Bill Sharman Single Season FG% Record
The cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty and a pioneer on and off the court.
Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. He is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
- Player
- Bill Sharman
- Team
- Boston Celtics
- Record Type
- Single Season Field Goal Percentage (NBA Record at time of setting)
- Position
- Guard
- Era Context
- Founding Dynasty Era
Lore & Background
Russell led the San Francisco Dons to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, captained the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the 1956 Summer Olympics, and won 11 NBA championships with the Celtics. He was a five-time NBA MVP and a 12-time NBA All-Star. He was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA and the first black NBA coach to win a championship.
In Their Own Story
The gymnasium at Boston Garden hummed with the sound of squeaking sneakers and the rhythmic thud of leather on hardwood. Bill Sharman stood at the free-throw line, his eyes locked on the rim as if it were a target he had studied since childhood. The crowd noise faded into a dull roar in his mind; there was only the arc of the ball and the net snapping. He didn't need to force the shot. In this era of rough play and chaotic defenses, Sharman found a quiet rhythm, a pocket of calm where every release felt inevitable. As he dribbled upcourt later that night, he knew that his efficiency wasn't just about points; it was about teaching the league that precision could conquer chaos.
Reader's Guide
Russell's rebounding, defense, and leadership made him dominant. He 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 total rebounds and rebounds per game. Standing at 6 ft 10 in with a 7-foot-4-inch arm span, his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were key to the Celtics' success.
Did You Know?
- Russell was traded to the Celtics after being drafted second overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956.
- He served as player-coach of the Celtics from 1966 to 1969, winning championships in each of those seasons.
- The NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor in 2009.
- In 2021, Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time for his coaching career.
- After his death in 2022, the NBA retired his #6 jersey league-wide, making him the only NBA player to receive that honor.
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