Bill Russell and Bill Simmons | Mr. Russell's House

NBA legend Bill Russell tells Bill Simmons about the time he was courted to come out of retirement to play for the Lakers, the racial tension he felt in Boston, and why he never wanted his number retired. Excerpt from the NBA TV special 'Mr. Russell's House'; check your listings for airtimes.

Visit Grantland: http://www.grantland.com
Grantland on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/grantland33
Grantland on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/grantland33
The B.S. Report Podcast: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/...
Grantland Network Podcasts: http://www.grantland.com/podcasts

• Category

  Sports

[AMilitantAgnostic]

This is how good a basketball player Bill Russell was -

In 1961-62 season Wilt Chamberlain scored 50.4 points and 25.7 rebounds per game, and had a 100-point game.

Back then the players picked the MVP - Wilt was an outgoing guy friends with everyone, and Russell was not very well liked at all. While some would call Wilts season the best ever, and his 100 point game the best game ever - the players that knew the game voted Bill Russell MVP.

[slykenya]

If Russell had Nike branding behind him, imagine how great we'd all know he was. Most people nowadays have been brainwashed since they were kids by all the MJ overdose in ads and highlights. Russell won Olympic gold, won an NCAA ring with a non-powerhouse school, won 11 rings, including 2 as player-coach, won 6 rings without Cousy, won rings when Wilt was in the league. Jordan couldn't carry the mighty North Carolina to an NCAA championship after James Worthy left.

[musiciz]

that bit was amazing

[EnigmaticElement]

This almost made me cry. Bill Russel is one of the most dedicated players this game has ever seen.

[Shihab Rashed]

That last part of the interview starting at 2:30 gave me goosebumps .... "I played and I played [...] " sounds like in a movie , but the difference is you know its real and not faked ... Great guy .

[Xtrablack1]

I feel if Nike were behind Russell he would have not lasted as a spokesman. Nike usually, likes their Black athletes to remain silent or either present themselves as comedians. Russell would not fit well with either category 

[MrJtotheohnnn]

because he provided the defense where havliceck, sam jones, cousy, etc provided the offense. he would rebound the ball, outlet that shit and start the fast break (the innovators of it). you name me 5 players Jordan played in in his early 80s that are relevant...(note: jordan led his team in all statistical categories...russell led his in rebounds and blocks.

[MrJtotheohnnn]

umm college has absolutely nothing to do with a player's legacy...its where they perform in the nba that matters. If you wanna say Russell was a better college player than Jordan...that's great. So was Kareem, Walton, Ewing, Bird, etc. Also Russell won without cousy? riiighhttt he just so happened to also have Havliceck, Heinsohn, K.C jones, sam jones, tom sanders, frank ramsey.....lol don't be ridiculous. Russell was the greatest defender and the reason the celtics were such a dynasty was

[slykenya]

doesn't matter whether you look at college or nba. the guy was the reason any team he was on won. look it up: whenever he wasn't on it, they didn't win. he also won as a pro when he didn't have cousy ( his "pippen" if you will)

mj couldnt win without worthy in college, and never won b4 pippen came into the picture.

[Neel Joshi]

What? Were you expecting the real Shaquille O'Neal or something?

[Neel Joshi]

That last part always gives me goosebumps.

[MrJtotheohnnn]

all you showed is that Russell is the greatest winner....and a little side note (college has nothing to do with a player's performance in the NBA)....