Former US President Barack Obama took a moment to create a video message in praise of Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell on the eve of his second Hall of Fame induction, joining the many voices honoring the basketball and civil rights giant for his accomplishments on the other side of the clipboard.
The University of San Francisco NCAA champion would continue his unprecedented success as a player with the Celtics in the 1950s and 1960s, winning 11 titles in a dozen trips to the NBA Finals with Boston, several of which towards the end of that run in which he was also a player-coach. The first Black head coach in modern North American sports history, Russell faced battles on and off the court for which Obama was sure to note.
Watch the clip embedded below to see his speech in honor of Russell’s second induction to the Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame yourself.
Former President @BarackObama congratulates @RealBillRussell on his induction into the @HoopHall as a head coach. pic.twitter.com/CN7ufMrZan
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) September 12, 2021
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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