Expand / Collapse search
Watch TV
Menu

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Sports

Boston Celtics great Bill Russell honored with statue at City Hall Plaza

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • Bill Russell Statue Basketball
    Image 1 of 2

    Julius Erving, right, former Philadelphia 76ers basketball great, greets former Boston Celtics basketball star Bill Russell after a statue honoring Russell was unveiled at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

  • 0bc7964c-Bill Russell Statue Basketball
    Image 2 of 2

    Scott Damgaard, of Boston, reaches up to a statue of former Boston Celtics basketball star Bill Russell after it was unveiled at City Hall Plaza in Boston, Friday, Nov. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) (The Associated Press)

BOSTON – It's a day to honor another of Boston's greatest sports champions.

Former Celtics star Bill Russell watched the unveiling of his statue Friday at City Hall Plaza. Team owners, NBA Commissioner David Stern, Gov. Deval Patrick and Mayor Thomas Menino were there, along with NBA greats Bill Walton, Charles Barkley and Julius Irving.

Russell played center from 1956 to 1969, also serving as player-coach for three seasons. During those years, the Celtics won 11 NBA titles.

Russell was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Some believe the Boston honor was long overdue.

President Barack Obama awarded Russell a Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. Obama got a sneak preview of the statue by a local artist during the president's Boston visit Wednesday.