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Following Bill Russell’s death on Sunday, the sports world reacted with an outpouring of messages celebrating the basketball legend’s life.
“Today we lost a giant,” former president Barack Obama, who awarded Russell the Medal of Freedom, tweeted. “As tall as Bill Russell stood, his legacy rises far higher — both as a player and as a person.
“Perhaps more than anyone else, Bill knew what it took to win and what it took to lead. On the court, he was the greatest champion in basketball history. Off of it, he was a civil rights trailblazer — marching with Dr. King and standing with Muhammad Ali.
“For decades, Bill endure insults and vandalism, but never let it stop him from speaking up for what’s right. I learned so much from the way he played, the way he coached and the way he lived his life.”
Michael Jordan touched on Russell’s trailblazing impact he left behind in the NBA.
“Bill Russell was a pioneer — as a player, as a champion, as the NBA’s first black head coach and as an activist,” Jordan said in a statement, via The Athletic. He paved the way and set an example for every black player who came into the league after him, including me.
