here’s why: Russell never played with less than 5 other HOFers as teammates. Russell had the stability of Red Auerbach (who never told Russell how to play) and the Celtics organization. Wilt never played with as many HOFers in any 1 season. Wilt played for 8 different coaches (who all asked him to play differently) and 3 different franchises. Even the great ’72 Lakers team only had 2 other HOFers unless you count 9th man Pat Riley (who is in HOF as a coach) then its 3. Wilt took all 3 franchises to NBA finals. Wilt went to NBA final four 12x! Wilt went to 6 NBA finals. Wilt won more regular season games than either Bird or Magic!! Let’s randomly select a few seasons: In 1963 Wilt’s coach was Bob Feerick, who only coached for 2 seasons and had a 43% winning %, hmmm. Not exactly equal to Red Auerbach is it? Wilt had 2 HOF teammates that season. Second tier HOFers at best in Tom Gola and Guy Rodgers. Russell had Red Auerbach, the game’s greatest BB mind of his generation. Russell had 8 HOF teammates!!!!!!!! First class HOFers John Havlicek and Bob Cousy!! As well as, Sam Jones, KC Jones, Tom Heinsohn, Satch Sanders, Frank Ramsey and Clyde Lovellette. This is not even close to being fair. Please, how can anyone with an IQ of Forest Gump even debate this concept? Russell had the teammates and coach. Put Wilt on the Celtics and Russell on the SF Warriors and what happens? In 1969, Russell’s last season, he was the player coach. Wilt, again, had 1 of the worst coaches in the league in Butch Van Breda Kolff (who coached 8 seasons after he coached Wilt and never made the playoffs again, but with Wilt goes to NBA finals and wins 55 games. He had a 48% winning % for his career). Russell had 5 other HOF teammates. Wilt had 2 other HOF teammates. The other 3 starters were Keith Erickson, Mel Counts and Johnny Egan. How could this team ever stack up to Russell and 5 other HOFers? We could do this for every season. It’s completely unfair to call Wilt a loser. He is the only player to beat both Russell and Abdul-Jabbar in the playoffs. In 1967 Wilt finally had a HOF coach, Alex Hannum, along with 3 other HOF teammates. He beat Russell who had 6 HOF teammates! The Knicks had more HOFers in 1970 and 1973. Wilt lost to teams that had twice as many HOFers than his teams! The 2 years he won the titles he beat teams with more HOF teammates than he had! For comparison, every year that MJ won his titles his teams had more HOF teammates and a much better HOF coach. Wilt was always at a disadvantage, MJ had the advantage.

[@thehealthychefri]

How about when Bill was at the University of SF? Two championships!

[@archiveprotector]

Healthy Chef Jimmy Show I know. Russell was a winner no matter where he played. I just wanted to remind people that Wilt was a winner, there is a misconception that he wasn't. The Celtics teams were just too good, if Wilt played in a different era he would have won many titles.

[@Bubba___]

This channel deserves at least a million subs

[@footballbabybaby]

Love how he praises himself in a matter of fact way not a bravado way

[@siphillis]

Russell's competitiveness is underrated, and it's something that comes through with his responses during that interview. There isn't an ounce of modesty or humility to be found when he talks about his ability to play basketball.

[@pebutts]

I think it would be pretty hard to be humble with his record of accomplishments. If anything, I think he feels he is being disrespected every time someone calls anyone else the greatest of all time like it's gospel. I'm sure Jordan is similar when he hears people making the case for Kobe or Lebron James as being better than him. I mean, you could add up all of Jordan's and Kobe's NBA titles together and they would only tie Russell. Add up Magic, Lebron, and Bird together and he's tied with them. Eleven championships in thirteen years is a record of dominance so ridiculous that it's never been even approached by anyone else and probably never will be again. The man has good reason for feeling like he's the best.

[@_JellyDonut_]

Yeah but championships don't equal greatness. As is the case in most sports the guys that come later have a huge advantage. Russell may have been the greatest of his era (personally I don't feel that he was) but there is no way he's the greatest ever. Jordan was clearly a better all around player than anyone before him and, I would argue, LeBron will be the greatest ever by the time he hangs it up

[@pebutts]

I think Russell would say that championships do equal greatness. He has always said that his team winning was the only thing that was ever important to him as a player, so the championship meant he was the best. Nobody ever had been as dominant as he was winning championships before and nobody else ever has since. No, he wasn't the best player of his era (I'd say Wilt and Oscar were better individually than he was), but he would probably tell you he never tried to be the best individual, only to be the player his team needed so they would win. I'm not saying you're wrong in your opinion, but Russell can say he was the best player ever and have some good reasons for saying so. Similarly, LeBron's boosters can claim he's the best, Wilt's fans can say it's him, Jordan's will of course say nobody else could be better, and so forth. They all have valid arguments. It just depends on which one you believe. We'll never know who would be the best if everything was equal. Players benefit from better facilities, travel, training, nutrition, and medical care today than they did twenty years ago, let alone when Russell was playing. Who's to say that a player like Russell wouldn't be just as dominant today with the same advantages?

[@syncmonism]

@@_JellyDonut_ I agree, championships don't equal greatness. It's possible (but very unlikely) for the best player ever to never win a championship. Arguably the best soccer player ever (Messi) has never won a world cup, for example. Russell was arguably the best combination of great player and great team-leader. He eventually became the official coach of the team even while he was still playing. That arguably made him more valuable to his team than any single person ever has been, because it's like a 2 for 1 deal. It doesn't mean he was the most valuable PLAYER ever, because he wasn't JUST a player. A great coach (like Phil Jackson) is a perfectly good substitute for having one guy doing both roles. For my money, Wilt was the greatest ever player. He would add even more to a team as a player than Jordan, Lebron, Jabbar, Bird, Russell, Magic, Kobe, Olajuwon, or any other great player, so long as that team also had good coaching. Some players, like Russell, could add even more to a team if they didn't already have good coaching. If you think Lebron is great you should take a closer look at what Wilt was like, as Wilt was a lot like a 7'1" version of Lebron. Wilt retired way before he needed to, but I'm talking about potential, so I don't consider the longer careers of Jabbar or Lebron to make them more valuable, but you could always try to argue that their contributions are greater just because of the sheer length of their careers, but honestly I don't care about that. All I really care about is who was the best, purely as a player, in their prime. Anything else is a different subject.

[@syncmonism]

Let's not forget also that Russell played before blocked shots were officially recorded, but we do know that he blocked an insane amount of shots, quite possibly second only to Wilt Chamberlain, and he was also an all-time great rebounder.

[@ryanh1013]

Bill seems full of himself but that perfectly represents his game. The ultimate competitor, with the true, unshaken belief that he is the greatest to play the game, and that nobody can stand in his way.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

When you know you are the best, and can explain it, people seem to resent it. But Bill was right, he was just being honest.

[@Fantabiscuit]

He’s just being honest

[@zenyousapprentice3732]

Morgan Freeman used to be a beast

[@norway0618]

lol

[@adamleon9128]

Zenyou's Apprentice 10/10 comment W

[@sd81a46]

😂😂😂😂

[@JamesAllenJr]

"God" does look a little like Bill Russell... huh?

[@ahmarsappal8244]

😂😂😂

[@23aceballer]

"My best games, I could score 6 points and hold down the whole front court." Few big men can truly say that today

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Few? Name ONE. I'm pretty sure the last that could argue that point was Hakeem.

[@23aceballer]

@@bricefleckenstein9666 you you're right man no one really commands the paint like that anymore. Some of it I think is due to rule changes with the defensive 3 seconds. However I'm pretty sure Bill Russell today would dominate just as easily

[@oldschoolruler]

So many people think dominating means scoring lots of points. It doesn't. Winning is dominating, period. Russell knew how, and what to do, to win. Not an opinion but a fact.

[@AnthonyGarcia-gx3nt]

Rest In Peace, Mr. Winner Man

[@syncmonism]

He was an incredible player, but also a great team leader. For a while he was officially the coach of the team as well as its star centre. Unlike a lot of great competitors, he was very respectful, an underrated quality in great athletes. A lot of people think that you need to be mean in order to give yourself the best chance to win, but that can actually result in giving your opponents more motivation, and it can also result in focusing on the wrong things during the game. A lot of people under-appreciate just how good he was. Wilt might be the only player who was better than him, but you could argue that Wilt was only more valuable purely as a player, and needed a great coach in order to be able to get the most out of him and the rest of his team. Russell was a 2 for 1 deal, he didn't need a coach at all for a large part of his career, so arguably the most valuable single person any basketball team has ever had.

[@davidmilton5887]

Boy,have I underestimated his athleticism.The man could play in any era.

[@paulsilas9070]

So many people of this era don't realize the how good Bill Russell was.

[@elfuego233]

He’s slight overrated his best attribute was winning

[@davidmilton5887]

@@elfuego233 His best attributes was defense and leadership. Seems his offensive potential wasn't untapped.

[@harmanjotsingh4230]

@@davidmilton5887 for sure they were not tapped

[@harmanjotsingh4230]

man they didnt show the best clip of em all, when he was running at i dont know what speed, with the balck/white cameras its already hard but his speed made him seem like a wind, as he leaped of a guy not bending and layed it up that clip convinces me he might have been as fast as Wilt and nearly a leaper as him guy is not a stat padder so he would prolly average under 20 pts a game today (more in playoffs), but with at least 14 rebounds a night with 4-5 blocks

[@FoodForThought356]

You are simply the best channel for retro NBA superstars of which time has sadly forgot..thank you so much for keeping the burning flame of their memories alive

[@scoho871]

The way I play my team win #FACTS

[@JamesAllenJr]

Rodman! These guys are perhaps the two best defenders the league/game has ever known. And both simply Champions. Controlled intensity.

[@tonyjiang94]

A lot of people in my country said some shit Wilt and Bill would be no better than DeAndre Jordan in today's game. I hate them showing off their "knowledge" of basketball by disrespecting NBA legends. A legendary player will dominate ANY era.

[@eda639]

Tony Jiang the only thing he does better is dunk more flashier

[@crockerakahops90sjumpmantexas]

it's true wilt would suck in early 2000s and 90s era game

[@kpaw1019]

To this day Wilt is still the most athletic player ever in the NBA. Wilt would be the best player today.

[@crockerakahops90sjumpmantexas]

Kpaw L

[@Reggie2kj]

Armani Smith yea a 7'1 320 pound center with a 40 inch vertical and the longest wingspan ever recorded would suck... but Dwight Howard is top 5 in today's game ok bro

[@tubewatcher38]

Russell & Chamberlain against any 2 big men in history = No contest.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

tubewatcher38 Kareem is the greatest Center in NBA history 6x Champion 6x League MVP More total career points than any player in NBA history Oldest Finals MVP in league history (1985 Finals 26 points and 8 rebounds vs Celtics at age 38)

[@charleyfredrickson5660]

Wilt chamberlain holds 72 records to this day. Lifted Arnold schwarzenegger with one arm. Only person on film to block the skyhook. 7’1 280 pounds of muscle. Kareem is my favourite player but he doesn’t compare sorry

[@syncmonism]

Olajuwon and Jabbar would make for a good competition :). In fact, to me, it's only Wilt who stands out as clearly the best ever centre (and best ever player). Nobody else was as dominant in rebounding, nobody else was as dominant at both offense AND defense at the same time. Never has so much speed and endurance ever been seen in such a large and powerful man, in ANY sport. Yes, Chamberlain had lots of skill, but it was his raw speed, power, size, and endurance which allowed him to make considerably more high-impact plays on both ends of the court than any other player ever has. Russell was perhaps the 2nd best defensive player ever, but even he couldn't stop Wilt's scoring dominance, he could only slow it down a little. Of course, with Russell, you're getting a 2 for 1 deal, as he was a great coach and team leader in addition to being a great player, but purely as a player, I don't know if he's clearly better than Jabbar (who was more or less on Wilt's level in terms of scoring prowess). Olajuwon was also probably the most skilled big-man to ever play, and I'm not sure if Russell was better than him either. I've got them more-or-less tied, though Olajuwon's prime seems to have been a bit shorter than these other guys, for whatever that's worth.

[@bobbymadera3234]

RIGHT BILL RUSSELL AND WILT CHAMBERLAIN WAS THE GREATEST BASKETBALL PLAYER EVER TO PLAY THE GAME PERIOD NOT QUESTIONS ASK.MR WILT CHAMBERLAIN OWN 72.RECORDS IN THE NBA AND BILL RUSSELL GOT 11.RINGS.BUT BILL PLAY TOGETHER WITH THE BEST TEAMMATES EVER WITH THE CELTICS WAS OTHER 7.HALL OF FAME IN THE TEAM WAS THE BEST TEAM EVER IN BASKETBALL HISTORY THAT'S THE ONLY REASON WHY I PICK WILT CHAMBERLAIN FIRST BECAUSE HE WAS ONE MEN ARMY IN HIS TEAM HE CAN'T BEAT BY HIM SELF THE BEST TEAM EVER BUT WHEN HE MOVE LATER TO THE CELTICS HE WON 2.CHAMPIONCHIP.BUT I STILL BELIEVE WILT HIS THE NUMBER 1.AND BILL RUSSELL NUMBER 2.CASE CLOSED

[@billpap.9669]

@The Ultimate so the MVP is a "voter" accomplishment, not an "individual" one ahh???

[@MaeSteRWaR]

I give respect where respect is due and without players like him in the past the game as it is today would not exist. They laid the foundation.

[@psykomystro]

I guess this was too violent to make public?!!! Thanks for the video. Thanks the most offense I've ever seen of Bill Russell. He definitely set the bar high for excellence in the Nba. #truelegend

[@jacoponotarberardino755]

I love Bill Russell, he’s the most dominant winner ever played the game. 🏀❤️

[@babyboomer9560]

Intimidating? As as teenage I used to watch the Celtics on TV live on Saturday. I remember sitting at home and being intimidated by him.....low camera shot looking up at him from behind the bucket...sweat dripping off his goatee, he held the ball and took a deep breath before shooting a free throw. He intimidated. I went to the University of San Francisco. My freshman roommate in 1964 on full scholarship from Chicago. I asked what brought him all the way out here. His answer..Bill Russell.

[@goodlucky5748]

RIP GOAT. 11 rings. 13 years. hard to beat that

[@jason_berns]

Wow! GOAT Center and GOAT PF in just one frame. Absolutely Amazing video.

[@peat381low8]

Without Russell, the Boston Celtics would never be what it is today.

[@wendygratien4135]

Russell didn't make the Celtics champions, they were champions before he got there. He was surrounded by the most talent & had the best coach.

[@SethKasso]

@@wendygratien4135 that's just factually wrong, you dunce. The Celtics hadn't even made a conference finals until Russell arrived.

[@Wowvod]

@@wendygratien4135 you think those 10 or 7 hall of famers are gonna 8 peat without a center, hell no they wouldn’t have beaten bob petit,walt Bellamy,Nate Thurmond, especially wilt

[@wendygratien4135]

@@Wowvod None of those teams had the overall talent that the Celtics had & like I said they were champions before he got there. They may not of won as many without Russell but they would of won some titles without him as they did before he arrived. Credit to Red being the greatest coach & judge of talent.

[@Papichulo-xc5nd]

@@wendygratien4135 wrong, the 61 nationals 62 warriors 63 lakers 66 76ers 66 76ers 67 76ers 68 76ers and 69 lakers all had equal or more talent than the Celtics, celtics jus had the dominant player

[@jankfoots]

3:12 Chestnuts

[@domenickbraccia]

Jank Foots my god this needs more upvotes

[@_JellyDonut_]

Excuse me while I drag my sack across your shoulder!

[@Julius_Paul]

2:59 "The psyche out..." Little known fact to modern NBA fans of the past 40 years, but it was Bill Russell who showed the ultimate skill of one-liner trash talk and stare downs, and he 'psyched out' his opponents better than anyone... better than Bird, Jordan, Rodman, Payton, etc...

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Didn't trash talk as much as Bird, but definitely did the "psyche out" at least as well and arguable better when defending.

[@Michael-fw5ef]

Bill Russell was the best player on the best team. And people claim Bill wasnt good? SMH.

[@Ericapires12]

"The way I play my team wins" - GOAT

[@najeenixon1834]

I tell people all the time, Bill may not have had a jumper but he was great scoring at the basket and he could create shots for himself.

[@clydetheglidetop5sgtop10du7]

Some very nice dunks for such a limited amount of footage

[@GoldVibranium]

Him and Tim would be Undefeated

[@ministerross2606]

Bill is the greatest player ever

[@emmanuelenyinwa1443]

Bill Russell could high jump 6-9. NOBODY in NBA history, not Jordan, not Vince Carter, not LeBron, can do that. I'm always AMUSED when people argue that Wilt "played against little white guys", when Wilt dominated a 6-11 (in shoes) Olympic level high jumper like Russell.

[@baselinejordan1744]

Emmanuel Enyinwa exactly a lot of ppl dont realize what amazing athletes wilt and russell were

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

WIlt dominated Bill less than anyone else he played against in his prime. 1961-1962, the 50.4 PPG year. Wilt's 4 worst games, 26 28 30 and 31, were ALL against Bill - and he only managed notedly over average ONCE out of 11 matchups that year (62 or 63 - compare to the *100* Wilt also had that season, along with MANY 60+ and a FEW 70+ other games). Bill held Wilt to about 12 points LESS than Wilt managed against everyone else in that season. Didn't STOP Wilt, but was a significant speed bump - and that's despite Wilt considering Bill a challenge that he ALWAYS got up for!

[@oldschoolruler]

Scoring points is not dominating. Winning is. Remember who won both the title AND the MVP in 62, despite all of Wilt's individual stats.

[@viscouszedekethereal401]

@@oldschoolruler Bill had a great team than Wilt 6HOF or 7HOF compare to Wilt Teamates. MVP is for The player whos dominant not Team dominance heck Wilt that season is like a demigod "Pure dominance" compare to MVP this season and last season Nikola. And in their matchups Wilt Outscored, Outrebound more assists or even Blocks than Bill Russel.

[@oldschoolruler]

@@viscouszedekethereal401 ??? You did read and understand that, the year Wilt avged 50, Russell won the MVP AND the Title? Right??? Or are you just trolling?

[@toddsands6000]

For a long time I considered Wilt Chamberlain the most dominant center of all time. After looking at these clips and the fact that Bill Russell helped the Boston Celtics win 11 rings, I now have to strongly consider Bill Russell now. I know some will point to stats and I do indeed understand all sides of the argument. I am a huge fan of both players. And I definitely appreciated what those two great big men have done for the game. Of course the only thing I can go by are clips I watch and the stories I listen to from folks who watched Russell and Chamberlain play. I have always been convinced that if Russell and Chamberlain did actually play in the 1980s & 1990s, they would be just as dominant. Those two big men were amazing! Thanks for sharing the video.

[@williambaumann4819]

They would both be amazing in the 80's and 90's. The Celtics were a super team. Cousey was All-NBA about 10 times, and he teamed up with another perennial All-NBA player Bill Sharmen to make the best backcourt in league history (in terms of having both backcourt starters be 1st team All-NBA multiple years). Throw in HOFers Sam Jones (who made 6 "make the last shot or go home" game winning shots in those title runs and shared in the last 10 of Russell's 11 rings), Tommy Heinsohn (Rookie of the year over Bill Russell), K.C. Jones (defensive wizard), and John Havlicek (who won 2 rings after Russell retired), and its clear why Wilt was almost always chosen as 1st team All-NBA over Bill Russell, despite Russell's rings. Russell was amazing, but there is no denying he played on stacked teams his whole career. This was made possible by there being no free-agency, teams getting territorial draft rights, player salaries being low, etc. Also, they changed the lane width to stop Wilt, not Russell.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@williambaumann4819 The original Lane Width change was George Mikan - 6' to 12'. The SECOND was Wilt - 12' to 16'.

[@boulderbulls9741]

Pick and Roll was a trick play back then! :)

[@WiltChamberlainArchive]

"Pick" play - which it still is lol

[@curly8029]

The real GOAT.

[@jeremyzingale8334]

more Bill Russell videos man🙌🙌🙌

[@danandhibb]

I could listen to him forever

[@snelson0929]

I’ve said this on a few other videos. If I’m starting a team and have my pick of any player in his prime, I take Russ. No, not because he’s the greatest basketball player of all time; but because he’s the greatest winner of all time. He unselfishly adapted his game to what his team needed. And 2 NCAA titles (including a then record 60 game winning streak at USF), an Olympic gold medal and championships in 11 of his 13 seasons says he’s the greatest winner ever. My all time team: Center - Wilt Power Forward - Russ “Small” Forward - LeBron James (though I can’t stand him, he’s a great player) Guard - Michael Jordan Guard - Magic Johnson Sixth man - Oscar Robertson

[@paulgeorge9228]

for me im taking pistol pete/curry over the big 0. and i would take kd/tmac over lbj

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@paulgeorge9228 I would take Oscar over Pete hands down. Curry - are we playing the rules Oscar played under (in which case Oscar hands down) or current rules (probably Curry but it's an argument with everything else Oscar is BETTER AT than Curry). For starting a dynasty, to me it's Bill then Larry Bird THEN perhaps MJ.

[@paulgeorge9228]

its pretty good go hve curry, even in mj's era, curry still has gravity even if he cant drive

[@krisharkleroad8]

Bird at small forward. Bird is Clutch. Lebronia not so much.

[@michaelthompson7028]

wat a nice reverse at 1.26

[@ericpledge1]

IKR

[@themovingpickallowscurryto6417]

Michael Thompson That wasn't impressive at all tbh lol

[@arthurmorris1813]

Bill was a fan of that move apparently because he was able to get back on defense. He's already running back to get in position while everyone else is reacting.

[@jeffh123]

RIP Russell

[@kincamell2]

Much Gratitude .

[@jingqi9106]

Russ could do more than just dunk, he also had a decent bank shot and he also had a good hook shot. For his career Bill averaged 15 pts a game but in his prime he averaged closer to 20 a game and all this points were not dunks. With that said, Russell is one of the best in game dunkers of all time. Of course, there was so much offensive firepower on the Celtics he didn't need to score a lot of points.

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Right. The way Bill played, his teams won. Unfortunately, he wasn't a Laker.

[@jingqi9106]

@@michaelalbertson7457 Imagine how good the Lakers would have been with Russell, Baylor, and West

[@miguelbraz2629]

Greatest player ever. End of discussion

[@lloydkline7245]

Miguel Braz greatest shot,rebounder blocker ,outlet passer, etc etc

[@paulsilas9070]

Definitely in the conversation.

[@raferalstonisgoat4457]

Russell had one of the best high jumps in the world.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Tied for #7 best of all of 1956 - vs Charles Dumas at the West Coast Relays in the spring. Charles was the first high jumper over 7' that summer, during the Olympic Trials.

[@donkaspar5336]

I’m an old guy who grew up a Celtic fan. I saw Bill play several times. But I think we all need to admit that the sport has evolved. And there are great European players too. Bill was a great athlete with a will to win. No need to compare him. His resume and rings will stand unmatched forever. Chamberlain was a freak. Jabbar’s sky hook was the most unstoppable offensive weapon ever. Bellamy and Thurmond were worthy opponents and great players in their own right. But Malone, Robinson, Ewing, Olajuwon and Shaquille were all phenomenal players who would have impacted any other era and stacked well against any of them. Just have to admit this.

[@oldschoolruler]

The game now is different, the allowed mishandling of the ball specifically, but not 'better' as so many people want to think.

[@sonofrobert]

Wilt, Russell, Jabar, in that order, for just skill at center position.

[@yingghit97]

The boston celtics didn't win a single championship before he arrived, He left the game with 11 in 13. The greatest champion in the history of sports. The greatest basketball player to ever live!!

[@EGarrett01]

I enjoyed this video, at the very least because it demonstrates that this channel isn't just Wilt Chamberlain propaganda, but propaganda for all old guys.

[@cohara41]

One dunk against Chamberlain while Wilt was out of position, big deal. Lots more footage of Wilt dunking on Russell.

[@ji5340]

Wilt Dunking over everyone, unstoppable

[@Papichulo-xc5nd]

Cohara41 lol Wilt knew better than to jump. And there’s plenty of film of Russell blocking Wilts shots even one of his dunks.

[@carsonrider123]

GOAT sighting 0:01-0:45

[@24Edits4_5]

30 points 40 rebounds 4 assist All in game 7 of the 1962 nba finals There was no stopping that man in the finals

[@darrinbaker00]

Bill Russell is 85 years old, and I still wouldn’t challenge him to a fight.

[@thomasmoran5250]

Bill Russell, on and off the court... #TheGOAT

[@michaelgrabianowski1737]

Greatest winner in team sport’s history!

[@michaelalbertson7457]

Very true comment by Russell. His college and pro teams combined won more championships than any other player. The second most one is probably Kareem Abdul Jabbar. But percentage wise, all time, excluding anyone under 8 playing years, who could have played at UCLA, and went to the Celtics in the 60s, or any other similar situation, he was number one. Without him, his teams would have won a few, that's it. He was and is the greatest basketball player of all time. The last two years, even in the finals, he would stay backcourt at times, to conserve energy, and the Celtics still won those games, and the championship. Probably the smartest top tier basketball player there ever was.

[@realg5276]

Kareem had good battles witb Willis Reed early in his career. Reed talked about how tougb a matchup he was. He light heartedly commented that he wished he had his "Bill Russell problems" back.

[@Ultralulz305]

So Bill Russell won 11 rings because he had a standing vertical of 99

[@JamesAllenJr]

Kinda looks like it, huh? Dude just waited until you couldn't do anything else... then just took your shit out of the sky.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

@@JamesAllenJr Bill had a higher vertical than Wilt did, I am pretty sure. 3 inches or so shorter, but jumped 3 inches HIGHER in College on their respective bets jumps.

[@michaelthompson7028]

1.25 nice two hand reverse like a Shawn Kemp dunk

[@tgmv3990]

Is the man listening Tim Duncan?

[@blackyemen]

THE GOAT... not kobe not lebron not jordan... Bill flipppin Russell GOAT PERIOD.

[@MTXSHO9732vV8SHO]

"Greatness transcends Eras" --Jim Brown .. Inch for inch, pound for pound, Bill Russell was as athletic and intelligent a Player as ever laced them up. I'm 53 of course I didn't see him play but what I do see is a taller Dennis Rodman that played a bigger part of the Offense. Oh... and 11 Rings. What's funny... A lot of players today are only being seen in Highlights, there are people that have been commenting on Basketball for years that haven't watched their favorite team or player in 30 complete games in one season, ever.

[@chrisrunyon2372]

I thought you played the game to win? So honestly Russell is the goat. If you going to call him the greatest winner then obviously he's the best ever. You play the game to win

[@四川老罗]

2:51 "In your FACE, Wilt!!!!" Hahahahaha

[@Pronzini1]

Russell won the most....so what? If Kareem had played on that Celtics team, he would have never lost. Same with Wilt. Wilt had far fewer great teammates on his teams. In Philly his point guard was Wali Jones (Big Deal!). In LA his power forward was Happy Hairston (oh wow!). I saw all three of them play many times (I'm old). Kareem was the best offensive player. Russell could be called the best defensive player, BUT Wilt was the best rebounder, shot blocker, combination of offense and defense, most durable, and the fastest.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Kareem, like Wilt, would have been fighting the other scorers for the ball and disrupting the team. Kareem also was NOT as good a rebounder, and overall not as good a defender (great, but not AS great - much like Wilt). WIlt in LA had JERRY WEST, GAIL GOODRICH, and JIM MCMILLAN to do the scoring - at the same time. ALL HoF, ALL had 20+ point averages most of their years (West was 30+ some years). As far as best defensive player - ever look at Defensive Win Shares? Russell by about 30% in 5 less seasons than DUNCAN in second - and only Wilt from the same timeframe was in the Top 10 (but in the same number of seasons as Bill). Russell also OUTREBOUNDED Wilt a couple of regular seasons and CONSISTENTLY in the playoffs. Blocks - I'll give Wilt having more of them, but Bill's were more likely to result in Turnovers and Fast Breaks. Wilt was easily better on scoring and generally on offense, but didn't work WITH his team nearly as well. BTW - IMO the MOST unbreakable NBA record of all time (though there are several I don't see getting broken)? Bill Russell - Rebounds in Finals Games. Slightly more than DOUBLE the #2 entrant (Wilt), and TRIPLE the current #3 (Elgin Baylor), though Lebron probably will pass Elgin if he makes one more Finals. Think about it. How many sport records are DOUBLE the #2 player? Can you come up with even *ONE* of them?

[@itsromeo4872]

The way that I play my team wins - bill russell

[@eljoelo2459]

The dunk went from being frowned upon to the most exciting play in basketball.

[@Mymomsaidiwascool]

When I play my team wins....thats one hell of a way to put it.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

Not what he said - quite. "The way I play, my team wins".

[@DocNintendo]

he must also have the best laugh in the world

[@indiahackerman8576]

Best center ever, #2 overall to me.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

I put Bill as the greatest player ever, but Wilt as the best individual player. MJ ends up as #2 usually on both lists.

[@LoganNagol]

Everyone always seems to compare Giannis with Wilt. Personally I think Giannis plays far far more similar to Bill Russell. He just takes more efficient shots than Russell and is just a bit more toned muscle wise. Russell and Giannis are only an inch apart both in height and wingspan. And they weight the same. The Wilt comparison is just bad, like Wilt hardly ever was going for driving dunks, it was always standing dunks. And defensively it’s the same. Wilt never left the paint, while Bill was more of a help defender. It’s the same for Giannis he is a help defender

[@Tigerjuhhh]

Both underated. The best mind of the game against the best body of the game. The most intense player against the gentle giant. The supreme peak of sincerity and excellence. If we were immortal beings on this earth these gentlemen would be destined to battle forever on the court and change the world as friends off of it. And they did. Both did Wilt never hid being a conservative even when it looked bad due to watergate for him he never hid his mistakes and assumed then he was so strong that he admitted his moments of weakness wheter in politics women anything. Bill changed everything from giving advice to athletes to change social behaviour to contribute to society as a wave in the pond. Would Ali do what he did the way he did it if Bill didnt give him advice? Would black men and women dare to think differently and be better in the same amount hadnt Wilt dared himself and helped just like Bill? I would die happily if i could shake either of these gentlemans hand and say thank you. Sadly that will never happen. Kudos for your preservation of sports history. Bless you.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

I'm not sure if Bill was THE best mind to ever set foot on a basketball court as a player - gotta be some room for Larry Bird in there somewhere. But everyone else I can think of is AFTER that pair.

[@oldschoolruler]

I was Blessed to make his acquaintance and introduce my 2 sons to him as well. Intellectually, he's in a class of his own. As a baller, he has no peer.

[@tanmaxwell4599]

BILL was - and is -THE BEST.11 rings verify that - no matter how good they were in their prime - none of them received 11 rings.

[@jamestrujillo5195]

Imagine bill russell with wilt chamberlain attributes. Unstoppable center

[@chrismoser9676]

People act like Bill Russell couldn't keep up with today's athleticism: Russell was literally the #7 ranked high jumper ON EARTH coming out of high school. He was an athletic freak + one of the smartest & most competitive athletes in American history

[@samstephens378]

5.. Hakeem Olajuwon 4.. Bill Russell 3.. Shaquille O'Neal 2.. Kareem Abdul Jabbar 1.. Wilton Norman Chamberlain

[@jankfoots]

The GOAT

[@richardjackson2058]

A bigger less nutty precursor to Dennis Rodman lol great overall team player!

[@anthonygilmore5969]

I will always consider him more as a 4 then 5 which speaks of his versatility. He was ben Wallace, draymond green and dennis rodman with more size at 6 - 10.

[@TheIcemanthomas]

Tim Duncan is bill russel reincarnated. Lol

[@yusufsayed7039]

Legend...

[@leodurocher5454]

red auerbach said in 86 that he would take bird over russ to start a team...either way you could not go wrong....would've loved to have seen those 2 play together, probably 2 best total team, win first players in nba history

[@thefinalwatcher]

GOAT

[@williamwalker146]

Bill pretty plainly thought he was the GOAT or something close to it but somehow avoided arrogance-which is pretty amazing. If you watch lots of his other interviews though you can see what a humble and open man he was. I personally disagree, but his closest admissions to GOAT-dom are said as a statement of objective "fact" rather than pride in his own accomplishments.

[@chrismacgillivary9497]

The true Innovator.....

[@carseye1219]

So fast off the floor. Didn't need to "gather" to elevate.

[@sumnthinjustaintright7539]

Fake ppl showinghim love NOW but didnt donate to his auction while yall bragged about curry making 220 mill fake brotherhood

[@davidsaffer8507]

nobody had a better career !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THE KING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JRABFILMS]

famous first words "watch me dunk"

[@hoop23legend]

"im the best player of all time, because i knew how to dunk"

[@shabaazranney7283]

It always cracks me up when people argue that older players were less athletic. Really? Name me centers today who could do the athletic feats that Wilt and Russell could do? NBA players back then were STRONG, it was a different level and type of athleticism. Today's league they pick quick players not strong to suit the rules. You never saw scrawny Steph Curry's back in the day (and I loved Steph since college years). For the record, 80's 90's was the golden age of this athleticism in terms of loaded superstar talent, but don't negate some of the amazing older players like Wilt, Russ, Tiny Archibald, Kareem, Oscar etc.... they were outliers.

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

@Joe Stalin - Yeah, Kareem Abdul Jabbar at a legit 7'2" wouldn't be sh-- today. Hall of Famers Artis Gilmore, Walt Bellamy, Nate Thurman, Bill Russell, Bob Lanier, Willis Reed, Dave Cowens would suck today.

[@nickmclawhorn5559]

"You would never see scrawny Steph Currys" "Tiny Archibald" Am I missing something here? He weighed 40 pounds less than Curry. Not to mention Bob Cousy and Jerry West.

[@jonmacie7581]

ShaunPhillipsAV: Yeah that previous statement is so backwards it deserves a bit of sarcasm

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

@Joe Stalin - Kareem would be a borderline all star if he played today? Are you serious or just master baiting? You do realize that Kareem was 1st team all NBA over Hakeem Olajuwon at AGE 39! Where was Hakeem at age 39? Retiring, that where. Other than maybe Shaq, Hakeem is unquestionably the best center in the last 30 years, yet, as an old man, Kareem was better than Hakeem nearly every time they played. Kareem would be every bit as dominate today as he was then, especially with all the crap centers they have in todays NBA. I wont go into all of the other pre-1990 centers, but I will add that in addition to being called Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980 and one of the top 20 greatest athletes of the 20th century by ESPN in 1999, Bill Russell was also a track star who once high jumped over 6"9" going over the the bar the old fashion way (non-Fosbury Flop). Track & Field News ranked him as the seventh-best high jumper in the world in 1956. Oh, did I also mention that he was a winner at every level. He played the game of basketball 21 years, and won 17 championships! But I am sure none of those skills would transfer to todays NBA (eyeroll).

[@ShaunPhillipsAV]

Joel Villarreal - "Why did Bill Russell always shit on Wilt Chamberlain?" He didn't. The Celtics, with EIGHT hall of fame players often got the better of Wilt, but not Russell alone. Wilt set the NBA all time rebounding record of 55, while being "guarded" by Russell. Wilt also averaged twice as many points against Russell as Russell got against Wilt. Bill Russell himself has said "Because Wilt's talents and skills were so super human, his play forced me to play at my highest level. If I didn't, I'd risk embarrassment and our team would likely lose."

[@JBBGeek]

I'm just going to say what I have sincerely believed since I was a small boy: Bill Russell is the greatest center of all time. So agile, could run like a deer, was ridiculous athletically, could shut down Wilt Chamberlain, could shut down ANYBODY down low. Best defensive player ever.

[@actionhunter93]

Wolfen Jedi The only thing Russell could do to Wilt is simply hold him to 29 points per game and 29 rebounds per game for their entire matchup. Also Wilt scored 62 on Russell and Bill said about this incident'' I will never forget that''. That's not exactly shutting down, is it?

[@sonofrobert]

@@actionhunter93 I think Wilt got the 55 rebounds on him, that game also. Shows you how good Wilt was, doing the to Russell. If Russell was on a bad team, with bad coach, how his career may have been different.

[@yulgomez8279]

Wilt # 1

[@MikeJones-rk1un]

Not to over empathise but it was 14 for 14 titles for Russ. 11 NBA, 2 NCAA, and one olympic. It can't be matched because he played a team game in a team sport and no one does that any more. Of course having the best guard tandem in NBA history didn't hurt.

[@bricefleckenstein9666]

don't forget the 2 he won as COACH for the Celtics, and the 2 he won in High School.

[@nelsonmandali2068]

and now we have a drone in dunk contest 😂😂

[@Potts2700]

Looks just like Ginnas

[@bloodgamer3487]

Bill russel has the life i want to have

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

BEST Center in NBA history