How Many Years Did Bill Russell Play In The Nba?
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Bill Russell played 13 seasons in the NBA and was a part of the Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in his time.
Bill Russell’s NBA Career
Bill Russell had an incredible basketball career, playing for 13 seasons in the NBA. He was a 12-time All-Star and a five-time MVP. He also won two Olympic gold medals. Let’s take a detailed look at Bill Russell’s NBA career.
Bill Russell’s rookie season
Bill Russell was selected by the Boston Celtics with the second overall pick in the 1956 NBA Draft. He was named Rookie of the Year after averaging 18.6 points and 22.5 rebounds per game, and he helped lead the Celtics to their first-ever NBA Championship that year. Russell went on to play for the Celtics for 13 seasons, winning 11 NBA titles in that span. He was a 12-time All-Star and was named MVP of the NBA five times. After his playing career, Russell served as a head coach for two seasons, winning one more championship with the Celtics in 1968. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1974.
Bill Russell’s final season
In the 1974–75 season, his last in the NBA, Russell became a player-coach for the Celtics. He retired as a player after appearing in just six games, averaging 10.5 minutes and 2.7 points per game, but remained as coach. He coached the Celtics to a 60-22 record and another trip to the NBA Finals, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors in four games. After the season ended, Russell announced his retirement from coaching.
Bill Russell’s Legacy
Bill Russell is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships during his thirteen-year career.
Bill Russell’s impact on the game of basketball
Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won eleven NBA championships during his thirteen-year career. Russell and Henri Richard of the Montreal Canadiens are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league.
Before his professional career, Russell led the University of San Francisco to two consecutive NCAA championships. He also won a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics as captain of the U.S. national team. In retirement, he served a stint as head coach of the Celtic
Bill Russell’s place in history
Bill Russell is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a 12-time All-Star, Russell helped lead the Boston Celtics to 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons with the team. He also won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the U.S. men’s basketball team at the 1956 Summer Games.
After retiring from playing in 1969, Russell became a coach and later served as an executive with the Celtics. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1974 and was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History by the league in 1996. In 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by then-President Barack Obama.
