Bill Russell is one of the greatest defensive players in NBA history, with 11 championship rings, the most in NBA history. Interestingly, despite averaging only 15.1 points per game in his career, Russell never won a scoring title. Russell's value was primarily on the defensive end, and he changed the way basketball is played, proving that defense and rebounding can also win championships. Two of his 11 championship rings were won as a player-coach, a unique achievement in NBA history.

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• In his 13-year career, Russell won 11 championship rings with a winning percentage of 84.6%
• He averaged 22.5 rebounds per game in his career, the second-highest in NBA history
• In Game 7 of the 1962 Finals, Russell grabbed 40 rebounds, the record for most rebounds in a Finals game
• He was the first Black head coach in NBA history, beginning as the Celtics' head coach in the 1966-67 season
• Russell helped the Celtics win consecutive championships in 1968 and 1969 as a player-coach
• He won the regular season MVP 5 times, the second-most in NBA history
• The matchup between Russell and Wilt Chamberlain is considered the greatest frontcourt battle in NBA history
• In the 1969 Finals, he helped the Celtics defeat the Lakers, who had Chamberlain, West, and Baylor
• Russell was the first player to win Finals MVP in NBA history (1969)
• His defensive skills and rebounding ability changed people's understanding of the center position
• After retirement, Russell became an NBA legend, and the Finals MVP trophy is named after him
• He was a social activist who played an important role in the civil rights movement