Basketball Hall of Fame centre Bill Russell passed away peacefully on Sunday at the age of 88.
Russell's death was announced on his official Twitter account but didn't disclose where he died or the cause of death.
A five-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star, Russell was an 11-time NBA champion as a player with the Boston Celtics. He also was the first Black head coach in North American professional sports history and helped the club win two more titles.
A member of the NBA's 25th, 50th and 75th anniversary teams, Russell also was well known for his commitment to social justice.
"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.
"Bill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps.
"Through the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity."
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) July 31, 2022
Russell averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds over 13 seasons (1956-69) with the Celtics. He was first inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1975,then again as a coach in 2021.
His No 6 jersey is retired by the Celtics.
