Celebrating Bill Russell’s 86th birthday in photos

On Boston Celtics legendary big man Bill Russell’s 86th birthday, we celebrate his long and rich life and contributions to basketball and civil rights.

Today is the 86th birthday of Boston Celtics legendary big man Bill Russell, one of the greatest to play, both for Boston and the sport.

He’s also an outstanding champion for civil rights.

Dating all the way back to the Civil Rights era itself, Russell has championed the rights of people of color in the NBA and wider world.

While he has retreated from the public eye in his post-playing years to varying extent, he maintains a presence among contemporary Celtics and NBA players alike though his legacy as much as his rare but impactful public appearances and comments.

In celebration of his seven-decade-spanning career as an esteemed member of the wider NBA world and nearly as long career as an activist, Celtics Wire has assembled a collection of photos spanning those decades in his honor.

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