The incomparable Bill Russell
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The incomparable Bill Russell
On the court and off it, too, Russell made so much history that No. 6 must be regarded as a true one of one
The Babe Ruth of Basketball left us Sunday, to borrow Adam Silver's description, except that it is not quite enough to tot up Russell's gargantuan achievements on hardwood and the unmatched winning he inspired on every level and merely invoke The Bambino.
It might not even be enough, given all the trailblazing he did in the arena of civil rights, to say that Russell was both Ruthian and the NBA's kindred spirit to Jackie Robinson.
As the literal and figurative centerpiece of Red Auerbach's Boston Celtics, and perhaps the most influential activist athlete of all-time, Russell has a strong claim to usurp anyone you could wish to name as the most important figure in the history of his sport.
That's why Russell's death at 88, despite his advanced age and failing health, absolutely rocked the NBA on what otherwise would have been a sleepy Sunday for #thisleague in late July. Nothing prepares you for the passing of a literal giant like William Felton Russell ... no matter how ready you think you are.
Hornets owner Michael Jordan was merely one of dozens of luminaries, from throughout the sports world and beyond, to release a statement filled with admiration and appreciation for all that Russell's efforts made possible for future generations of NBAers.
I especially took note of similar praise from Spencer Haywood in this piece from my former New York Times colleague Sopan Deb, who spoke to Haywood (among others) about the tremendous influence Russell had as his coach in Seattle — after Haywood's lawsuit against the NBA to gain entrée to the league without the previously mandated four years of college.
As a true pioneer, who stood at the forefront in the quest for equality alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali in some of the most divisive and incendiary times in this nation's history, Russell did not win a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by accident.
"As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher — both as a player and as a person," former president Barack Obama, who gave Russell that medal, wrote via Twitter.
There is so much educational goodness out there today to read about Russell and his incredible journey, which forced him to confront constant racism in Boston no matter how many titles his Celtics stacked up and included many years after his playing career that he distanced himself from the NBA until he was lured back by then-commissioner David Stern to become a mentor and friend to countless players in the modern game. I did not have the privilege of seeing Russell play live, but more footage of his defensive and athletic prowess, along with his relentless pursuit for social justice, has circulated over the past 24 hours than ever before. Let’s hope it all generates newfound appreciation for the uniquely team-first game he played and the societal champion he was.
Incessantly measured throughout his career against Wilt Chamberlain, and then routinely shortchanged in modern-day G.O.A.T. debates thanks to his modest offensive statistics and in part because the history of the 1950s and ‘60s NBA was so poorly preserved, Russell really belongs in his own category. We thus pledge to devote the Tuesday Newsletter Extravaganza in full to Russell's incomparable life and career ... top to bottom in his honor.
As it must be.
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Weighty Issue
Last week's revelation that there are some weight benchmarks in Zion Williamson's new contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, along with games-played minimums, clearly needs some elaboration. Some clarifications.
Yes, plural.
Clarification No. 1: There seems to be a notion in circulation …
This is an excerpt from my latest NBA column. To read it all and receive full access to all of my work, please click the link or the orange button to subscribe.
Dot Dot Dot (🏀🏀🏀)
🏀 The NBA, as our reporting forecasted in mid-July, has indeed now opened an investigation into the 76ers' summer signings of P.J. Tucker and Danuel House Jr., and the potential role of James Harden in these signings before free agency legally began, according to an ESPN report Friday. Tucker and House, of course, played alongside Harden in Houston — with 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey then serving as the Rockets’ lead executive. My Yahoo! Sports colleague Chris Haynes followed up Monday with a report that the league has also opened a tampering investigation into the Knicks’ signing of Jalen Brunson. As of Friday night, league officials had declined comment about both the probe into the Sixers’ offseason business and whether any other teams’ free agency dealings this summer are going under the NBA's tampering microscope.
🏀 It is not yet clear if the NBA …
This is an excerpt from my latest NBA column. To read it all and receive full access to all of my work, please click the link or the orange button to subscribe.