{"id":447323,"count":64,"description":"The greatest champion in NBA history, Bill Russell basically was<\/em> the Boston Celtics<\/a> throughout his playing career, which lasted from his rookie season in 1956-57 to his final year in 1968-69.\r\n\r\nDuring those 13 seasons, Russell established himself as one of the greatest defenders in basketball history<\/a> while making 12 All-Star teams, winning four rebounding titles, earning MVP five times, and collecting a record 11 NBA championships.\r\n\r\nRussell spent his entire career in Boston<\/a> and was a pioneer both on and off the floor before making the Hall of Fame in 1975. He also served as a player-coach for Boston and became the first Black coach in NBA history, as well as the first Black coach to win a championship. In 2011, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama<\/a> for his accomplishments as a basketball player and his work in the civil rights movement.\r\n\r\nRussell died on July 31, 2002, at 88 years old.\r\n