The basketball legend, who died Sunday aged 88, was doggedly committed to using his platform to amplify his political actions, setting a template for today’s athlete activists
in which he writes, “As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher –both as a player and as a person.” Obama would know: he presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. And yet, despite the outpouring of kind words in his memory, Russell may still be the most underappreciated icon in NBA history.Before recognizing his wider impact, it’s worth laying out Russell’s basketball credentials.
Russell’s fortes were his rebounding and his defense. He played in an era before Defensive Player of the Year awards –they didn’t even record blocks and steals when Russell played – but it’s safe to say he would’ve won several. Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy won six championships with Russell and said he played with “animal intensity”. Russell also understood that the mental component of basketball can be as important as the game’s physical aspects.
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