Bill Russell, the greatest champion in NBA history, has been voted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach.
Russell, who helped the Boston Celtics win 11 NBA championships as a player, originally was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1975. He became the first Black head coach in NBA history when he took over for Red Auerbach on the Celtics bench in 1966.
Russell served as player/coach in his final three seasons with the Celtics, winning the NBA title in 1968 and 1969. His coaching record with the Celtics was 162-83 in the regular season and 28-18 in the playoffs. He later served as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics from the 1973-74 season through 1976-77 and the Sacramento Kings in the 1987-88 season. His total record as an NBA head coach was 341-290 in the regular season and 34-27 in the playoffs.
Tommy Heinsohn is the only other former Celtics player and head coach to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in both roles.
Congratulations Bill Russell, the NBA’s first Black head coach and #21HoopClass honoree. (Also inducted in 1975 as a player) pic.twitter.com/JidRMIsNAm
— Basketball HOF (@Hoophall) May 16, 2021
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