The sports world lost a trailblazing icon on Sunday with the death of 11-time NBA champion and basketball Hall of Famer Bill Russell at the age of 88.
Universally regarded as one of the greatest and most important players in the sport’s history, Russell forged an indelible legacy during his 13-year NBA career, winning 11 titles and five MVPs with the Celtics from 1956 to ’69. Among his countless achievements both on and off the floor, Russell, a two-time Hall of Fame inductee and 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, forever altered the course of NBA history by becoming the league’s first black head coach—a role he served in while captaining Boston to two more titles in his final three seasons.