How Good Was Bill Russell Actually?

[@nonstop]

RIP to the greatest winner in SPORTS history. 🙏

[@branduro9869]

Rip the to the man with 11 rings

[@Jose_Borrinho]

Amen to that

[@coachmahooty4102]

Truly the greatest winner there was. A man we all aspire to be like.

[@cyleea]

Rip to a basketball legend

[@Artem925ua]

Rip legend

[@jordanmurrayparle8693]

He thrived in a game and society that didnt even accept him at the time. Credit where it's due the man is a legend🙏🏻 Edit: Felt like I really had to come back to this comment today, Rip mr Russell, you made the nba what it is today and your legacy and resilience will not be forgotten.

[@theupdawg3533]

During that time there were only 10 teams tho, and on the Celtics there were 8 HOF during that time

[@jordanmurrayparle8693]

Take bill Russell off the team and alot of those guys wouldnt be in the hall of fame let's not front

[@kieronr9597]

@@theupdawg3533 with less teams that also meant only the best players get to the league.

[@Noahhhhhhhh]

The Up Dawg less teams=more quality teams

[@blackmarlin3166]

@@Noahhhhhhhh Basketball recruitment and scouting are not exactly at its finest during the 60's. College players are treated like trash and a lot pro players that time have day jobs. You're badly wrong if you think for one second that every single player in those few teams in that era are the best of the best.

[@3ampremiere782]

Bill Russell's story NEEDS to be a movie

[@raiderbro8663]

I was just thinking the other day about a bill-wilt motion pic about they're rivalry/friendship but must definitely do justice to both as individuals

[@G-MoneyYMCMB]

Fr though

[@healmagick]

Seriously. I'd pay to see it in theaters. What am amazing man.

[@tshepomalaka9679]

I think you right, its about damn time especially while his still here

[@og-greenmachine8623]

Like they would tell the truth🙄 Just another feel good movie, about how whites🇺🇸 Aren’t really that bad...

[@JimtheDMD]

All Bill Russell did was win. I believe that is the object of the game. He fulfilled it no matter what level he was at.

[@deadpool1966]

Hes the real goat nobody wants to admit it considering he did it with the celtics

[@ShawnValentino]

@@deadpool1966 He won a bunch of championships with like 8 hall of fame teammates in a league with about 4 teams of drugged out goofs. Did you ever watch highlights from this era? We could probably play at that time in the NBA. It stinks

[@mongoslade277]

@@ShawnValentino Bill Russell won 2 National Championships in college. He didn't play for Kansas or Kentucky or UCLA. He led the University of San Francisco to 2 national championships!! In those days you couldn't play as a freshman so 2 chips in 3 years at a mid major. He also won an olympic gold medal and a state championship in high school. The man is the best winner ever

[@ShawnValentino]

@@mongoslade277 At that time nobody cared about playing basketball. Watch one of those games from back then. We are probably better athletes than those goofs playing then. And the NBA had about 4 teams in the league and he was surrounded by 5 Hall of Famers in a league with no competition. Imagine Michael Jordan and Isiah Thomas winning one playoff series and going to the finals 10 times against a bunch of dweebs. Basketball pre 1970 was a joke.

[@mongoslade277]

@@ShawnValentino You make some good points. The game was played differently back then. It's way more athletic today but Elgin Baylor. Wilt. Jerry West. Oscar Robinson. Sam Jones. John Havlicek would have that athleticism today. Their games would carryover to today's game. Bill Russell in the 90's would have a problem playing center. He would've probably been a small forward. In today's game with the small ball he could play center. He could play pick and roll defense and defend the 3

[@wmden1]

Russel vs Wilt was the game we looked for, on Sunday afternoon, NBA Game of the Week. Showing my age, but that's okay.

[@jaytosturdy8721]

yesssir old head im fuccing wit it

[@that_dude_tk7327]

Yeah, may you tell me about wilt, please? I want to know how did he prepare for games what was his workout routine?

[@kenneth7826]

wmden 1 THOSE WERE great games back in the 1960s....it was nothing unusual to see 8 to 9 hall of famers on the court at the same time.....we know when these young folks take pot shots at guys like wilt and bill they have no clue..they were not born..i have asked who is willie mays..sandy koufax....etc..no response..no idea...smile...wmden 1 There is no hand checking????say what????..peace..they just don't know...

[@jsuisdetrop]

RIP wmden1

[@wmden1]

@@that_dude_tk7327 I have no idea about all of that. They didn't do much up close and personal broadcasting stuff back then. I do know that Wilt could be double teamed and break grips on his shoulder, or take a 200 pounder up with him, on a dunk, and grin about it, among other things.

[@MP-tf7cc]

GOAT. He had great teammates because he MADE them great. Had great teams because he MADE them great. Dominated the most imposing athlete ever (Wilt). Was 27-0 in championship / series final / do-or-die games...

[@Amick44]

Cousy, Havlicek, Sam Jones were all great regardless. Sharman probably, too. But many of the others he enhanced their value tremendously.

[@mikjord]

No doubt sir. Mr Russel was the male alpha lion of all-time.

[@tylerhingleton8493]

Wilt averaged 28 and 28 against Bill in all their head-to-head meetings, and lost by a grand total of 9 points combined in all their postseason meetings either in elimination or 7-and-decided games. So, I wouldn't say "Dominated" by any means.

[@joestuehmer7967]

@@tylerhingleton8493 Exactly u give Wilt that Celtics team and Russell would get swept

[@broadstreet21]

You hit the right nail on the head so hard, you left a hole big enough to drive a truck through. Russell measured his play by whether it made his whole team do better. Consequently, he won 11 titles and played a big role in lifting 8 other teammates to the Hall of Fame.

[@foxfakenews3293]

I was fortunate to see Bill Russell play. One thing people don't realize about him was just how great he was at blocking shots. Since his time, you see players blocking shots, but the ball usually ends up out of bounds. Russell was so good at it he would block it to himself or another Celtic. In one interview he said anybody can swat the ball out of bounds but then that team gets the ball right back. And this, among other things, is why I think he is the greatest of all time. Contrary to common belief I also think he would have found his place among the greats in today's game. One of the other complaints is there were only 8 teams but with just 8 there was a better concentration of quality players on each team, so he dealt with the best more often. There are teams today that just don't have what it takes because there are only so many genuinely great players. You don't win 11 championships by being anything but great. His last year they one the championship proves it. It was by far the weakest team he played on, but they still won it all...because of him.

[@wanz3611]

1 year later… do you still feel this way? Or has anything changed (genuinely curious)

[@traytyler9951]

@@wanz3611dog if he watches bill russel play dude might be dead already 💀

[@abrahammitchell5599]

Look Jordan fanes Big Bill is the goat know dolt about it.Point blank!😅😊🎉

[@enmorot]

Great and underrated comment! People often miss this.

[@realestfr]

Bill Russell will never not be missed. Such a humble person and an amazing player. Rest in peace.

[@donaldwallace1525]

What a pity that young people and players do not realize just what we owe to Bill Russell. What we take for granted, he had to fight for. He helped pave a very rocky road that makes our journey much easier. I'm not talking Bball, I'm talking civil rights. He was very big (no pun intended) and instrumental is changing America. As far as I am concerned, his basketball achievements are secondary to what he did for civil rights and the lives of everyone that has and will benefit from his courage.

[@Thurnmourer]

@@donaldwallace1525 he wasn't big, though. Even in the Netflix documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," which is otherwise a propaganda piece of Mr Russel... He's still, admitting *himself,* mind you. He's admitting repeatedly that he does not feel like he's doing all that much to push the causes he believes in. And you can tell that motivated him quite extensively throughout his life as he became jaded with the American world at the time. He did very little, he largely depended on others to be there before he took a step to get involved, such as the case with Mr Clay and what he did and how it affected his boxing career. With probably the sole exception of... Minnesota? Mississippi? Some South state he did a basketball tour in for strictly political reasons until death threats started credibly rolling in.

[@jameslao9204]

And Wilt changed the way woman looked at him.

[@80srocknroller]

20,000 women specially blonde women

[@MeOwClan1337]

Wilt walked so Kuzma could run

[@blooketlives8145]

Lmao

[@jameslao9204]

@@MeOwClan1337 lol facts tho

[@jayfrmshington6506]

And yet his ass didn’t have any children to take his place smh

[@oscargam1ng436]

Imagine Bill Russel and Wilt Chamberlain in the same team 👁👄👁

[@jklease7198]

That would be OP af

[@PoliticusRex632]

When Wilt played for Philly they were on the same team for the All Star game

[@ppface7221]

imagine them with SHAQ

[@jklease7198]

@@ppface7221 op

[@Niggolos]

On Celtics they’d have 15+ rings

[@senyatakims6953]

This video really raised my respect for older players. Even though the nba is more skilled today some of these players changed the game's foundation to what's seen as normal today. The players today just built off of it and perfected it. These guys definitely deserve their respect

[@deadpool1966]

Your high, more skilled nah you mean more lazy, dribbled at the 3 line an shoot

[@senseichess8688]

@@deadpool1966 with no under the basket many times its insane

[@hater2510]

@@deadpool1966 old head

[@Momosrevenge]

True legend on and off the court. Tons of respect for him

[@PoliticusRex632]

Funny how you guys always claim Russell couldn't guard Shaq yet Rodman did... effectively. And Russell was a lot better than Rodman.

[@anthonywright5960]

facts

[@kenneth7826]

Well said

[@bobbysbluebooster]

I mean Rodman was 2 time dpoy winner. Don’t sleep on the worm

[@PoliticusRex632]

@@bobbysbluebooster and Russell is considered the greatest defensive player of all time. Rodman's achievements pale in comparison.

[@kenneth7826]

@@bobbysbluebooster Dennis Rodman is one of the all time great defensive players..he always took the toughest assignment and did it well.....what does not get mentioned was his team play...forget the antics the man understood the game..peace..wear your mask...get vaccinated when your time comes....

[@hotdogeater445]

Was an incredible man and incredible player. Rest In Peace, to a legend.

[@smdqkzkmwzkansmzozk1062]

The title should be how "GREAT" was Bill Russell actually

[@vulcanraven9701]

Overrated. winning in an 8-10 team league. At that time there were other leagues like the ABA that hadnt yet merged with it. Its why no one takes the football titles in 1920s as seriously as those of Superbowl era.

[@NameCallingIsWeak]

@@vulcanraven9701 NOT a watered down league, like today.

[@thebigchap101]

@@vulcanraven9701 Think about it: Since there were only 8-10 teams in his era, wouldn’t that mean that the best of the best would be in the league?

[@vulcanraven9701]

@@thebigchap101 Problem is, that was pre-merger. You had different players in say the ABL or whateevr other programs out there. Basketball was decentralized and some players who were good in college or other leagues hadn't seen the sport as a legit career. Its like when any other league started out: many lacrosse players in college who had pro potential didnt turn it, decentralized sports dilute talent. Its why no one takes "AFL titles" seriously. The modern era began with the creation of Superbowl.

[@mattveteska8559]

@ New profile Aba wasn’t even formed till after Russel retired

[@donaldwallace1525]

Teams are more equally matched with talent now days and it's harder to have winning streaks like Boston had in Russell's day. He gave Chamberland the credit of being a better player, which says alot for his character. But as others have said, no one will ever match his winning record or outclass his achievements. What an outstanding athlete and a great man! I believe that Mr Russell needs more recognition and admiration for his work in civil rights that he did. He was a very important figure in getting changes made in America. It was not right for people to pay to watch him play, to cheer him on, to praise his talent but then would not eat a meal with him. He made a firm stand and was instrumental in getting changes made. This was actually his greatest achievement.

[@user2j3ycg4df]

I know very little about basketball positions and intricacies, but such videos add charm and value through their simple and straightforward narration, without much hyperbole and interruptions. Thanks much (from India).

[@wesley_Certified]

Bill Russell had to go against wilt and could hold him so how could he not hold Shaq he was also a world class athlete

[@anansi1641]

YEP, just like Ben Wallace did!

[@Madvillainy48]

Bill never locked down Wilt. Ben never locked down Shaq. Their numbers were slightly worse. They just lost.

[@joeyjerome2487]

S0 Friday isn’t making the other team lose the point of the game?

[@stephatkinson8606]

@@joeyjerome2487 Exactly! People think the sport is boxing or Tennis, you do what it takes for your team to get the "W" that's all that matters...

[@UselessVoidBobo]

Bill said it the best, "I cannot stop Wilt but I could slow him down".

[@healmagick]

Wonderful video. Thank you :) So many great points made about Bill Russell and why he deserves recognition. 11 championships in 13 years....with one as a player/coach! Insane. The way he stood up for civil rights too, absolute legend. If anyone has a GOAT conversation, ever, you can't overlook Bill.

[@teddymlgdawg4652]

Good enough to have eleven rings

[@treytostie1408]

And 2 ncaa titles and an olympic gold medal

[@Youngstree6547]

Bill is a legend but he is nowhere near the top 10 of all time. He was terrible on offense and had 4-5 HOFers in a weaker era with less teams.

[@josep4259]

@@Youngstree6547 less teams = high caliber players than today

[@ehi_ij]

@@josep4259 lol that’s based off skepticism and assumption not stats and facts think of all the “high caliber” players today and put them onto ten teams your trying to tell me the average player here who’s doing this part time apparently has more high caliber players than today sense that logic goes both ways sorry but I don’t believe it

[@stuartperry1047]

And 8 in a row!

[@m_vwd]

May this legend rest in peace. He'll never be forgotten.

[@roww10]

He is the real G.O.A.T. That is how good he was.

[@vernpascal1531]

Not greater than Wilt no way.If Wilt had been on The Celtics team. They would never have lost. I'm not disrespecting Russell, but C'Mon Wilt was more than twice the offensive player as Russel,l and as Great a rebounder and shot blocker. Even a better passer late in his career.

[@roww10]

@@vernpascal1531 No doubt. The reason Russell is the G.O.A.T is because he kept Chamberlain from being the GOAT. They played in their prime at the same time. MJ and LeBron are only in the discussion because they recent. Russell has the most championships and Chamberlain is most dominant player in history. End of story.

[@bobbymira8234]

@@roww10 Big deal about those 11 rings. They played in an era where there was like 8 teams going up against non-basketball players.

[@Ryenobal]

Never was a Russell/Celtics fan, but aside from the most championships by far, he won 5 MVPs. One could say that he was the greatest team player ever and should be on everyone’s top 10 of all time.

[@timmjohnsonproductions2609]

wow!! 11 rings he is the g.o.a.t of winners

[@angusthecat1689]

" THE WAY I PLAY MY TEAM WINS "

[@jacoponotarberardino755]

End of conversations.

[@philipfarnan4188]

The NBA should figure out how many blocks he had.

[@ethybubs]

The don't have footage from most games

[@MrE_]

Probably a lot considering he played against plumbers as good as today's middle school or high school athletes

[@omnipepper3665]

@@MrE_ didn't know Wilt was a plumber

[@joeyjerome2487]

Mr.E yea bro. People like wilt, bob petit, Elgin Baylor, Oscar Robertson. Jerry west. Nate Thurmond. All those hall of famers. They plumbers.

[@MrE_]

@Sipseyhiker ok now that's just a dumb statement. You do realize that humans evolve overtime? Every physical ability record (speed, strength, endurance,etc) has been beaten by modern athletes. To deny that is to deny science and basic knowledge. The truth is, those hall of famers were great for their time. But just because you make the hall of fame, doesn't mean you are automatically the best that an athlete can be.

[@jfray3725]

What a great person,a great player. No one in the nba will come close to him. He was played the game the way it should be played. Rest In Peace Mr. Celtic. He is one of many great Celtic players who stayed with the same team throughout his career

[@karladriannedeguzman]

Rest in Paradise, Bill Russell 🙏☘️

[@romaruu]

R.I.P King 🕊🙏

[@emmanueloppong9778]

We find out another legend has passed on a Sunday afternoon. May God bless his soul

[@rackmasterh]

Mr. Russell will always be my GOAT. Rest in Power, Sir.

[@gotigers2779]

Rip to Bill he had such a successful career and post career and left it all out there. Legend!

[@gotigers2779]

@Reid Little that is what I said: Rip (rest in peace)

[@fraittrain1578]

R.I.P. Legend

[@audieconrad8995]

He is not just my greatest sports hero - he is my greatest hero.

[@EIite.]

He’s dead

[@JackFlaps]

@@EIite. happens to all of us

[@pmcclaren1]

A reporter asked Russell after Jordan got his 6th ring what he thought of this. He answer: 'Not much.'

[@senseichess8688]

He said...and he meant it for 2 reasons

[@pmcclaren1]

@Enzo James He said it. With 8 championships in a row no one will ever tough him.

[@pmcclaren1]

@@senseichess8688 Indeed! Just for my information, what are the reasons you refer to?

[@senseichess8688]

@@pmcclaren1 one reason is that bill knew 6 rings is a very long way from 11

[@senseichess8688]

@@pmcclaren1 the other reason is that he believed Jordans era had too much expansion which created watered down rosters...bill felt that many of his Celtic championship teams were much deeper than the bulls title teams...

[@tamerlankolomiychenko8421]

Hi love ur work, keep up the great work.

[@wannabemichaelredd6699]

R.I.P to the greatest winner ever

[@ellandecampbell6279]

Well said. If I could create an all-time starting 5, he'd be my center

[@Amick44]

Agree. I wouldn't think twice about it.

[@senseichess8688]

Amen

[@joostwillem8596]

How bout prime shaq?

[@ellandecampbell6279]

@@joostwillem8596 Nope. Russell's a much better defender, & he wouldn't have an issue with sacrificing his scoring. Hakeem & Duncan are the other 2 big men on my all-time team. I considered Wilt for the starting 5, but there are too many issues with ego & clutch ability (& I can't see him accepting a bench role)

[@broadstreet21]

Same here. It would be Johnson, Jordan, Bird, James, and Russell. With Pop as coach.

[@ad34bballin]

One thing I always try to tell people is Bill could run a fast break as a center. Wilt couldn't do that.

[@felixheredia62]

Wilt used to run track what are u talking about

[@ad34bballin]

@@felixheredia62 Yeah I meant run a fast break meaning dribbling and pushing the ball.

[@Mark-sj3xb]

Wilt in his younger days ran the floor like a deer.

[@ad34bballin]

@@Mark-sj3xb yeah what I mean by “run a fast break” means that he could lead it by dribbling the ball up the court and passing it. Like leading it similar to how a point guard would. Wilt couldn’t do that. Wilt was very mobile for his size though.

[@Weluvyourod]

who’s here after he passed 😢

[@georgehaas1914]

You had to see him perform season after season against the top centers of his era to appreciate how important he was to the Celtics dynasty.

[@J34xalpha_KING]

Lord of the Rings 🙏🙇🏻‍♂️

[@arjaysuliva633]

RIP, Legend #6 🤍💚

[@dwadeisthegoat2020]

Rest In Peace to Bill Russell. Helped Pave the way for every single black superstar to exist after him 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@ashsbasketball4951]

Bill Russell was a true champion. RIP Bill Russell 🏆☘️🤲

[@picklikeapro6952]

Anyone else here after the documentary? It’s crazy that mainly defense made this man so great. Was there even a defensive player of the year back then? Him winning the mvp 5 times averaging the points that he did was awesome.

[@christinewilliamson5098]

Long live the King, Gone but never forgotten His accomplishments on and off the court will be remembered for years to come

[@vernonleewarren280]

A great player will play great in any era. Bill was probably the greatest defender ever and he was fundamentality sound. Also he was about team first. Thank you for showing love for this all time great

[@larrydalobster3548]

Exactly he cared about his teammate's success and I value that the most Best team defender of all-time and if it wasn't for Bill Russell rarely any of his teammates will be Hof I hate he gets so much disrespect

[@vernonleewarren280]

@@larrydalobster3548 agreed

[@senseichess8688]

Your right and even af 6 9 no one could out rebound him except wilt...a combination if vertical leaping ability and brains

[@broadstreet21]

It drives me crazy when people say Russell's era was less talented than Jordan's, that his Celtics were men playing against boys. Statistically, none of that is true. The 60s were a much higher scoring team, and oftentimes, the Celtics had an inferior offensive rating. And several times, the Celtics came close to being eliminated in the playoffs.

[@senseichess8688]

Good points

[@Ivin17]

Bill Russel is gone now and it's so sad... Goodbye winner it won't be the same without you in basketball history. 😭

[@gordonworth5461]

He could play today because of his style. He was an athlete and new the game. He could get up and down the court like a shorter Gianis and one of the best defensive and rebounders ever. The leadership of Steve Rogers and only care about winning.

[@geordiejones5618]

He pioneered shot blocking and was the rebounding/blocking anchor of the first fast break offense while being the best defender in the league for years and even in his last years the smartest defender. He won 5 MVPs when the players voted. His first 3 years in the league were: title, mvp, title. Probably the all time MVP even if Jordan and Lebron are the most skilled.

[@gilshabtai2010]

Russel handled Chamberlain which was stronger and more athletic than ANY of today's players. Considering the way he was the center of his teams regarding the ORGANIZATION of offence, he could become the leader of any team, past or present. His dominant defense and his ability to drive teammates to be their best by taking off their plate some defensive aspects, would make him as dominant today.

[@FasterDrivers]

Rest in Peace. We lost a great one today, 7/31/2022.

[@PoliticusRex632]

"The 1st center that blocked shots"? Ever hear of George Mikan? The guy that blocked 24 shots in 1 game.

[@slashbxe2832]

wilt has done more

[@chipbaker2025]

Doesn't know who George was. These young guys talk trash about people they never saw play.

[@billthegoatrussellmichaelj3880]

Hey sup it's the russell account from galaxy

[@billthegoatrussellmichaelj3880]

I know in his best player drafted at each position he said kd and didn't even give an anhorable mention to bill

[@pikachureynolds1110]

Do you have proof of Mikan blocking shots because it wasn't a recorded Stat til the 70s lol like what.

[@iMacxXuserXx485]

Russell wasn't the best scorer on his team, but he led the Celtics in scoring in multiple of his Finals wins. Was the best defender and highest scorer in those series.

[@brianmolstad1255]

Irv Strom, the great referee, estimated that Russell blocked 8 shots/game. Auerbach said 80% of these blocks went to Celtic teammates. NBA players averaged shooting about 50%, so the Celts got 7 points extra/game and prevented 7 points/game. That is a 14 point bonus each game for the Celtics that other teams did not have. In addition, great players like West and Petit replied that they sometimes missed layups or did not take shots because of fear of Russell. Plus steals, balls grabbed just before going out of bounds and 22 rebounds/game. Is it any wonder the Celtics won 11 championships/13 years?

[@stevetaylor1482]

Bill Russells basketball IQ, plus his obsession with winning and killer instinct can't be boiled down into stats. Russell often stepped up in big games and scored more than his average if that was needed. He also would take the ball up court if the other team put the press on Boston's guards. A true Mt Rushmore of basketball.

[@senseichess8688]

Amen

[@switch-_-out6571]

Just saying this now we have 30 teams and only 16 of them are decent, while only 8 of them are good and only 4 of them are great. while back then they had 8 teams which had multiple HOF on their teams. So u can’t say that argument about them having lesser teams bc those “lesser teams” were better than most teams rn in the league

[@jacoponotarberardino755]

Well said

[@thiskid7402]

Switch out being in the HOF didn’t mean that much back in the day. There were still bad teams but I get your point

[@SonnyK248]

If there were only eight teams in the league today the game would not be easier. We're talking about taking the top 120 guys in the league and sending them to eight teams. That would be the most competitive conference in the history of basketball. So alternatively if Russell's league had 22 teams every team would be diluted down and weaker.

[@BinhNguyen-kg3vb]

Your theory is correct except “the pool” that you are talking about here in 1960’s did not COME CLOSE TO REPRESENT the Available talents at the moment. The NBA league was just inaugurated in 1945 and even tho basketball was invented in 1890 but it has never been popular until the NBA made it in the 1980 and on. Oh by the way, the vast pool of talents from the outside world did not even know about the NBA and just played soccer at that time!!!

[@SonnyK248]

@@BinhNguyen-kg3vb so surely having more teams back then would have made the league weaker

[@poofyartz1718]

Rest in peace.

[@Stephisthegoat3]

Gone but never forgotten

[@leejohnson6328]

bill russell could play in any era he had that attitude

[@R__K]

The NBA Finals MVP trophy is named after him for good reason... that's the mic drop.

[@ChillHandle12]

R.I.P Bill Russell

[@rorymcneely324]

Great man . And rest in piece to bill Russell. Rest in piece #6 ☘️🕊

[@ae23ye]

Happy birthday Bill Russell

[@hancockhawks66]

R.I.P GOAT 🐐

[@ogbatman4481]

Who’s here after he passed r.i.p

[@omarbonner3525]

The goat of all time 11 time champion

[@drewsollars2239]

In addition to his ELEVEN (as many as Michael and Kobe combined) NBA titles, he won 2 NCAA titles and an Olympic gold medal. YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME! I don't believe the GOAT is a thing, but if there were one my vote would be for Russell.

[@robertjohn8711]

Played in an era of 12 teams, no 3 point line, one round before playoffs, and no skill.

[@drewsollars2239]

@@robertjohn8711 Actually there were 8 teams. Great point, the talent was far less diluted. He was matched up with a hall of Famer almost every night.

[@drewsollars2239]

@@robertjohn8711 Also, no 3 point line makes it harder to score in the paint. And you tell Sam Jones he had no skill. Please.

[@pikachureynolds1110]

@@drewsollars2239 guys would still shoot it just wasn't worth it seeing how it was only worth two points and you didn't want a long rebounds teams knew how to capitalize on the fast break, especially if it was against the Celtics you didn't want to to be taking low pct jump shots.

[@billyjohnson1977]

Maybe the greatest all around team player the game has ever seen. He knew his job and did it to perfection. He also faced the greatest single force in NBA history, Wilt Chamberlain, on many, many occasions. Stood his ground and earned much respect.

[@matrx_champ2]

Rest In Peace Bill🕊

[@KTF0]

Those USF unis are fire.

[@davidyetter5409]

Played the game with his mind and heart.

[@thoughtsuponatime847]

I rate Russell as having the 4th highest peak in NBA history. Just after, MJ, Lebron, and Kareem.

[@lavellw4701]

I disagree that he would not have been able to guard the players after him. Because he dominated Wilt, Bill could've scored more pts but his goal was to win. Thus, He's is the greatest ever because it was about a holistic approach to the game.

[@MaiaGothmog]

Well to be fair, Wilt played very well against Russell but Bill's team was just better and he was a better leader

[@oldeskoolnewsreels9927]

He didn't dominate Wilt, ffs. In elimination games Wilt 29.8/28.2/2.3 Russell 11.0/24.6/4.8 HEAD TO HEAD SERIES AVERAGES(CHAMBERLAIN VS RUSSELL) YEAR: POINTS/REBOUNDS/ASSISTS/TS% COMMENTS TP* MPG pts/rbs/ts%(rounded) 1960: Wilt 30.5 / 27.5 / 2.0/ 51.35 (30/20) 60.0 45.5 31/28/51% Russ 20.7 / 27.0 / 2.8/ 45.18 (20/20) 50.5 42.8 21/27/43% 1962: Wilt 33.6 / 26.9 / 2.9/ 51.05 (30/20) 63.4 48.0 34/27/51% Russ 22.0 / 24.4 / 4.3/ 47.60 (20/20) 50.7 47.7 22/24/48% 1964: Wilt 29.2 / 27.6 /2.4/ 50.93 (20/20) 59.2 45.8 FINALS 29/28/51% Russ 11.2 / 25.2 / 5.0/ 41.18 41.4 42.8 11/25/41% 1965: Wilt 30.1 / 31.4 / 3.3/ 57.52 (30/30) 64.8 48.7 30/31/58% Russ 14.1 / 25.3 / 6.7/ 45.86 46.1 48.6 14/25/46% 1966: Wilt 28.0 / 30.2 / 3.0/ 50.03 (20/30) 61.2 48.4 28/30/50% Russ 14.0 / 26.2 / 5.6/ 47.04 45.8 47.8 14/26/47% 1967: Wilt 21.6 / 32.0 / 10.0/ 56.39 63.6 47.8 22/32/56% Russ 11.4 / 23.4 / 6.0 / 43.63 40.8 45.6 11/23/44% Wilt had a Triple Double Series averaging 30 rebounds. He also had 10 blocks per game, unofficially. 1968: Wilt 22.1 / 25.1 / 6.7/ 48.60 (20/20) 53.9 47.9 22/25/49% Russ 13.7 / 23.9 / 4.1/ 47.87 41.7 46.0 14/24/48% 1969: Wilt 11.7 / 25.0 / 3.0/ 47.10 39.7 47.3 FINALS 12/25/47% Russ 9.1 / 21.1 / 5.1/ 43.50 35.3 48.0 09/21/44% * TP = Total Production = PTS + RB +AS

[@blondecai171]

11x champ has passed away. R.I.P. 🙏

[@MaraudingJ]

"Bill Russell only had Bill Russell if he wanted to learn something." That sums it all up perfectly. A player who revolutionized so many facets of the game. He figured it out himself and then made it all work to the tune of 11 championship rings.

[@bobbymira8234]

Big deal. Those 11 championships aren't the same as in todays NBA. You had one team full of the best players in the celtics going up against 9 other teams to win and none of those teams were as talented as Boston. Bill Russell was good but in today's NBA he wouldn't have won probably 1 ring. He went up against postal workers and part time players but his shooting percentage was actually not great. If he were as dominant as Hakeem Olajuwon for example, his numbers would be stellar going up against inferior competition.

[@MaraudingJ]

@@bobbymira8234 I feel like you're deliberately avoiding my point. The point was that he revolutionized the game, not that he was the most dominant player ever.

[@bobbymira8234]

@@MaraudingJ No he didn't - Bird and Magic did. Basketball didn't get popular like we know it today until Bird, Kareem, Magic, and Dr J. made the game interesting. Russell was a good player but he was incredibly overrated. He didnt revolutionize the game because he was just a center who could rebound and block. Thats it. Not a great passer, not a great scorer, and his shooting percentage wasn't anything to brag about. Sorry but if he played in the Bird-Magic era, he wouldn't have been considered one of the greats.

[@bobbymira8234]

@@MaraudingJ Just to give you some context, Shaquille, who was truly dominant did it all as a big man. Russell never shot higher than 46.7% in any of his years. Shaq's lowest FG% was 55.6% and as high as 66.7%. Bill never scored more than 18.9 points in a season. Shaq scored 20 or more in his first 14 seasons with his highest being 29.7 points. Sorry but Bill wasn't all that. And on top of that, Bill played vs part time guys, Shaq played vs guys who play basketball all year round and played probably since they were 5 years old. Bill Russell's competition was made of weak players who had other jobs in the offseason like insurance salesmen and mail delivery guys. Just sayin. He was good, but very overrated and not a top 10 guy.

[@harryarellano6135]

Great content.

[@dravendfr]

I see some people talk about how bad the 60’s were with their 10 or less teams, but think about it like this: more talent per team because of the lack of dilution compared to 30 teams today, Bill and Red made a dynasty out of psychology, defensive dominance, and NBA Hall of Fame players, 6 on average, 8 at their peak, BUT look at how many game 7’s they went to for championships, THAT shows how the 60’s really were. Outside of the Celtic’s dynasty you have the 1967 Philadelphia 76ers, a team that kept them from reaching the finals and is in the discussion of greatest teams of all time as well. My point being Bill EARNED those rings in a very underrated era with underrated players.

[@beast3501]

RIP GREAT

[@VSmoothTwentyTwo]

Rip Bill Russell one of the GOATS 🐐🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@jimmyfreckles4582]

RIP

[@Ja_.overtime]

coming back to this video to say Rip bill russell

[@dominiusyoutubetiktok]

Who's here after he died?

[@bummylockdown4036]

Me rip

[@DrSpace-bz9mk]

Unfortunately me.😢

[@jerrysmith8899]

Bill Russell was the greatest basketball player and player coach of all time.

[@evokanq35]

I was actually first, I just didn’t have the cameras on

[@just_nosa1336]

HA LOL

[@ightden8330]

S t o l e n

[@Leksaboi]

It doesn't count cause it's not in the ABA

[@Leksaboi]

@@ightden8330 wow, no shit

[@evokanq35]

nosa0xl_ 26 shh ain’t nobody needa know

[@gregsmith1279]

Russell, like Jordan, dominated the game with his mind, more than anything.

[@tyjackson6466]

R.I.P

[@Jonnyritter]

Rest In Peace Bill Russell 🙏

[@sharrodsharrod9531]

Brotha Bill Russell is definitely one of the greatest NBA players then and now and forever. Facts can't be argue. Black people still are the greatest regardless of the situation. Put any other nationalities or ethnicities what black people are purposely against..none does the things we do, can do and will do. FACTS.

[@angusthecat1689]

except when it comes to the winter olympics or swimming

[@bretherenlee1404]

Bill Russell could play in any era in basketball and dominate .

[@SirCash.]

And ppl these days get mad when players support racial equality 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@markjayvillamayor4625]

*white people

[@gregoryhouse2233]

You guys serious? Compare situation in eras and then see why some people get mad. Bill Russell was a true fighter against discrimination not som social media activist that wanted to gain followers. There's equality now. By law!

[@iambigmanbeats]

@@gregoryhouse2233 yeah. Because law = upholding

[@tylerhingleton8493]

@@gregoryhouse2233 If there was true equality, black people should be able to cast their votes without police officers antagonizing them and macing them in the face, which was shown just this past year's election in North Carolina alone.

[@spacelemur7955]

Russell was a hero, but it isn't quite correct to say he invented big-man play. George Mikan, while not Russell's equal, was agile, savvy and dominant at center. He showed the others what was possible, and Russell took it to the next level. R.I.P. both of you groundbreaking giants.

[@870blow4]

RIP 11x champ

[@snelson0929]

GOAT is pretty subjective given differences in playing eras, so I’ll stay away from that discussion. What I will say is that if I were starting a team and could have my pick of any player from any era, at his prime, I’d take Russ. Why? Because the man simply won. Two NCAA titles at USF, an Olympic gold and 11 NBA rings out of 13 seasons played.

[@larrydalobster3548]

Tbh I'd rather have Bill Russell on my team other than Wilt Chamberlain, ik it sounds crazy he made his teammates better the first day and has them involved in all games and I value that a lot and he's the best team defender of all-time

[@walterwhitegaming2809]

RIP Bill Russell, the legend with the most rings.

[@anthonyrobinson2163]

RIP. The GOAT, He had to deal with the racism in Boston.

[@PoliticusRex632]

Saying Russell couldn't handle Shaq but he handled Wilt.

[@slashbxe2832]

wilt is definitely better than shaq

[@PoliticusRex632]

And Rodman handled Shaq but Russell somehow couldn't?