Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years B次元官网网址� the last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sport B次元官网网址� and marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday. He was 88.

, saying Russell died with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. The statement did not give the cause of death.

B次元官网网址淏illB次元官网网址檚 wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps youB次元官网网址檒l relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,B次元官网网址� the family statement said. B次元官网网址淎nd we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with BillB次元官网网址檚 uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.B次元官网网址�

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement that Russell was B次元官网网址渢he greatest champion in all of team sports.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淏ill stood for something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he stamped into the DNA of our league. At the height of his athletic career, Bill advocated vigorously for civil rights and social justice, a legacy he passed down to generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps,B次元官网网址� Silver said. B次元官网网址淭hrough the taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill rose above it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.

A Hall of Famer, five-time Most Valuable Player and 12-time all-star, Russell in 1980 was voted the greatest player in the NBA history by basketball writers. He remains the sportB次元官网网址檚 most prolific winner and an archetype of selflessness who won with defence and rebounding while leaving the scoring to others. Often, that meant Wilt Chamberlain, the only player of the era who was a worthy rival for Russell.

The battles on the court between the centres were fierce B次元官网网址� signature showdowns in the NBA. Russell led the University of San Francisco to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956 and won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics.

In Boston, Russell left a lasting mark as a Black athlete in a city B次元官网网址� and country B次元官网网址� where race is often a flash point. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Medal of Freedom. Two years later, a statue of Russell was unveiled on BostonB次元官网网址檚 City Hall Plaza.

B次元官网网址淚 cherished my friendship with Bill and was thrilled when he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom,B次元官网网址� Silver said in his statement. B次元官网网址淚 often called him basketballB次元官网网址檚 Babe Ruth for how he transcended time. Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever. We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends.B次元官网网址�

His family said that arrangements for RussellB次元官网网址檚 memorial service will be announced in the coming days.

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Jimmy Golen, The Associated Press

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