Bill Russell

William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969. Over his 13-year career he was the centerpiece of a Celtics dynasty that played for 12 NBA championships and won 11.

Russell played college basketball for the San Francisco Dons, leading them to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, and was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player. He also captained the gold medal-winning United States national team at the 1956 Summer Olympics. These titles, combined with his NBA championships, made him one of only eight players in the history of men's basketball to achieve the Triple Crown.

Chosen by the St. Louis Hawks with the second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft, Russell was traded to the Boston Celtics in exchange for center Ed Macauley and small forward Cliff Hagan. Serving as the Celtics' starting center and defensive anchor, he helped the team win its first NBA championship in 1957 and the first of an NBA-record eight consecutive titles.