Aside from NBA, Russell was the captain of Team USA for the Olympics in 1956, leading the team to earn an Olympic gold medal and eventually, became the first black American to head coach an NBA team.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver noted that Russell was considered to be the greatest champion of all team sports and he had created a huge impact not only in the basketball league but also in the community. One of his many legacies was being an active advocate of civil rights.
Russell was also the first basketball player who received tribute in the Basketball Hall of Fame both as a player and a coach. He eventually retired with his jersey no. 6.
Former President Barack Obama tweeted on his social media account that the US had lost a giant today, yet Russell stood his legacy higher. It was remembered that Russell was given a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 by the former president himself.
Boston Celtics also mourned his passing and tweeted that his societal leadership was unthinkable.
For sure, in the basketball community, his memory lives on and his leadership will be transcended over time.
Today, we lost a giant.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 31, 2022
As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higherboth as a player and as a person.
To be the greatest champion in your sport, to revolutionize the way the game is played, and to be a societal leader all at once seems unthinkable, but that is who Bill Russell was. (1/4) pic.twitter.com/K0Ue0hKiLs
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 31, 2022