Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell passed away on Sunday, July 31, 2022 at the age of 88. He was a pioneer in the sport of basketball and is the most decorated player in the NBA.
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An 11-time champion, he led the Boston Celtics' era of dominance in the 1950s and '60s. He died peacefully with his wife Jeannine Russell by his side.
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NBA legend Bill Russell was bestowed with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. He was the five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time All-Star.
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Bill holds the NBA Finals records for championships, appearances, game played, rebounds and minutes. He also won two NCAA titles at the University of San Francisco.
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Russell's 11 pro championships are tied, with Henri Richard, who played for the Montreal Canadiens, for the most by any athlete in NBA, MLB, NFL and NHL history.
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Russell was also a powerful civil rights leader. In 1961, he led a player protest when Celtics players were denied service in a Lexington.
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In 2017, Russell publicly supported athletes protesting during the national anthem. Russell stood with boxer Muhammad Ali, who refused to be drafted into the Vietnam War.
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It is unclear when Jeannine Russell and Bill met, but the couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. We know that they will celebrate their anniversary on December 8.
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