Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Justin Quinn

Just how important was Celtics icon Bill Russell’s impact on the NBA in its early years?

One can make a convincing case that without Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell, there likely would not have been the Celtics dynasty of the late 1950s and 1960s. But there might not even have been an NBA to speak of in the modern era with Russell and his battles with lifelong friend and rival Wilt Chamberlain and Russell’s Celtics’ battles with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers keeping a young and poorly-watched NBA afloat and relevant in its early years.

Just how important was Russell’s impact on the NBA in its early years in helping to spark interest in what was barely seen as a professional league in its first decade of existence?

After his passing, the hosts of the CLNS Media “A-List” podcast explored the Celtics icon’s contributions to the league, his team, and the world more generally.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.