Bill Russell

First, they showed a highlight reel that featured signature moments from Russell's career and life. Jaylen Brown then took the microphone and shared what made ...

It wasn’t just in the NBA, Rivers noted, as Russell won everywhere he went. “He means more than basketball,” Mazzulla said before his first game as a head coach. The 6 in the rafters is illuminated throughout the night. The Celtics are also honoring Russell by wearing new “City Edition” uniforms Tuesday. “I started off by saying that Bill Russell was a great man. 6 patch throughout the season.

BOSTON – The void that Bill Russell left behind following his death over the summer will never be replaced. The only way that we, as a basketball community, ...

The Boston Celtics open their 2022-23 NBA campaign at home Tuesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, but before that, Jaylen Brown...

That said, the Celtics remain a legitimate title contender, with Brown and Jayson Tatum leading the way and with some new guys to help the team, including Malcolm Brogdon and Blake Griffin. But the dedication to Bill Russell should not just end with that speech by Brown. It was only right that the Celtics honor Russell, who died at the age of 88 at his Mercer Island, Washington home last July.

The Boston Celtics tipped off the NBA season with a win against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday in their first game since Bill Russell died in July.

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The Celtics celebrated the life and legacy of Bill Russell, the NBA and civil rights champion who died this summer, ahead of their season opener Tuesday ...

After Russell died in July at the age of 88, NBA commissioner Adam Silver announced that, beginning this season, his No. 6 on the sideline near the scorer's table. The amount of respect he receives from people will live on in eternity, and I'm grateful I was able to shake his hand. 6 was permanently retired by the NBA in the wake of his death this summer. Throughout the ceremony, individual spotlights shone on the No. During the peak of racial tensions in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honor that transcended sports.

With a spotlight shining on the retired No. 6 hanging from the TD Garden rafters, the Celtics on Tuesday night had a ceremony honoring legendary center Bill ...

Later in the night, the Celtics were expected to present the Bill Russell Mentoring Award to David Shapiro and his mentee, Keontai Robinson. “I think his legacy on the court and there’s a legacy off the court for what he fought for, and for how he represented the Celtics. “He means more than basketball,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said before the game. “Bill Russell was a great man, but what did that mean?” Brown said. Then Celtics forward Jaylen Brown took a microphone, paused with his head down, and gave a brief speech. With a spotlight shining on the retired No.

Johnny Mathis could have altered NBA history before he became a singing legend. While at San Francisco State University, he introduced his friend, the late ...

He was my best friend in the world and I always wanted to please him, and God help me because he’s the reason I’m alive. He moved on and stops included a highly visible stint at MTV in the '90s. They had a rocking version of Simon and Garfunkel's “Hazy Shade of Winter” that was more than groovy. “Somebody caught me fooling around with Bill Russell showing him how to do this in the high jump.” “He loved jazz and I was a jazzer when I was young as far as music is concerned,” Mathis said. “I got news from Phil Woolpert that says if this man doesn’t leave the greatest basketball player alone I’m going to break his neck,” Mathis said. “Bill Russell was my pal,” said Mathis to the USA Today Network - New Jersey on the eve of his East Coast Voice of Romance Tour shows (he comes to the State Theatre in New Brunswick on Saturday, Oct. 6 on the sideline close to the scorer's table](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/08/11/bill-russell-no-6-permanently-retired-across-nba/10301336002/). 6 jersey league-wide [,](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2022/08/11/bill-russell-no-6-permanently-retired-across-nba/10301336002/) and all NBA players will wear a commemorative patch on the right shoulder of their jerseys. I had to dodge and make sure nobody saw me taking the world's best center as a basketball player and fooling around with him a high jumper when he could have fallen and broken his neck and never be heard from again.” As a high jumper, he was so good at San Francisco State that he had to make a choice — try out for the 1956 Olympics or record an album for Columbia Records. He was strictly a basketball player — the best, of course, in the world.

The Celtics honored late legend Bill Russell in a variety of ways on Tuesday, prior to their season opener against the 76ers. Earlier in the preseason, ...

And I think that’s the thing to focus on the most is everybody in our organization is trying to impact the Celtics and impact the community the way that he did. “I think there’s a legacy on the court, and there’s a legacy off the court for what he fought for, and for how he represented the Celtics. I started off by saying Bill Russell was a great man. Who he was as a mentor, a father, a member of his community, and most certainly his 11 championships here in Boston, both playing and coaching. During the racism of peak tension in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honor that transcended sports. On Tuesday, they broke out new jerseys designed in tandem with Russell himself prior to his death on July 31.

Doc Rivers said he remembers how emotional Bill Russell was after the Celtics won the 2008 championship.

And I think that’s the thing to focus on the most is everybody in our organization is trying to impact the Celtics and impact the community the way that he did. Aside from the ceremonies Tuesday, the Celtics will again honor Russell on Feb. That impact wasn’t lost on Rivers, who knows all about the Celtics’ winning ways as the coach of the 2008 title squad.

BOSTON – The void that Bill Russell left behind following his death over the summer will never be replaced. The only way that we, as a basketball community, could ever attempt to fill it is through love, support, and commemoration for everything that ...

It’s one of those things where there’s a certain history behind it and the presence that Bill Russell had not only on the court, but in the community and being an activist and a leader. “He represents what the Celtics are all about,” said Al Horford. He was a historical figure; he elevated the game of sports, and he used his platform to bring a quality of life to a lot of situations where people were being close-minded.” I think it shows the impact he has made on us on and off the court, especially for me being a man of color, to pave the way for me the way that he did, allowing us and my generation to keep going, and do the same for others.” Among those fans were the grandfathers of Celtics players Malcolm Brogdon and Grant Williams. However, that just made him work harder in the fight for civil rights, and that’s why he gained so many admirers over the years.

Jaylen Brown delivered a pregame speech Tuesday ahead of the Celtics' season opener.

[the Celtics delivered in the form of their 126-117 win over the Sixers](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/four-takeaways-as-celtics-beat-76ers-126-117-jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-go-off.html) on Tuesday. The Celtics shied away from saying it was a statement game of any kind. Friday tip against the Heat in Miami in what is a rematch of last season’s East Finals. “It was tough to kind of find the words. There was a good reason: [Brown honored Bill Russell, the Celtics and NBA legend](https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/10/what-jayson-tatum-celtics-said-about-honoring-bill-russell-on-opening-night.html) who died earlier this year at 88. What he ended up with was a roughly 90-second speech (

The Boston Celtics handed Jaylen Brown the microphone to honor the late great Bill Russell, an NBA legend who passed away over the summer.

I started off by saying Bill Russell was a great man; in closing, Bill Russell was the greatest of men in the NBA, this organization, and this world was very lucky to have him. [retired by every team across the League](https://www.slamonline.com/news/bill-russells-no-6-to-be-retired-across-the-nba/). He was a true champion both on and off the floor, and our gratitude is endless. “Who he was as a mentor, a father, a member of his community, and most certainly his eleven championships here in Boston both playing and coaching, but undoubtedly, Bill Russell was a great man for what and who he stood for. “Bill Russell was a great man, but what defined his greatness,” Brown asked the crowd. “The amount of respect that he receives from his people will live on eternally, and I’m grateful to be able to shake his hand.