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 from 1956-1969. He anchored a dynasty, winning 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons. Renowned for his defense, rebounding, and shot-blocking, Russell is regarded as one of basketball's greatest players. His leadership both on and off the court was instrumental to the Celtics' success, solidifying his place as a sporting icon.
1959: First NBA Player to Visit Africa
In 1959, Bill Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa, marking a significant cultural exchange.
April 16, 1966: Appointment as Celtics Head Coach
On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell agreed to become head coach of the Celtics, succeeding Red Auerbach and becoming the first black head coach in NBA history.
1966: Russell publishes "Go Up for Glory"
In 1966, Bill Russell publishes his memoir 'Go Up for Glory'.
1966: New York Times Profile
In 1966, The New York Times described Bill Russell's characteristics, highlighting his pride, intelligence, humor, and principles.
1968: Russell Named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year
In 1968, Bill Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated for his achievements and impact on sports.
1970: Russell Makes NBA 25th Anniversary Team
In 1970, Bill Russell was selected as one of the players to the NBA 25th Anniversary Team, honoring his contributions to the league's first 25 years.
1970: Russell Named Athlete of the Decade by The Sporting News
In 1970, The Sporting News named Bill Russell the "Athlete of the Decade", recognizing his significant impact and achievements during the 1960s.
1971: NBA 25th Anniversary Team
In 1971, Bill Russell was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team.
March 12, 1972: Celtics Retire Russell's Jersey
On March 12, 1972, the Boston Celtics retired Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey. However, Russell, who had a difficult relationship with the media, did not attend the ceremony.
1973: Blocks and Steals are Officially Recorded
In the 1973-74 NBA season, blocks and steals became officially recorded statistics.
1975: Hall of Fame Induction
In 1975, Bill Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
1975: Induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
In 1975, Bill Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. However, he did not attend the ceremony.
1979: MVP Award Voting Change
Until the 1979-80 NBA season, players voted for the MVP award, while the media voted for the All-NBA teams.
1980: Russell Makes NBA 35th Anniversary Team
In 1980, Bill Russell was selected as one of the players to the NBA 35th Anniversary Team, celebrating his enduring impact on the league.
1980: NBA 35th Anniversary Team
In 1980, Bill Russell was selected into the NBA 35th Anniversary Team.
1996: 50 Greatest Players in NBA History
In 1996, Bill Russell was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.
1996: Russell Makes NBA 50th Anniversary Team
In 1996, Bill Russell was selected as one of the players to the NBA 50th Anniversary Team, solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time.
May 6, 1999: Celtics Re-Retire Russell's Jersey
On May 6, 1999, the Boston Celtics re-retired Bill Russell's jersey in a ceremony attended by rivals and friends, including Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, after Russell initially was wary of perceived racism within the city. The event was at the FleetCenter (now TD Garden).
1999: Russell Ranked on ESPN's 50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century
In 1999, Bill Russell ranked No. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list, recognizing his broad impact beyond basketball.
1999: Russell delivers eulogy for Chamberlain
In 1999, when Wilt Chamberlain died, Bill Russell delivered a eulogy for him, stating that he considered their relationship to be a competition rather than a rivalry, and that they would "be friends through eternity."
2000: Teammate Heinsohn's Description
In 2000, Tom Heinsohn described Bill Russell's stature and uneasy relationship with Boston, highlighting his 11 championships in 13 years.
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,' sharing his insights on leadership.
2005: Taylor publishes book
In 2005, sportswriter Taylor writes a book detailing how Russell often perceived insults even if others did not.
January 2006: Russell Mediates Shaq-Kobe Feud
In January 2006, Bill Russell convinced Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant to end their feud, demonstrating his influence beyond the court.
2006: National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame
In 2006, Bill Russell was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.
May 20, 2007: Russell Receives Honorary Doctorate from Suffolk University
On May 20, 2007, Bill Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate by Suffolk University, where he also served as commencement speaker.
June 7, 2007: Russell Receives Honorary Degree from Harvard
On June 7, 2007, Bill Russell received an honorary degree from Harvard University, adding to his academic accolades.
June 18, 2007: Russell Inducted into FIBA Hall of Fame
On June 18, 2007, Bill Russell was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame as a member of the founding class, recognizing his global impact on basketball.
2007: FIBA Hall of Fame Induction
In 2007, Bill Russell was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame.
2007: Russell Voted Third Best Center of All Time by ESPN
In 2007, Bill Russell was voted the third best center of all time by ESPN, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain, acknowledging his lasting influence in the center position.
December 2008: Russell Receives We Are Boston Leadership Award
In December 2008, Bill Russell was presented with the We Are Boston Leadership Award, honoring his contributions and impact.
2008: Russell Receives Golden Plate Award
In 2008, Bill Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement, recognizing his significant accomplishments.
February 14, 2009: NBA Finals MVP Award Named After Bill Russell
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, honoring his 11 NBA championships.
June 14, 2009: Russell Receives Honorary Degree from Dartmouth
On June 14, 2009, Bill Russell received an honorary degree from Dartmouth College, further acknowledging his contributions beyond sports.
2009: Bill Bradley Praises Russell as Smartest Player Ever
In 2009, Bill Bradley described Bill Russell as the "smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]" in The New York Times Book Review, recognizing his exceptional basketball IQ.
2009: Russell's Motto
In 2009, Bill Russell shared his paternal grandfather's motto, emphasizing the importance of personal boundaries and standing up against oppression.
2009: Russell Named Third Best Player of All-Time by Slam
In 2009, Slam named Bill Russell the third best player of all time, behind Michael Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain, celebrating his exceptional talent.
2009: NBA Finals MVP Award Renamed
In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in Bill Russell's honor.
2010: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2010, Bill Russell was named as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing his impact both on and off the basketball court.
2010: Russell recalls Celtics' racial progress
In 2010, Russell recalled a list of the Celtics' accomplishments on racial progress both in terms of objective milestones and his own subjective experience as a member of the organization.
2011: Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Bill Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2011: Russell Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
In 2011, Bill Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama, recognizing his significant contributions to sports and society.
November 1, 2013: Statue Unveiling
On November 1, 2013, a statue of Bill Russell was unveiled on City Hall Plaza in Boston, depicting him in-game and surrounded by plinths representing his 11 championships.
2015: Children Statues Added
In 2015, two statues of children were added to the Bill Russell statue display, honoring his commitment to working with children.
June 15, 2017: NBA Lifetime Achievement Award
On June 15, 2017, Bill Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his outstanding contributions to basketball.
September 26, 2017: Russell Takes a Knee in Solidarity
On September 26, 2017, Bill Russell posted a photo of himself taking the knee in solidarity with the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests, wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom to show support against social injustice.
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, marking a moment of reconciliation after previously refusing to attend his Hall of Fame induction in 1975.
August 2, 2020: WCC Adopts Russell Rule
On August 2, 2020, the West Coast Conference announced the 'Russell Rule,' a conference-wide diversity hiring commitment based on the NFL's Rooney Rule and named after Bill Russell.
2020: Russell Ranked No. 4 in ESPN's List of Top 74 NBA Players
In 2020, Bill Russell was ranked No. 4 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time, reaffirming his place among the greatest players in NBA history.
October 2021: NBA's 75 Greatest Players
In October 2021, Bill Russell was honored as one of the league's 75 greatest players of all time, solidifying his place among basketball legends.
2021: Russell Attends Hall of Fame Induction as Coach
In 2021, Bill Russell attended his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, this time as a coach, reflecting his continued impact on the sport.
2021: Russell Makes NBA 75th Anniversary Team
In 2021, Bill Russell was selected as one of the players to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team, further cementing his legendary status.
2021: NBA 75th Anniversary Team and Second Hall of Fame Induction
In 2021, Bill Russell was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team and inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time.
August 11, 2022: NBA Retires Jersey Number 6
On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced that Bill Russell's No. 6 jersey would be retired throughout the league, a first in NBA history, with existing players allowed to continue wearing it.
2022: Russell Ranked Highly on ESPN's and The Athletic's NBA 75th Anniversary Lists
In 2022, Bill Russell was ranked No. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list and No. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic, highlighting his continued recognition among basketball legends.
2022: Jersey Number Retired League-Wide
In 2022, shortly after his death, the NBA retired Bill Russell's #6 jersey league-wide.
October 2024: Bridge Renamed in Russell's Honor
In October 2024, the city of Boston announced the renaming of the new North Washington Street Bridge to the "William Felton 'Bill' Russell Bridge" to honor Russell's legacy.
2024: Russell Remains Celtics Leader in Rebounds and Minutes Per Game
As of 2024, Bill Russell remains the leader in most career rebounds, minutes per game (42.3), and rebounds per game in Boston Celtics franchise history, demonstrating his enduring legacy.
