(Editor's note: This story was published before the 2022-23 NBA season as part of The Sporting News' 6 for No. 6 series.)
To the game of basketball, Bill Russell was everything.
More than just the greatest winner ever, Russell was the ultimate teammate, a groundbreaking coach, and a civil rights pioneer.
And that was just during his playing career
After retiring from the game in 1969, Russell remained close by, spending time as a commentator and coach, but it was his impact as a mentor that will be felt for generations to come.
Whether it was All-Star Weekend, NBA Global Games or the NBA Finals, you knew an event was of significance if Russell was in attendance.
MORE: Celebrating the life and legacy of the NBA's greatest winner, Bill Russell
It wasn't just for show.
The outpouring of love following Russell's passing only begins to peel back the curtains on what he means to the NBA family — from his peers to those that were much too young to ever watch him play.
Among the most memorable moments are the genuine exchanges, including a conversation with Kobe Bryant at the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in which Russell told him "I couldn't be more proud of you than if you were my own son."
NBA legends Kobe Bryant and Bill Russell shared a moment together on the court at 2008 NBA All-Star weekend.#20HoopClass Enshrinement: Saturday, May 15 - 5:30pm/et on ESPN pic.twitter.com/6yWfv5sa3v
— NBA History (@NBAHistory) May 13, 2021
That one moment was symbolic a special bond the two held up until Bryant's tragic death. And even after Bryant's death, Russell ensured his legacy lived on, almost always sporting a black hat with purple "KB" inside of a gold heart.
And then there was Kevin Garnett.
While Garnett and Russell already shared the connection of being all-time great big men, that connection was made even stronger when Garnett joined the Celtics family in 2007.
In March of 2008, the two had a one-on-one sit down, in which Russell told Garnett, "if you don't (win a ring), but I see you playing the way you should play, I'll share one of mine with you. This is a genuine friendship thing I'm talking about."
No less than three months later, confetti fell from the rafters at TD Garden as the Celtics celebrated their 17th NBA championship.
Almost all of us remember Garnett's iconic "anything is possible!" exclamation postgame, making it easy to forget that as soon as the interview wrapped, KG found Russell.
As they embraced, Garnett referred back to the interview by saying "I got my own," before telling Russell "I hope we made you proud."
Chills.
Garnett, like every other player that entered the league after Russell, just wanted to make him proud.
Michael Jordan said that Russell paved the way.
Magic Johnson called Russell his idol.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said Russell was his role model.
And the above are just a few countless examples of Russell being someone that everyone looked up to. Russell's accolades spoke for themselves but no amount of rings, trophies or honors can quantify his stature.
Russell's presence commanded reverence, but he provided plenty of lighthearted moments along the way.
Whether he was joking with Dwight Howard, giving Charles Barkley a dose of his own medicine or opening his Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech by telling Abdul-Jabbar, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O'Neal, David Robinson and Dikembe Mutombo that he "would kick their ass" in his prime, Russell knew exactly how to connect with people at any given moment.
Bill Russell accepts the @NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/MhlEyhm1q1
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) June 27, 2017
Once the NBA Finals MVP award was aptly renamed after Russell in 2009, we were gifted with countless moments of Russell and the NBA's greatest champions, from Bryant to LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard.
Russell's contributions to the game — and the world — ensure that his spirit will forever live on as an individual that will always mean everything to basketball.
