Bill Russell 5 MVP Awards
The cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty and a five-time NBA MVP.
Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. He was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star.
Quick Facts
- Player
- Bill Russell
- Team affiliation
- Boston Celtics
- Primary role
- Center; Defensive Anchor
- Award count
- 5 MVP Awards
Lore & Background
Russell led the San Francisco Dons to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, captained the gold medal-winning U.S. national team at the 1956 Summer Olympics, and won 11 NBA championships with the Celtics. He was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA and the first black NBA coach to win a championship.
Reader's Guide
Russell led the NBA in rebounds four times and had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. He remains second all-time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game.
Did You Know?
- Russell was a five-time NBA MVP, tied with Michael Jordan for the second-most awards in league history.
- Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 and again in 2021 for his coaching career.
- The NBA retired Russell's #6 jersey league-wide after his death in 2022.
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