Bill Russell jumps OVER a defender from near the free throw line and fingers rolls

The only thing you really need to know about Bill Russell when it comes to his contribution to the Boston Celtics and place in NBA history is he has more championship rings than fingers and probably your two or three favorite players combined. And I'm not even including his two NCAA championship rings.

As for skills on the court, you know him as the rebound and defensive king, who could pull down 50 boards and get 20 blocks (unofficially since the stat was officially recorded throughout his career) in a single game. What many don't know is he had the skills and athleticism to be a force on the offensive end.

Don't believe me?

Check out the following videos and the video above, showing a freakishly athletic Russell grabbing a rebound, dribbling down court and pulling off a Lipton layup from almost the free throw line.

BILL VS WILT

As a bonus, I was researching big men battles of yesterday and came across these head-2-head stat lines of Russell and Wilt Chamberlain during the seven-game 1965 EDF series (remember Havlicek stole the ball?).  All I can say in my worst Boston accent is, "so how do you like them apples?"

Game 1 - 04.04.1965 - Boston win

Chamberlain 48 min 33 points (13-22 FG and 7/12 FT) 31 rebs, 3 assists
Russell 48 min 11 points (5-13 FG and 1/5 FT) 32 rebounds, 6 assists

Game 2 - 06.04.1965 - Phila win

Chamberlain 48 min 30 points (12-19 FG and 6/9 FT) 39 rebs, 8 assists, 8 blocks
Russell 48 min 12 points (5-12 FG and 2/3 FT) 16 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks

Game 3 - 08.04.1965 - Boston win

Chamberlain 48 min 24 points (7-21 FG and 10/15 FT) 37 rebs, 1 assist, 1 steal
Russell 48 min 19 points (9-17 FG and 1/4 FT) 26 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals

Game 4 - 09.04.1965 - Phila win

Chamberlain 53 min 34 points (11-24 FG and 12/20 FT) 34 rebs, 3 assists
Russell 52 min 18 points (8-19 FG and 2/7 FT) 25 rebounds

Game 5 - 11.04.1965 - Boston win

Chamberlain 30 points (13-23 FG and 4/8 FT) 21 rebs, 2 assists, 2 blocks
Russell 12 points (4-7 FG and 4/5 FT) 28 rebounds, 7 assists, 12 blocks, 3 steals

Game 6 - 13.04.1965 - Phila win

Chamberlain 48 min 30 points (13-22 FG and 4/8 FT) 26 rebs, 4 assists, 6 blocks *at least
Russell 22 points (8-19 FG and 6/10 FT) 21 rebounds, 5 assists

Game 7 - 15.04.1965 - Boston win

Chamberlain 48 min 30 points (12-15 FG and 6/13 FT) 32 rebs, 2 assists, 1 block
Russell 15 points (7-16 FG and 1/2 FT) 29 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 blocks

The series averages:
W. Chamberlain - 30.1 ppg, 31.4 rpg, 3.3 apg 55.48 FG % and 58.33 FT%
B. Russell - 15.6 ppg, 25.3 rpg, 6.5* apg 44.67 FG % and 47.22 FT %

Thanks to Julizaver for the h2h stats

							

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