The greatest defensive center in the history of basketball with the Boston Celtics. Also the first ever black NBA head coach. Biography, career highlights, photos.

Check out this excerpt from Russell's biography, "Second Wind: The Memoirs of an Opinionated Man," that deals with peak play and flow moments.

Encyclopedia profiles this Olympic gold-medel-winning basketball player who later became the NBA's first African-American coach.

Read this profile of Bill Russell that emphasizes not only his importance to the game of basketball, but to black Americans as well.