Making the Case - Bill Russell

I’m here after his passing. What a legend. We love you Bill.

My favorite part of Russel’s game is the way he blocks shots. He doesn’t care about swatting the ball into the 3rd row, he hits it gently into his teammates’ hands. It really epitomizes his mentality, winning over flash and stats.

Me: I don't think he's going to convince me this time. Clayton: You play to win the game. Me: Damn, that's convincing.

“Growing up, when we ran a fastbreak we would call it a “Boston” - Isiah Thomas

You forgot something really crucial in your video. The Finals MVP was renamed the Bill Russell trophy. The award didn't exist in his era, but now every finals MVP is in essence being compared to Bill Russell. When winning matters the most, Bill Russell is the yardstick used to measure all other basketball players. Sidenote: Russell also won a gold medal at the Olympics. The US team was dominate, with an average point spread of 53 points. Russell lead the team in scoring.

Can't for the next two videos on Kwame Brown and Brian Scalabrine

I can't believe he's gone. He felt like an immovable, eternal part of the universe, everyone's grandfather. Rest in piece sir

“He didn’t dominate the sport, He conquered it” I absolutely love that

Bill Russell was an athletic freak tho. The man could've gone to the olympics for high jump at 6' 10"

I would love to see a poll of who your viewers think the GOAT is once you've finished the series.

"Was Bill Russell an awe-inspiring specimen?" Yes! 6'10" and one of the fastest players in the game. Quick. Great leaper. Could guard all 5 positions. Sounds like an incredible athlete to me.

I think this video slightly understates bill Russels athleticism. The guy was a borderling olympic level high jumper and had insane cardio and strength for his size. He didnt exactly look massively imposing but especially for the era the guy was a beast.

Damn, Kareem holding nothing back in his wilt letter

12:48 might be the most telling and succinct point towards Bill's team-oriented, winning mindset. Going 10-0 on your Game 7s is fucking anomalistic.

His rebounding numbers are only matched by Wilt. His MVP total is only approached by Kareem, and MJ. His defensive win shares are a faint shimmer far out on the horizon for Tim Duncan, who played 7 more seasons than Russell. His 55 straight wins in college are surpassed only by Lew Alcindor (a.k.a. Kareem). Finally, he stands alone as basketball's greatest champion with 11 titles. None of the other greatest players, are even remotely close. Had the finals MVP award existed, there is zero doubt Russell would own more than anyone. That's why the Finals MVP trophy bears his name today. Simply put, Bill Russell was the most dominant player to every play basketball. No one in any era ever had his level of success. Including college, Russell won 13 titles in 15 years. This represents the greatest stretch of sustained dominance by any player in any sport. Bill Russell is the GOAT.

I had to come back and rewatch this today after Bill's passing. I am certainly convinced that he was the GOAT, the ultimate winner.

Seeing all those clips of him diving for loose balls makes you understand why his teammates loved him.

As a Celtics fan, I always grew up with the idea that Russel was one of the best to ever play the game, but I never had a solid understanding of why. You’ve explained exactly what makes him so great in a way that it seems most Bostonians aren’t capable of.

Russell is the player that if I was in the NBA I’d want to model myself after. Selflessness, sacrifice and leadership off the charts. I think Clayton’s heart was a little soft the day he wrote this. You can tell he respects the hell out of Russell and maybe he epitomizes what makes this sport so great. If you didn’t tear up at the last 3 minutes idk what you’re made of.

RIP to the greatest champion in the history of team sports, both on and off the court. 11 NBA titles Olympic Gold medal 2 NCAA titles 2 California High School titles Civil rights icon You will be greatly missed