Bill Russell, basketball legend with record 11 NBA titles, dies at 88

Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years — the last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sport

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Bill Russell, one of basketball's legendary players, has died at age 88. The announcement was posted on his verified Twitter account.

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His family posted the news on social media, saying Russell died with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. The statement did not give the cause of death.

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NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Russell was “the greatest champion in all of team sports.”

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“Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league.

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Fighting for something from an early age To understand this man and superlative athlete, it helps to remember a parent's lesson. One day when Bill Russell was 9, he was outside his apartment in the projects in Oakland,

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A Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star, Russell in 1980 was voted the greatest player in the NBA history by basketball writers.

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his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends.”

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