Bill Russell’s passing has left a huge void in the hearts of the NBA family. Russell was a colossus of the game who had a great impact both on the court and off it. Off the court, he battled the racial inequalities in America and paved the way for those who came after him, while on the court, all he did was win.
Russell won a record 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons with the Celtics, a record that will never be matched, and on the other end to him in those Finals, more often than not, were the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell’s Celtics had defeated the Lakers in 7 NBA Finals and as news of his passing spread, the Lakers released a statement in honor of the great man.
The definition of champion, on and off the court. Thank you for everything, Bill. pic.twitter.com/tB5nLoslSF
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) July 31, 2022
“The definition of champion, on and off the court. Thank you for everything, Bill.”
It’s said you truly appreciate someone when you keep going to battle against them, and that definitely applies here. Other Lakers greats like Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal also paid tribute to Russell, who was indeed a very special human being. Another Lakers legend in Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also reacted to his passing as he called him his mentor and friend.
Russell’s influence on these three men is evident when you hear them talk about him, as is the case with most players in the NBA. He was a trailblazer who was a civil rights activist at the height of racial tensions in America, and his outspokenness at a time when athletes weren’t doing anything of that set it up for the athletes of today. They now freely use their platform as a means to effect positive changes in society, and that is largely thanks to Russell.
His former team, the Celtics, also released a statement in which they called him the greatest champion in the sport, something not many would argue with, but he is also one of the greatest men in the history of the sport.
