One of the NBA’s most prestigious awards bears Bill Russell’s name.
President Barack Obama presented Bill Russell with the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom PDO
A basketball legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88. He won 11 championships in the NBA as a player and coach for the Boston Celtics.
The death was confirmed by his family on Twitter. According to the family, Russell died peacefully with his wife Jeannine alongside.
Russell is considered one of the most important figures in NBA history.
He was the first black head coach in North American professional sports. In addition to NBA championships, he won two college championships and one gold medal as captain of the US Olympic team in 1956.
The NBA Finals MVP award was renamed in 2009 to bear Russell’s name.
Not all achievements came for granted to the basketball legend. He boycotted 1961 exhibition matches to prevent continued discrimination. His activism against racism earned Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States.