Bill Russell, the basketball legend who became the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics’ 11 NBA titles, overcame racism to become the NBA’s first black star and champion of civil rights and equality. Russell, who died Sunday at age 88, was named the NBA’s MVP five times, in addition to winning a gold medal as his country’s captain at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and revolutionizing defensive play. in the league by moving the continuation and blocking techniques to the New Epic levels.

Russell, who was tall (2.08 m), was famous for his defensive ability. He won eight consecutive NBA titles from 1959 to 1966. As a player and coach over the last three seasons, he was the first black American to lead a team in North America and the first to win the title in 1968 and 1969. First black player to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame (Hall of Fame) in 1975, and also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States, in 2011 from former US President Barack Obama, for his civil rights and achievements in basketball.

“I never allowed myself to be a victim,” Russell said, “it made me feel that if I agreed to be these final judges of my career, I would die a miserable old man.”