Bill Russell

Boston Celtics (1956-1969)

5-time NBA MVP (’58, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’65)

11-time NBA Champion (’57, ’59, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’63, ’64, ’65, ’66, ’68, ’69)

3-time All-NBA 1st Team (’59, ’63, ’65)

8-time All-NBA 2nd Team (’58, ’60, ’61, ’62, ’64, ’66, ’68)

1969 NBA All-Defensive 1st Team (first year all-defensive teams were named)

12-time NBA All-Star

1963 NBA All-Star Game MVP

One of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players (named in ’96)

Basketball Hall of Famer

Bill Russell is the greatest winner in American team sports history. The man was the anchor of a true dynasty, the likes of which the league will never see again. In his 13 years with Boston, the Celtics won the title 11 times, the last two coming with Russell as the player/coach. He is the greatest defensive player of all-time and could kick-start Boston’s trademark fastbreak with pinpoint outlet passes. He led the league in rebounding five times and most likely would still hold the blocks record had that stat been reliably kept during his era. Not only was he a remarkable player but also a hero in the African-American community who championed racial equality and was not afraid to stand up for what he believed in. There will never be another Bill Russell.

Other accomplishments that didn’t factor into this ranking

His #6 is retired by the Boston Celtics

1956 Olympic Gold Medal (USA)

2-time NCAA Champion (San Francisco)

2-time Consensus 1st Team All-American (’55, ’56)

2-time Helms Player of the Year (’55, ’56)

His #6 is retired by the University of San Francisco