Top 50 ΝΒΑ Players: Νο.5 - Bill Russell

Accolades:

11 time NBA Champion (1957, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, and 1969)

Five time NBA MVP (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1965)

12 time All-Star

Three time All-NBA First team

Eight time All-NBA Second team

One time All-NBA Defensive First team

1963 All-Star game MVP

1956 Gold Medal Winner

How important is it to have a big man who can absolutely dominate the paint? It can apparently get your franchise 11 titles in the span of 13 years, including eight consecutive years of taking the trophy to Boston. Russell was one of the only players during that time to be able to contain Wilt Chamberlain, allowing the Celtics to advance to the NBA Finals nearly every year in the 1960's. Russell averaged as many as 25 rebounds per game and would average 22 for the entirety of his career.

Career averages: 15 ppg, 23 rpg, and 4 apg.