![]() ![]() Russell led the Celtics to titles in 1968 and ‘69, each time winning seven-game playoff series against Chamberlain. ![]() In this May 5, 1969, file photo, the Lakers' Wilt Chamberlain tries to shoot against the Celtics' Bill Russell during an NBA Finals game at the Forum in Los Angeles. The Celtics finished with the second-best regular-season record in the NBA, but their title streak ended with a loss to Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Division finals. He once had 51 rebounds in a game Chamberlain holds the record with 55.Īuerbach retired after winning the 1966 title, and Russell became the player-coach - the first Black head coach in NBA history and almost a decade before Frank Robinson took over baseball’s Cleveland Indians. For 10 seasons he averaged more than 20 rebounds. The Celtics won it all again in 1959, starting an unprecedented string of eight consecutive NBA crowns.Ī 6-foot-10 center, Russell never averaged more than 18.9 points during his 13 seasons, each year averaging more rebounds than points. Russell won his first MVP award the next season, but the Hawks won the title in a finals rematch. The Celtics won the NBA championship - their first of 17 - in a double-overtime seventh game against Bob Pettit’s Hawks. to the Olympic gold, the Celtics finished the 1956-57 regular season with the league’s best record. Although Russell joined the team late because he was leading the U.S. Jones, Russell’s college teammate, in the same draft. The Celtics also picked up Tommy Heinsohn and K.C. All he can do is block shots and rebound.’ And Red said, ‘That’s enough.’” “People said it was a wasted draft choice, wasted money,” he recalled. Still, Russell arrived in Boston to complaints that he wasn’t that good. ![]()
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