Bill Russell
Bill Russell
William Felton "Bill" Russellis an American retired professional basketball player. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Associationfrom 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty, winning eleven NBA championships during his thirteen-year career. Along with Henri Richard of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, Russell holds the record for the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth12 February 1934
CityWest Monroe, LA
CountryUnited States of America
People say it was the greatest individual rivalry they've ever seen. I agree with that. Let me assure you that if either Wilt's or Russ' coach had ever told one of them he couldn't guard the other guy, he would have lost that player forever.
Create unselfishness as the most important team attribute.
The last five or six days, I've been running. The last two days, I've been running pretty hard. Everybody's got to be someplace.
We couldn't sustain it. And they got a lot of kids that can shoot. We just couldn't close out well enough.
I hope I epitomize the American dream. For I came against long odds, from the ghetto to the very top of my profession. I was not immediately good at basketball. It did not come easy. It came as the result of a lot of hard work and self-sacrifice. The rewards, where they worth it? One thousand times over.
Durability is part of what makes a great athlete.
I think what has happened to our basketball team, we've been badly distracted. They're not reading too many positive things in the paper.
On females officiating in the NBA -Incompetence should not be confined to one sex.
Heart in champions has to do with the depth of our motivation and how well your mind and body react to pressure - that is, being able to do what you do best under maximum pain and stress.
What distinguishes a great player is his presence. When he goes on to the court, his presence dominates the atmosphere.
Remember that basketball is a game of habits. If you make the other guy deviate from his habits, you've got him
After I played him for the first time, I said 'Let's see. He's four or five inches taller. He's 40 or 50 pounds heavier. His vertical leap is at least as good as mine. He can get up and down the floor as well as I can. And he's smart. The real problem with all this is I have to show up.
You got to have the killer instinct. If you do not have it, forget about basketball and go into social psychology or something. If you sometimes wonder if you've got it, you ain't got it. No pussycats, please.
Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.