Basketball legend Bill Russell died yesterday. He was 88. Russell is being remembered as basketball’s greatest winner and, by some, even as the greatest winner in the history of major team sports. The case is easy to make: 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons, two NCAA championships, and an Olympic gold medal.
You left out Bill Sharman as a great player and probably a greater coach. Always admired Russell even if he played for the hated Celtics, but like a lot of great players who try to coach, they don't understand and/or can't abide by (in their eyes) that lack of total effort. Sharman seemed to use a system that only allowed players to shoot from their preferred spots.
Wilt was better.
You left out Bill Sharman as a great player and probably a greater coach. Always admired Russell even if he played for the hated Celtics, but like a lot of great players who try to coach, they don't understand and/or can't abide by (in their eyes) that lack of total effort. Sharman seemed to use a system that only allowed players to shoot from their preferred spots.