The whole NBA world has recently been paying respects to Bill Russell, who passed on the 31st of July. There’s no doubt that Bill Russell was a pioneer of the sport, and that many people respect him for what he was able to do on the court.
A lot of big men looked up to Bill Russell, and one of them was Kevin Garnett. The two men had a close friendship, and Bill Russell once notably said that he’d give Kevin Garnett one of his rings if he did not manage to win a championship with the Boston Celtics.
I think that you’re gonna win at least 2 or 3 championships. If you don’t but I see you playing the way you should play, I’ll share one of my rings. This is a genuine friendship thing I’m talking about. If you play the way you play, and you dedicate yourself to doing it, they will come. You have no idea how proud I am of you.
This is an absolutely amazing gesture from Bill Russell. It is clear that he valued what Kevin Garnett brought to a team, and both players were notably stellar on the defensive end of the floor. Kevin Garnett did win a championship with the Celtics in 2008, so Bill Russell did not end up giving him one of his championship rings.
Kevin Garnett has gotten his jersey retired with the Boston Celtics, and his name will be immortalized forever among the Celtics fanbase. Many respected the fire and passion he brought to the court when playing basketball.
For many players, it is extremely important to win a championship. For Kevin Garnett, that was likely the same. However, he would have been a legend even if he didn’t end up winning a championship, and it is clear that Bill Russell recognized that fact.
