Reactions to Bill Russell’s death: Live updates
31 July 2022 11:51 pm EDT
Danny Enge: ‘The impact he had on so many people everywhere is legendary’
Utah Jazz executive Danny Ange speaks about the life and legacy of Bill Russell.
by athletic staff
“The impact he had on those people is impressive, but the effect he had on so many people everywhere is legendary.” pic.twitter.com/U5aFPlsLdj
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) 1 August 2022
31 July 2022 9:47 pm EDT
Gary Peyton: ‘Thanks for making way’
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 9:19 pm EDT
Jason Tatum: ‘Thanks for everything! RIP Legend’
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 7:52 pm EDT
Definition of ‘champion, on and off the court’
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 7:51 pm EDT
Bill Clinton: ‘Everything he did he did with determination, principle and wisdom’
by athletic staff
Bill Russell was a great player and coach and an even better person. Whatever he did he did with determination, principle and wisdom. I will always be grateful for giving him the chance to call me my friend. pic.twitter.com/CmMVzLJUJJ
— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 7:49 pm EDT
Coach Pop on death of NBA legend Bill Russell
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 7:48 pm EDT
Brad Stevens: ‘He set the standard – on and off the court’
by athletic staff
Very sorry to hear about Bill Russell today. He set the standard – on and off the court. RIP to an all-time winner, teammate and individual. 🙏🙏 https://t.co/OIzUn8aLwG
— Brad Stevens (@BCCoachStevens) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 6:53 pm EDT
Shaquille O’Neill: ‘Thank you for leading the way. You will be missed legend’
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 5:44 pm EDT
National Basketball Coaches Association makes a statement on the passing of Bill Russell
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 5:34 pm EDT
lessons from a legend
Bill Russell was Oakland. A proud city that has produced great athletes in nearly every sport, few are more a product of McLemonds High in West Oakland – than Russell.
Russell’s pride in his Oakland roots is a big part of that and it was never more evident than in 2008 when his alma mater won 32-0 and won the California Division I state title. A few months after the title, Russell came to campus for an intimate visit that I—as the Prep Sports reporter for the Oakland Tribune, which detailed the storybook season—was allowed to sit on.
The lessons he shared that day – about sports, education, life, race and more – were profound and will always be with me and I imagine it with the rest of the small group experiencing it. His visit was so real. He was thrilled to be there and the players seemed immersed in every word.
Whenever I think of Bill Russell, instead of all the champions
Jimmy Durkin,
Senior Editor, NFL
Move ahead
Lessons from a legend: Inside Bill Russell’s journey to McLemonds a decade ago
31 July 2022 4:51 pm EDT
Reflecting on a 2010 interview with Bill Russell
Back in 2010 I interviewed Bill Russell for a brief Q&A on winning the SI Sportsman of the Year in 1968. Here he tells me how roles have changed for black men in the 42 years since they won the award:
“There are too many people in management and decision making but not as many as there could be,” he told me. “But the media is still mostly white. The topic of race is still very much dominating and it is still how some people see each other. If Red[Orbach]and I had talked about being our pioneers at the time So I don’t take a coaching job. He told me it was the work of the Celtics.”
Richard Ditschow,
Senior Writer, Sports Media
31 July 2022 4:21 pm EDT
Carmelo Anthony: ‘Bill Russell was an inspiration to me in many ways’
by athletic staff
A champion who revolutionized sports for all of us. Bill Russell was an inspiration to me in many ways. May he rest in power.
— Carmelo Anthony (@carmeloanthony) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 4:18 pm EDT
Celtics VP of Operations Mike Zaren: ‘Nobody lived a fuller or more meaningful life’
by athletic staff
To be clear: 50,000 words on Bill Russell and what he did for this country, this team, this city and me, will not be enough. 100,000 would not be enough. No one has lived a fuller or more meaningful life. Also felt honored to have a small part of the torch he lit.
— mikezarren (@mikezarren) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 3:51 pm EDT
Michael Jordan releases statement on Bill Russell’s death
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 3:51 pm EDT
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu: ‘We are grateful to her and we will miss her’
by athletic staff
Bill Russell owes much to the city of Boston – as the greatest sports champion of all time and a role model who fought for justice, equality and labor rights.
We are grateful to him and we will miss him.
— Michelle Wu (@wutrain) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 3:20 pm EDT
Celtics official statement
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 3:16 pm EDT
who was bill russell
by athletic staff
To be the greatest champion at your sport, revolutionize the way the game is played, and be a social leader all at once sounds unimaginable, but that’s what Bill Russell was. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/K0Ue0hKiLs
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 3:12 pm EDT
People outside the sports world paid tribute to the icon on Sunday
by athletic staff
As great as Bill Russell’s influence was on the court, he also left a lasting legacy behind.
Russell won the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
People outside the sports world paid tribute to the icon on Sunday.https://t.co/ENZUUZUXfr pic.twitter.com/Sq9dPDsNnw
— Athletic (@TheAthletic) 31 July 2022
31 July 2022 3:06 pm EDT
Marcus Smart shares his thoughts on the Great Bill Russell
by athletic staff
31 July 2022 at 3:04 pm EDT
Barack Obama reflects on Bill Russell’s legacy
Athletic by NBA Staff
Today we lost a great hero.
As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy as a player and as a person goes up a lot.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) 31 July 2022