Bill Russell inspired many players that came after him. Even though it was and is impossible to tie his tally of 11 rings in 13 seasons, many players tried to emulate at least half of what he did in the NBA Finals. Neither could, but some were closer than others.
While Michael Jordan won six championships with his Chicago Bulls in the 90s, other players came close to that number, earning the respect and admiration of Russell. First, it was Kobe Bryant, whom Russell even saw as a son.
The other person on that list was San Antonio Spurs legend and the greatest power forward of all time, Tim Duncan. Several years ago, the Big Fundamental and Russell had an interesting conversation, where Bill called him his favorite athlete, recalling the time Jackie Robinson’s wife revealed how much the MLB legend admired Bill.
“Do you know the name Jackie Robinson? The day after he died, his wife called me and said, “I want you to be a pallbearer at Jackie’s funeral.” I said, of course, but I asked why? She said you were Jackie’s favorite athlete and that’s the same way I feel about you. You’ve played hard, played smart, and won championships, and I don’t think you’ve finished with that yet.”
Talent recognizes talent, and greatness recognizes greatness. Russell even joked about kicking some butts while addressing some incredible centers, but he was the first one to give somebody flowers for their games and what they were able to do on the court. TD was one of those, becoming one of the best players in NBA history during his 19-year tenure in the league.
Having the biggest winner in NBA history telling you that you’re his favorite player must mean the world, and Duncan must be remembering these words now that Russell is no longer with us. It’s great to know that while he was here, Bill tried to make people happy, always talking and acting from the heart.
