Sirius XM Holdings Inc.

08/01/2022 | News release | Distributed by Public on 08/01/2022 09:35

SiriusXM remembers Bill Russell, 11-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics

Hall of Fame basketball player Bill Russell, who won 11 titles with the Boston Celtics (eight consecutively from 1958-1966), passed away Sunday. Born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, Russell played for the University of San Francisco, winning two NCAA championships, before being drafted by Celtics coach Red Auerbach in a trade to the St. Louis Hawks for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan in 1956. He became a five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star.

Russell's Twitter account posted Sunday that "the most prolific winner in American sports history [had] passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side."

The statement continued, "Perhaps you'll relive one or two of the golden moments [Russell] gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded."

In keeping with those wishes, SiriusXM is sharing memories of Russell's storied professional sports career as well as his lifelong social justice efforts.

The NBA mourns the passing of Bill Russell
@JumpShot8 reminisces with @BGeltzNBA & @DarthAmin on some of his memories with Bill in Seattle pic.twitter.com/NoSdjRiiR0

- SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) August 1, 2022

On SiriusXM NBA Radio (Ch. 86), Eddie Johnson remembers, "When I got traded to Seattle, K.C. Jones - obviously [Bill's] heavenly brother right now - was the coach. And Bill would come to practice all the time. And at times, he would disrupt practice, and it would drive K.C. crazy. But K.C. would never say anything, right? … And then [Bill would] start laughing."

Bill Russell passed away today at the age of 88.
@darthamin reflects on the sad news with @BGeltzNBA. pic.twitter.com/JP2n1Cul36

- SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 31, 2022

"As a result of [basketball] being a young sport, unfortunately, we have to watch our legends pass on," Amin Elhassan shares.

On Mad Dog Sports Radio (Ch. 82), Stephen A. Smith said, "Being a Black man in the Civil Rights era and doing the things that he did in terms of his leadership, not just as a player, not just as a coach, but as the face of a franchise in a city as contentious as Boston was during that period of time - you just can't say enough about the phenomenal figure that he was."

Former Celtic Brian Scalabrine remembers when he about to sign with Boston, he found himself sitting on a plane next to fellow Seattle resident Bill Russell: "He didn't know who I was, but once I introduced myself - 'I'm playing for the Celtics next year,' 'Oh, yeah, I know you, I've seen you play' - pretty much, like, think about it. I'm on a red-eye flight with Bill Russell, and he is talking the whole night through."

Hear more tributes to Bill Russell through the week on SiriusXM's sports channels, or search "Bill Russell" on the SXM App.