The GOAT winner becomes 80 today

[Psileas]

Happy birthday to the man who has too many basketball titles+accolades to fill in a typical infograph. :applause:

[KyleKong]

Happy birthday Morgan Freeman!

[imdaman99]

:applause: Always love when they zoom in on him at a Finals game and he is yawning :oldlol:

[MrC1991]

lol@ morgan freeman, but happy birthday Russel. Greatest winner ever.

[AnaheimLakers24]

and it only took them about 30 years to name the fmvp after him

[fpliii]

:applause:

[jlip]

Weak era for birthdays.
:confusedshrug:

[LAL]

:applause: Always love when they zoom in on him at a Finals game and he is yawning :oldlol:
I'm surprised he never fell asleep on the bench during his playing days.

J/k, Happy birthday legend

[Legends66NBA7]

SI posted some rare photos of Russell:

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-usf-smile.jpg


Five-time MVP, 12-time All-Star and winner of 11 NBA Championships, Hall of Famer Bill Russell turned 80 years old on Feb. 12, 2014. Here are some rare photos of the perennial winner on and off the court.

Russell poses for a photo in February 1955, a month before he would lead the University of San Francisco to the first of back-to-back championships.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-usf.jpg


The 6-foot-9 center dunks the ball with ease, showing the athleticism that enabled him to dominate the game. He was extremely raw when he arrived at San Francisco, and while he worked on developing his offensive fundamentals, he relied on his dunking and defense to get by.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181552-1956-bill-russell-single-image-cut.jpg


The University of San Francisco basketball player poses for a photo


http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181550-1956-bill-russell-sleeping-single-image-cut.jpg


Russell takes a snooze before the NCAA regional basketball playoffs in Corvallis, Ore. His 6-10 frame leaves little to spare on the 7-foot bed.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181547-1956-bill-russell-autographs-single-image-cut.jpg


Russell gives his autograph to some young fans at San Francisco International Airport upon returning from the Dons Far West Regional playoff victory against Utah.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-kc-jones.jpg


San Francisco teammate K.C. Jones wishes Russell good luck before the NCAA tournament semifinal game against Southern Methodist. Jones was one of the stars of the 1955 championship team, but he was ineligible in 1956. It didn't matter. Russell led the squad to a repeat championship as it went 29-0.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-track.jpg

[QUOTE]While at the University of San Francisco, Russell also competed in track and field. Shown here in the high jump, Russell was attempting to clear 6-9

[Legends66NBA7]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-civil-rights.jpg


Russell joined Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Lew Alcindor (among others) in 1963 at a meeting of top African-American athletes to show support for Ali's refusal to fight in Vietnam.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-baylor.jpg


Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor dribbles up court against Russell in 1963. Russell defeated Baylor's Lakers for seven of his 11 NBA championships.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-reporters.jpg


Russell talks with the media in 1963 after speaking with an estimated 3,000 children who had boycotted Boston Public Schools that day to protest what parents said was actual -- if not legal -- segregation. Russell has worked toward racial equality during his life.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181601-1965-bill-russell-nlc-04446-single-image-cut.jpg


Russell takes a break on the bench during the 1965 NBA All-Star Game at Kiel Auditorium in St. Louis.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181603-1965-bill-russell-red-auerbach-single-image-cut.jpg


Russell "persuades" Celtics coach Red Auerbach to take a shower with his clothes on Boston won their seventh consecutive NBA championship.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-contract.jpg


As team president Jack Waldron and coach/general manager Red Auerbach look on, Russell signs a three-year contract with the Celtics in 1965. He was coming off a season in which he had won his fifth MVP award and led the Celtics to their seventh straight championship.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-red-celebrate.jpg


Russell holds a corsage as he and coach Red Auerbach celebrate the Celtics eighth straight title in 1966. The team defeated the Lakers 95-93 to win the crown.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-injury.jpg


A trainer checks on the injured center during a game in 1967.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-red-hug.jpg


The stress of the 1967-68 season wore on Russell, then serving as player-coach. The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, a month before this photo was taken, is said to have weighed on Russell, too. But the Hall of Famer flashed a smile alongside longtime coach Red Auerbach and teammate John Havlicek after the Celtics beat the Lakers for the NBA title, ending a tumultuous year.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-lakers.jpg


Russell leaps to block a shot from Glen Hawkins in the second game of the 1968 finals. After recovering from a three-games-to-one deficit against the 76ers in the Eastern Conference finals, the Celtics beat the Lakers in six games for Russell's 10th title in 12 seasons.

[Legends66NBA7]

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181607-1971-bill-russell-nlc-04624-single-image-cut.jpg


Celtics head coach Bill Russell looks on from the bench during a game against the ABA All-Stars at the Astrodome in Houston.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-jackson.jpg


Russell teams with Keith Jackson to broadcast a Celtics game in 1972. The former center retired in 1969, after 13 seasons.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-erving.jpg


Russell chats with Julius Erving before the 1983 All-Star game at the Forum in Inglewood, Calif. Dr. J won the game's MVP award after leading the East to a 132-123 win.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/rusell-bird.jpg


Two of the all-time best NBA players talk with each other. The pair is a big reason Boston has more NBA championships than any other franchise.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-kings.jpg


Russell speaks with reporters after being named head coach of the Sacramento Kings in 1987. He struggled in his third stint as coach -- after three successful seasons as Boston's player-coach and four mediocre years with Seattle. Russell lasted less than a season, compiling a 17-41 record.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-jordan.jpg


The Celtics great poses with Jordan in 1998 as the Bulls star receives his fifth MVP award. Russell also won the award five times, including three straight, beginning in 1960-61.

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181609-1999-bill-russell-red-auerbach-005809218final-single-image-cut.jpg


The Celtics legends pose together for a portrait.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/bill-russell-golf.jpg


Russell shows off his golf stroke at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am in 2001.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/legends-statue.jpg


Commissioner David Stern and former players Clyde Drexler, Mel Davis, Russell, Kenny Smith and Bob Lanier pose in front of a statue of Chairman Mao in October 2004 in Shanghai.

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Patriots stars Richard Seymour and Tedy Bruschi, Russell and former Bruins star Bobby Orr walk to the mound to toss the first pitch before the Red Sox home opener against the Yankees on April 11, 2005. After the Red Sox banished the Curse of the Bambino the previous fall, the team brought in some of Boston's biggest champions for the ceremony.

[Legends66NBA7]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-wheaties.jpg


Russell unveils a new Wheaties box featuring his picture during a ceremony in 2007.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/kg-russell.jpg


Kevin Garnett with the Celtics legend in March 2008.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-new-bigthree.jpg


Russell with current Celtics Ray Allen, Coach Doc Rivers, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce after they led Boston to a championship-clinching victory over the Lakers in the 2008 NBA finals. It was the 17th title in organization history.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-obama.jpg


President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Russell in 2011. Obama said the 15 recipients of the award "reveal the best of who we are and who we aspire to be."

http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/140211181615-2013-bill-russell-op3h-41052-single-image-cut.jpg


Russell has a good laugh during Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs in Miami.

[ImKobe]

Russell is one of the NBA's biggest icons. I have a lot of respect for what he did for the NBA, though I despise the Celtics and though he took many titles away from the Lakers, he's a great guy.

[CavaliersFTW]

VERY solid GOAT candidate, one of the few players with an obvious immense case for it anyways, greatest winner in the history of basketball and the next best isn't close :applause:

[ImKobe]

VERY solid GOAT candidate, one of the few players with an obvious immense case for it anyways, greatest winner in the history of basketball and the next best isn't close :applause:

Sam Jones has 10 titles.

[CavaliersFTW]

Sam Jones has 10 titles.
And Sam Jones would tell you himself it is because of Bill Russell - want me to upload the words directly out of his mouth? I've got at least 2 interviews where he couldn't make that more clear. I'll upload that tonight actually, because f*ck people with you're mentality. Bill Russell isn't just another Robert Horry, Bill Russell was a Michael Jordan/Magic/Bird/etc level player. He was the driving force of that team and every team he ever played for and he won 2 NCAA titles a Gold and 11 NBA titles in 14 years.

[Psileas]

BTW, do you guys believe it would have been more fair if they had awarded Russell with 2 rings for each of his 2 last seasons, 1 for Russell the player and 1 for Russell the coach?

[T_L_P]

Bill is one of only three players who are in the conversation for GOAT:

-Jordan
-Kareem
-Russell himself

Throw Magic in there too if you want.

[CavaliersFTW]

Bill is one of only three players who are in the conversation for GOAT:

-Jordan
-Kareem
-Russell himself

Throw Magic in their too if you want.
Yeah and let's leave out the most dominant force of all time by a mile, Wilt :facepalm

[fpliii]

Yeah and let's leave out the most dominant force of all time by a mile, Wilt :facepalm
Not sure if you saw this thread, but:


Very few people watched Bill Russel play, and let's be honest, his highlights arent special.

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=325583

I'm not trying to single that poster out, but your upcoming mix will surely change a lot of opinions. :cheers:

[moe94]

Bill is one of only three players who are in the conversation for GOAT:

-Jordan
-Kareem
-Russell himself

Throw Magic in their too if you want.

Magic literally has no case. Wilt has a case.

[NumberSix]

Michael Jordan is the greatest "winner".

[SHAQisGOAT]

80? Damn. Still going strong, head full of hair still too, always major :D Happy birthday to him.

Great pics from SI, there.


And Sam Jones would tell you himself it is because of Bill Russell - want me to upload the words directly out of his mouth? I've got at least 2 interviews where he couldn't make that more clear. I'll upload that tonight actually, because f*ck people with you're mentality. Bill Russell isn't just another Robert Horry, Bill Russell was a Michael Jordan/Magic/Bird/etc level player. He was the driving force of that team and every team he ever played for and he won 2 NCAA titles a Gold and 11 NBA titles in 14 years.

:applause:

[Uncle Drew]

http://puu.sh/6TWQy.jpg

[JimmyMcAdocious]

GOAT Boston athlete? Or Brady, or Orr, or some baseball player?

[Uncle Drew]

http://www.imgdumper.nl/uploads7/52fc20dd7f959/52fc20dd6c4cd-Russell.gif

[DonDadda59]

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/1105/bill.russell.rare.photos/images/russell-civil-rights.jpg

Back when athletes were about more than just about getting sneaker or soda endorsements :applause:

Happy Birthday, Mr. Russell

http://jtangovc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Bill-Russell.jpg