Bill Russell
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For your sports entertainment! StatementGames does a review of why Bill Russell is deserving of the GOAT label. If you wrapped Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and Dennis Rodman into one body you would get Bill Russell

All Time Sports Greats Come Up Short When Measured Against Bill Russell

All sports GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) chatter that does not include Bill Russell should be dismissed! In today’s world of Sports Entertainment so many are consumed with who the GOAT is. Arguments are made for LeBron James being the GOAT. Of course you cannot make this argument without Michael Jordan supporters showing up at your door with a bucket of tar and pillow cases of feathers. After his 7th NFL Championship at the age of 43, we must label Tom Brady as the greatest sports figure ever? Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Wayne Gretzky have all been argued as the GOAT. Experts and pundits do this because it is no longer good enough to simply be called a “Hall Of Famer”.

If we need to crown a GOAT, each and every one of the aforementioned greats come up SHORT when measured against Bill Russell.          

Bill Russell Is A Title Winning Machine

Image result for Bill Russell the goat
Bill Russell – (Boston Celtics)

The main GOAT criteria is an athletes ability to WIN Championships. Russell can place a big check mark next to this requirement as he is a Title producing machine. He has 14 significant championships:

  1. 1955 NCAA Title – University of San Francisco 77 La Salle 63
  2. 1956 Olympic Gold Medal – USA 89 Soviet Union 55
  3. 1956 NCAA Title – University of San Francisco 83 Iowa 71
  4. 1957 NBA Title  Boston Celtics 4 St. Louis Hawks 3
  5. 1959 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Minneapolis Lakers 0
  6. 1960 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 St. Louis Hawks 3
  7. 1961 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 St. Louis Hawks 1
  8. 1962 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 3
  9. 1963 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 2
  10. 1964 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 San Francisco Warriors 1
  11. 1965 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 1
  12. 1966 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 3
  13. 1968 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 2
  14. 1969 NBA Title Boston Celtics 4 Los Angeles Lakers 3

In the Olympics, NCAA, & NBA finals Bill Russell’s teams faced elimination 21 times. His team won all 21 of those games. Russell is also a 5 Time NBA MVP (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, & 1965). They did not have a Finals MVP when he played so they named the Trophy after him in 1969.

The Man lived in the finals! Throughout his career and on the biggest stage he averaged 16.4 PTS and 24.5 REB per game. Two of his titles won were as a player/coach. Although there have been a number of player/coaches in professional basketball the only other player/coach to ever win 2 titles was Bill Russell.  

Bill Russell Could Have Played In Any NBA Era

NBA Fantasy Basketball

Modern day NBA players are physically bigger and stronger than those of yesterday. However, Bill Russell could have competed in any era. Russell won like Jordan, dominated like Shaquille O’Neal and rebounded like Dennis Rodman. In addition to these all-time great comparisons, Russell has the characteristic of RESOLVE that goes unmatched by all others. His mental toughness is a big part of the GREATNESS of Bill Russell.

Russell played during a time of our countries history in which African Americans fought hard for racial equality. The Civil Rights movement was progressing but in a city such as Boston – race tensions were high. For years Russell represented his city well. He was honored by the NBA and well respected within the Celtics organization.  However, within his community and in the stands – it was a different ball game. Russell was subjected to vile racial epithets both at home and on the road.

Imagine producing for your team at a CHAMPIONSHIP level but with limited community support. Consider the mental toughness you need to stay focused, positive, and keep pushing forward.

“I refused to let the fans bigotry, evidence of their lack of character, harm me. As far as I was concerned, I played for the Boston Celtics, the institution, and the Boston Celtics, my teammates. I did not play for the city or for the fans.” -Bill Russel

Given his ability to become a Championship machine, skill and overall toughness – Bill Russell is the true GOAT.    

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