Celtics, NBA world react to the passing of Bill Russell, Boston legend and civil rights icon
Boston Celtics legendary big man Bill Russell was simply incomparable in the achievements and connections that he made in his 88 years of life before leaving us this weekend. An 11-time champion with a list of accomplishments in the sport of basketball from college, the Olympics, and the NBA are simply too long to be listed in their entirety, and his indefatigable work fighting for civil rights and social justice eclipsed all of his many milestones and honors in sport.
The connections and respect he generated through his excellence far beyond the world of basketball were reflected in the reactions of the wider NBA world. Taking to social media to share their feelings about Russell’s life and legacy, countless fans, friends, and peers let their thoughts be known on the man and his works.
Let’s take a look at a selection of them.
An announcement… pic.twitter.com/KMJ7pG4R5Z
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) July 31, 2022
The basketball world was able to give the NBA's greatest champion Bill Russell his flowers during the 2021 @Hoophall celebration. A look back at the late Celtics legend's career and his impact in @andscape in a 2021 story. https://t.co/2C9YSUjxuQ #billrussell
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) July 31, 2022
R.I.P Bill Russell. You allowed me to be in the position I am in today and you changed not only the league but the world. Forever 6.
— Grant Williams (@Grant2Will) July 31, 2022
RIP to the greatest, still https://t.co/BmDl7STazG
— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) July 31, 2022
Not enough people talk about Bill Russell being the first black coach in ANY sport. We really lost a legend today.
— Rushard D. Anderson (@MaxJulien__) July 31, 2022
Farewell and Blessings Mr. Russell. # Celtics
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) July 31, 2022
Thank you for everything! R.I.P Legend 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/tn2iGsArav
— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) July 31, 2022
RIP 😭 https://t.co/9bEGMGoVaJ
— Max Lederman (@Max_Lederman) July 31, 2022
Bill Russell: 11-time NBA champion. Five-time MVP. Member of the 25, 50, 75 Greatest Ever Anniversary teams. Two-time NCAA champion. Olympic Gold Medalist. And two NBA championships as the first Black head coach in North American pro sports history.
A legend in every way. https://t.co/CYq6V3Mc6h
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 31, 2022
The proverbial picture that says a zillion words … and yet still impossible to capture what this man did on and off the floor in a few tweets. https://t.co/uju0JTlS9F pic.twitter.com/N5HTDbEBB0
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 31, 2022
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) July 31, 2022
incredible life. impact far beyond the game. https://t.co/Lmth1lLlUF
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) July 31, 2022
Rest In Peace to a legend. One of the greatest ever and the ultimate winner. https://t.co/oRwzP6HMYh
— Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) July 31, 2022
The word “legend” is overused. Bill Russell was a LEGEND. RIP https://t.co/dN9ryhpvja
— Mike Prada. (PRAY-duh) (@MikePradaNBA) July 31, 2022
Safe journey, champ.
— Anchorage Man (@SethPartnow) July 31, 2022
I am far from alone from having no words to do this man justice. Fair thee well, Bill. Thank you for showing us what was possible in so, so many ways. https://t.co/KpD62AJ0kC
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) July 31, 2022
Safe journey, champ.
— Anchorage Man (@SethPartnow) July 31, 2022
Whoever you think is the GOAT probably thinks he was the GOAT. RIP legend https://t.co/AhMDNxkHIA
— Skull Berg (@designer_smarf) July 31, 2022
Bill Russell won everything there is to win – titles in high school, college, the Olympics and the NBA – as both a player and a coach
He’s the greatest winner in North American team sports history
RIP
— Ryan McDonough (@McDNBA) July 31, 2022
The most precious photo I own that’s not of my kids: making Bill Russell laugh. Great person. Political pioneer. Took no mess. Rest in Power to a legend’s legend. pic.twitter.com/P5lds2SzQA
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) July 31, 2022
The NBA should permanently retired Bill Russell's No. 6
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) July 31, 2022
A couple years ago I wrote this about my favorite book, Bill Russell’s “Second Wind”. He’s an icon of immeasurable size. Rest in Peace to a world-changing legend: https://t.co/f6PFbSneHy
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) July 31, 2022
Not only was Bill Russell one of the greatest winners of all-time, but he left an unparalleled impact on the NBA and society. The word giant is thrown around a lot, but it couldn’t be more fitting to be used to describe him. https://t.co/LwUR3GRp0A
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 31, 2022
There will never be another like him. RIP to a legend. pic.twitter.com/UHP9VoouHU
— Josh Coyne (@poundcoyne) July 31, 2022
We all perceive and experience time a bit differently. I can’t imagine anyone has ever lived a harder, fuller 88 years than Bill Russell.
— 🕊 (@ColeyMick) July 31, 2022
— fraser ramon (@SteveMerkle9) July 31, 2022
Rest In Peace 🕊thank you for paving the way and inspiring so many Today is a sad day but also great day to celebrate his legacy and what he stood for 💚 pic.twitter.com/kvDaIsjpGG
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) July 31, 2022
— Mitch Robson (@_mitchrobson) July 31, 2022
“Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever.”
Adam Silver’s full statement on the passing of Bill Russell … pic.twitter.com/SpylkezbcL
— Chris Forsberg (@ChrisForsberg_) July 31, 2022
The 🐐 of 🐐s pic.twitter.com/XWdyhi5vN9
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) July 31, 2022
Bill Russell was one of the greats in every sense of the word. His impact went well beyond sports and championships.
— Raphielle Johnson (@raphiellej) July 31, 2022
An awesome interview between Big Fun and Russell back in 2009. I remember there being a lot more to this interview on the NBA site. Wonder if they’re around somewhere? https://t.co/9q4ccVN08J
— Pounding the Rock (@poundingtherock) July 31, 2022
Bill Russell 21-0 in winner-take-all games: All NCAA games, Olympic medal round, best-of-5s, best of 7s. Greatest resume of anyone. Period.
— Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan) February 12, 2017
Bill Russell. K.C. Jones. Alcatraz. And the story behind this 1956 photo. My final Globe piece http://t.co/F2Vx5G3KqX pic.twitter.com/wWMmKbYX0b
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) October 12, 2014
Bill Russell was one of the best & greatest people to ever walk the earth *and also* was one of the greatest basketball players ever.
Just an unparalleled legacy he leaves behind.
— Nekias (Nuh-KY-us) Duncan (@NekiasNBA) July 31, 2022
Shaughnessy’s reaction when he realizes he can get Bill Russell with the second pick is amazing lol.
The full Globe Celtics draft with Danny Ainge’s critiques is here: https://t.co/zbR3ZvGgW8 pic.twitter.com/GwbG5GprX6— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) July 13, 2020
No words. One of the most important athletes in US history. RIP. https://t.co/70uQ7kzN8H
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) July 31, 2022
This is out front of Slade’s which is located at 958 Tremont Street in Boston’s Lower Roxbury neighborhood. MY NEIGHBORHOOD. Not too far away, fellow Boston Celtic Satch Sanders had his restaurant, Satch’s. Bill loved Boston & the city loved him regardless of what you may think. https://t.co/bFZZw3GkmB
— Dart_Adams (@Dart_Adams) July 31, 2022
RIP Bill Russell. The original King of the Rings. ☘️ pic.twitter.com/iimg7GfxOX
— Meghan Ottolini (@Meghan_Ottolini) July 31, 2022
We’ll never see a greater winner in basketball – & maybe not in any other walk of life either! Cs fans or not, we all owe him a debt of gratitude (more for non-bball stuff than for his amazing career!) that could never be fully repaid. I’ll hear his laugh forever. RIP #6 😢☘️💪 pic.twitter.com/EX0cU0Xcf7
— Mike Zarren (@mikezarren) July 31, 2022
Greatest. Athlete. Ever. Period. pic.twitter.com/IAC6zi1Je4
— Honest☘️Larry (@HonestLarry1) July 31, 2022
A statement from Hornets Chairman Michael Jordan on the passing of NBA legend Bill Russell. pic.twitter.com/RdYcnuCrmb
— Charlotte Hornets (@hornets) July 31, 2022
Watching this will have you quickly understanding what made Bill Russell so dominant pic.twitter.com/wfRqY6ryUQ
— Jackson Frank (@jackfrank_jjf) July 31, 2022
I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of the greatest winner the game of basketball has ever seen, a legend, hall of famer, mentor and my friend for over 30 years, Bill Russell. 💔 pic.twitter.com/iiSkVq2kdn
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) July 31, 2022
Tune in to @SiriusXMNBA definitely expect a week of tribute starting tomorrow @TheFrankIsola @Scalabrine @RickKamlaSports @adaniels33 AND NBA TODAY @TermineRadio @Jumpshot8 @MikePearsonLA on the decks pic.twitter.com/3bON51173M
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) July 31, 2022
To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/K0Ue0hKiLs
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 31, 2022
Together Again. 💔 #BleedGreen pic.twitter.com/WTDfvlrWGg
— Bryna (@Becoming_Bryna) July 31, 2022
Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi
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