Bill Russell - Netflix documentary is must-see TV

Thanks for the pointer. Will definitely watch. 👍

11 x NBA champion

5 x MVP

12 X All Star

4 x Rebounding Champ

2 X NCAA Champion

2 x NBA Champion as Coach

14,552 points (15.1 ppg), 21,620 rebounds (22.5 rpg), 4,100 assists (4.3 apg). He and Chamberlain are the only two players to have ever had more than 50 rebounds in a game. Big angry bodies pushing, shoving, banging ...

First black NBA coach, first to win a championship.

I love that according to OP, not being old enough to have watched Bill Russell play qualifies me---a 42 year old man whose children spare no opportunity to remind him how old he is---to be counted among the "younger generations."

Thank you, OP.

Thanks for the post. Thanks for the reminder of Russell's greatness, which should never be forgotten. 

He is a figure whose importance and impact transcends sports...right up there with Jackie Robinson an Muhammad Ali

I’m unfortunately old enough to remember Bill.

But I am also old enough to remember many of the Celtics/Lakers finals from the late 60’s & early 70’s.  The best way I could describe those games would be “imagine the All-Star game this past Sunday but instead of players barely caring about the outcome instead they played 7 games, not one, as if the lives of their family hung in the balance.”

Those were NBA wars fought by two teams with HOF players throughout the lineup.   Godspeed Mr Russell, greatest winner in any sport of all time.

I had never learned about Russell’s civil rights activism really until he died, sadly enough. I always knew him as a dominant NBA player, but his off-court impact is incredible and so powerful. Miss him in a weird way still

Thanks for the recommendation!  I'm old enough to barely remember his playing days, but wasn't watching the NBA back then so I don't recall him on the court.  But I do know how good he was because I know the general history of the sport.  I have a better recall of Lanier, Chamberlain, and Walton, but I know Russell stands with them - easily with them, if not in front of them.

I was born in the 70's and clearly missed the Russell / Chamberlin era.  My first memories of basketball was Dr J, Magic and Bird and that grew into Jordan, Bulls and The Dream Team.  

Bill Russell is why I'll always see the greatness in Era's.  I think he's a champion of champions and one of the all time elite players of sport.  IE, I put Jordan in that group, I put Brady and Montana in that air as well as  few others.  Magic and Bird together in that company together as well.  

I sort of knew all of that, but hadn’t really thought about it.  It amazes me how someone can be Lebron, Kobe, Jordan, Magic or Bird and 50 years later no one really remembers or cares.  Even if you’re the GOAT, and get accolades from others, your accomplishments are your own. Life is short,  enjoy whatever moments of greatness (or happiness) you have.  

Holding onto the piece of Bill Russell autographed memorabilia for big bucks in the future? Make sure you have a solid provenance.  Bill made it a point to never sign autographs.

Thanks for the tip.  Will definitely check it out.  Remember him as a player coach and a truly great defender and rebounder well. 

Never saw BR play live.Remember Wilt on the great 71 Lakers team and saw their win streak (33???) come to an end.I do remember BR doing a commercial throwing up a long hook shot maybe for ATT.??????

To me, his most amazing stat was a perfect 21-0 record in winner-take-all games (NCAA tournament, Olympic medal round, NBA Game 7 or series-deciding Game 5).  I don't see anybody getting close to that, ever.

Yeah, they shit on the man's bed. There in Boston, cradle of liberty. Remember having a guy named Karmu, who I interviewed for the Cambridge Chronicle ca. '78, tell me that. Wonder if they tell that story. Will watch. 

Definitely going to watch.  Thanks for the tip, Unsalted.  I get some of the best TV/Movie recommendations from this blog.  

Saying this as a Gen X'r who worshipped at the altar of Jordan:  I have no idea how the debate of Who-is-the-GOAT-LeBron-or-MJ works without mentioning Russell, Oscar and others from the NBA's early years.  Yes, different eras, different levels of athleticism.  But I don't buy Reddick's "they were going up against plumbers!" argument.  Or at least I don't buy it without giving respect to those earlier generations.  

That's what makes the debate so much fun.  

was a big celtic fan after the phoenix series 75 i think.didn’t realize he was as big a part of the civil rights movement.to his credit,more man than me,he didn’t hold ill will towards his community despite its abhorrent behavior ti him and his family.their 8 championships in a row will never be equaled,ever. despite philly and LA with Chamberlain, Russell always found a way to win. the only other team that came close to them was the 86 Celtics with Bill Walton coming off the bench and the 85 Lakers imo. lost all interest in the NBA after Reggie Lewis died, and of course Lenny Bias who would of been the celtics answer to Magic early 80’s. imagine Bird,Mchale,Parish,Ainge and Bias, with dennis johnson coming off the bench lol.

Russell, the Big "O" and Pete Maravich are probably the three most underrated players, way ahead of their time, even though they are all NCAA and NBA HOFers.

Pistol Pete was unguardable and his 3,667 collegiate points (NCAA record 44.2 points per game) was accomplished in only 3 seasons came with no shot clock or 3 point line ( despite taking many shots from deep range). The M great Rudy Tomjanovich had 1808 points for comparison. Pete's NBA career (and life) was cut short due to depression and injuries.