Second-greatest player in the history of each NBA franchise

Boston Celtics: Bill Russell

Greatest Player: Larry Bird

There is a very legitimate argument for Bill Russell and Larry Bird to swap places here, but personal preference gives the nod to the player whose accomplishments came at a more developed time for the NBA.

This obviously shouldn’t denigrate the incredible resume Russell compiled over 13 seasons in the NBA, all with the Boston Celtics.

A 12-time All-Star, Russell has career averages of 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. His five MVPs are tied for the second-most all-time with Michael Jordan behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

During his 13 seasons, Russell’s Celtics emerged NBA champions a whopping 11 times, a truly difficult number to fathom given the shortened lifespan of current dynasties.

The Finals MVP trophy only came into existence in 1969, the last year of Russell’s Hall of Fame career. Had the trophy named in his honor existed during his heyday, Russell’s trophy case would’ve looked a lot more crowded.

Given that blocks weren’t recorded until 1973-74, one also has to wonder just how many shots Russell swatted as an unrelenting defensive force.

That he’s still regarded as one of the game’s pantheon greats despite those absences says everything about a legacy that didn’t need them.