NBA champion Bill Russell has passed away at age 88.
On Sunday, Russell’s death was announced in a statement from his Twitter account. The statement says Russell “passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side.” The statement, however, did not mention the cause of Russell’s death.
An announcement… pic.twitter.com/KMJ7pG4R5Z
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) July 31, 2022
Russell was one of the greatest NBA players in the league. He’s known for being the heart of the Boston Celtics team in the 1950s and ’60s.
During his basketball career, Russell accomplished 11 championships with the Celtics, including eight consecutive titles. Since there wasn’t a Finals MVP until 1969, NBA commissioner, David Stern, announced in 2009 that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award would be renamed after Russell.
“Bill Russell was the greatest champion in all of team sports,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. “The countless accolades that he earned for his storied career with the Boston Celtics – including a record 11 championships and five MVP awards – only begin to tell the story of Bill’s immense impact on our league and broader society.”
