How Bill Russell Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline

How the contributions of Bill Russell continue to shape the world today.

Bill Russell was a dominant center for the Boston Celtics (1956-1969), winning 11 NBA championships in 13 years. His leadership and defensive prowess anchored a Celtics dynasty. Widely considered one of basketball's greatest players, Russell's impact extended beyond statistics, influencing team play and inspiring generations.

Sections (7)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals Legacy & Impact

1966: New York Times describes Russell's characteristics

In 1966, The New York Times wrote about Russell's key characteristics, highlighting his pride, intelligence, humor, and commitment to his personal truths.

1968: Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

In 1968, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated for his achievements both on and off the court.

1970: Named to NBA 25th Anniversary Team

In 1970, Russell was named to the NBA 25th Anniversary Team, honoring his contributions to the league's first quarter-century.

1970: The Sporting News Athlete of the Decade

In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade" for his outstanding achievements.

1980: Declared Greatest Player in NBA History

In 1980, Russell was declared "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America.

1996: Named to NBA 50th Anniversary Team

In 1996, Russell was named to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team, further cementing his place in basketball history.

May 6, 1999: Celtics re-retire Russell's jersey

On May 6, 1999, the Celtics re-retired Bill Russell's jersey in a ceremony at the FleetCenter, attended by Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Russell received a standing ovation and expressed gratitude.

1999: Ranked on ESPN's 50 Greatest Athletes list

In 1999, Russell ranked No. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list, recognizing his broad athletic achievements.

2000: Tom Heinsohn comments on Russell's Stature

In 2000, Tom Heinsohn commented on Russell's uneasy relationship with Boston by saying "Look, all I know is the guy ... came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a bleeping tunnel after Ted Williams."

2001: Russell publishes 'Russell Rules'

In 2001, Bill Russell and David Falkner published 'Russell Rules: 11 Lessons on Leadership from the Twentieth Century's Greatest Winner'.

Russell Rules: 11 Lessons on Leadership from the Twentieth Century's Greatest Winner

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2007: Voted third best center of all time by ESPN

In 2007, ESPN ranked Russell as the third best center of all time, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain.

December 2008: Russell receives We Are Boston Leadership Award

In December 2008, Bill Russell was presented with the We Are Boston Leadership Award.

2008: Russell receives Golden Plate Award

In 2008, Bill Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement.

February 14, 2009: NBA Finals MVP Award renamed in Russell's honor

On February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award would be renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award to honor Bill Russell.

2009: Bill Bradley praises Russell in The New York Times Book Review

In 2009, Bill Bradley, a former opponent of Russell's from the New York Knicks, wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell was "the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]".

2009: Russell writes about his grandfather's motto

In 2009, Russell wrote about his paternal grandfather's motto, "A man has to draw a line inside himself that he won't allow any man to cross.", which had a profound impact on his life.

2009: Named third best player of all-time by Slam

In 2009, Slam magazine named Russell the third best player of all time, behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain.

2009: NBA Finals MVP Award Renamed in His Honor

In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in honor of Bill Russell.

2010: Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2010, Russell was named as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States.

2011: Russell receives Presidential Medal of Freedom

In 2011, Bill Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.

November 1, 2013: Unveiling of Bill Russell statue in Boston

On November 1, 2013, Boston honored Russell by unveiling a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. The statue depicts him in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing his 11 championships.

2015: Statues of children added to Russell statue display

During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added to the Bill Russell statue display, honoring his commitment to working with children.

June 15, 2017: Inaugural Recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award

On June 15, 2017, Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring his career-long contributions to basketball.

September 26, 2017: Russell takes a knee in solidarity

On September 26, 2017, Bill Russell posted a photograph of himself taking the knee in solidarity with the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests against social injustice, wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom.

November 15, 2019: Russell accepts Hall of Fame ring

On November 15, 2019, Bill Russell accepted his Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with his family.

August 2, 2020: West Coast Conference announces the Russell Rule

On August 2, 2020, the West Coast Conference (WCC) announced the Russell Rule, a conference-wide diversity hiring commitment named after Russell, mandating the inclusion of a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the final candidate pool for various athletic department positions.

2020: Ranked No. 4 in ESPN's list of top NBA players

In 2020, Russell was ranked No. 4 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time, the second-best center behind Abdul-Jabbar.

October 2021: Honored as one of the league's 75 greatest players

In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of the league's 75 greatest players of all time, recognizing his significant impact on the NBA.

2021: Named to NBA 75th Anniversary Team

In 2021, Russell was named to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, a testament to his enduring impact on the sport.

July 31, 2022: Death of Bill Russell

On July 31, 2022, Bill Russell passed away. He was a prominent figure in basketball history.

August 11, 2022: NBA to retire Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey league-wide

On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced that Russell's No. 6 jersey would be retired throughout the National Basketball Association, marking the first time a jersey had been retired league-wide in NBA history.

2022: Ranked in ESPN's and The Athletic's NBA 75th Anniversary Team lists

In 2022, Russell was ranked No. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list and No. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic.

2022: NBA Retires Russell's #6 Jersey League-Wide

Shortly after his death in 2022, the NBA retired Bill Russell's #6 jersey league-wide, an unprecedented honor in NBA history.

October 2024: City of Boston to rename bridge in honor of Russell

In October 2024, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and other officials announced that the city would rename the new North Washington Street Bridge, located near TD Garden, in honor of Russell. At the time of the renaming, the "William Felton 'Bill' Russell Bridge" was under construction.