The 21 Greatest NBA stars that played for a single team

NBA stars that played for one team #10: Bill Russell

Celtics legend Bill Russell spent all 13 seasons of his incredible career in Boston and was crucial to their dominance in the 1950s and 1960s. Russell’s athleticism, timing, and skill allowed him to turn blocking shots into an art form. That came in handy during that era, which featured virtually no spacing without a 3-point line.

He also was a demon on the glass, averaging an eye-popping 22.5 rebounds per game for his career. Both of his elite skills allowed him to successfully anchor a record 11 championships in 13 seasons, a feat that no other player in the modern era has come even close to.

Of course, this was well before free agency, which gave teams like the Celtics an advantage by being able to keep their best players without fear of another team stealing them away. That being said, Russell played in the same era as Wilt Chamberlain, one of the most dominant centers ever, and Russell and the Celtics often bested him.

With little footage of his games and no blocks or steals recorded during his time frame, it can often be difficult to tell just how dominant he really was. On the other hand, stories of his defensive skills have almost reached legendary proportions, and it is the foundation that the Celtics’ record of 18 championships was built on.