20 Things You Didn't Know About Bill Russell

Happy 80th birthday to the 11-time NBA champion.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Bill Russell turns 80 today. And while it’s been a while since the 11-time NBA champion has graced the hardwood with his play, his influence on the game is still felt today. You know about the 11 rings in 13 seasons, though the grandeur of that number only continues to grow, and you know about Red Auerbach and the Celtics dynasty. However, like any athlete that embodied the game, and still holds sway over current proceedings, there’s way more to Bill Russell than just being the face of the Boston Celtics. Russell is an ambassador for the game, he’s made TV appearances, and he had one of the greatest college careers in NCAA history. To go past the surface of the NBA’s most winningest player, check out, 20 Things You Didn’t Know About Bill Russell in GIFs.

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"It's Bill Russell" became a way of saying "the truth" in a small island off the coast of Chile.

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Russell was mistaken for Morgan Freeman at Barack Obama's second presidential inauguration.

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He never shot better than 50 percent from the field for a single season in his career.

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The former SF Don holds the NBA Finals single-game record for most rebounds with 40.

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In his first NBA season (1957-58), Russell became the first player in NBA history to average more than 20 rpg for an entire season.

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Russell became the first black head coach in a major U.S. professional sport.

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He was the first of just four players to win an NCAA and NBA Championship back-to-back.

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Russell is 11-0 in series deciding games (10-0 in Game 7's and 1-0 in a Game 5).

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He hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live in 1979.

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Russell finished with 21,620 career rebounds, second in NBA history to Wilt Chamberlain's 23,924.

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In 1980, Russell was voted Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the PBWAA.

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He had a cameo on an episode of Miami Vice.

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Russell averaged 20.7 ppg and 20.3 rpg in his three years at the University of San Francisco.

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Russell once pulled down 51 boards in a single game.

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He was arrested for carrying a loaded .38 at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

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He is the only player-coach to win multiple championships (1967-69).

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Bill Russell won back-to-back NCAA titles with the San Francisco Dons (1955-56).

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Russell considered competing in the high jump at the 1956 Olympics.

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He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks with the 2nd overall pick in 1956.

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Bill Russell coached the Sacramento Kings during the 1987-88 season.

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