The greatest winner in NBA history, Bill Russell turns 80 today. The 11-time champion with the Boston Celtics was more than just one of the pioneers for professional basketball. His reach extended far beyond protecting the paint on the hardwood and well into fighting for civil rights during a time in which his courage and fight were potentially dangerous. Russell's résumé is as decorated as any professional athlete's accomplishments.
He won 11 championships in 13 seasons during the NBA. For roughly the first 40 years of the existence of the BAA, NBL, and eventually the NBA, Russell was regarded as the greatest player in basketball history, until Michael Jordan came along and put his stamp on the sport. He's won five MVP award, is second all-time in career rebounds, was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2011, had the NBA Finals MVP named after him, and practically set the standard that still holds up today for how a center should play defense in the sport of basketball.
http://youtu.be/OKHldYXvQWYBill's defense.
http://youtu.be/nWFsL4Y8RVA
