I’m going to start with Bill Russell. I don’t really know what to say. Nothing does him justice, no words suffice. The best I can do is my own meager memories. Bill was before my time. I was raised on Larry Bird. But at the height of his greatness, Bird pointed to Russell and said, “he’s the best ever,” so even early on I had to respect the original legend.
Just a few weeks ago, I spent time with my son looking at old YouTube clips of Russell blocking shots (usually to himself or a teammate) and explaining what made him so special on the basketball court.