Bill Russell was a pro basketball player and protagonist in this earthly human drama. During his 88 storied trips around the sun, Russell made key decisions, faced incredible obstacles, and was a primary character influencing the human story. He propelled civil rights forward. Bill Russell was a hero and a “first struggler” in the literal Greek meaning of protagonist. Therefore, it is fitting, that not only on basketball’s parquet stage in Boston, but throughout the NBA, Russell’s number 6, exit stage left.

“If Shakespeare can compare all of life to a stage, maybe it’s not odd to believe that part of the play can take place on a basketball court.” Bill Russell