Russell was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks with the second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft, but he was traded to the Boston Celtics on draft day. The Celtics had been one of the worst teams in the NBA for several years, but Russell quickly turned the team around. He led the Celtics to their first NBA championship in 1957, and he helped them win eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966.

"Bill the Hill" was a dominant force on the defensive end of the court. He was a relentless rebounder and a fearsome shot blocker. He was also a very intelligent player, and he was a master of defensive positioning. Russell was also a very good passer, and he often led the Celtics in assists.

Russell "The Stuffer" was not a prolific scorer, but he was a very efficient one. He averaged 15.1 points per game over his career, but he shot 52.6% from the field. He was also a good free throw shooter, making 78.5% of his free throws.