William Fenton Russell was born in Monroe, La., on Feb. 12, 1934. His family moved to Oakland, Calif., during World War II, when the 9-year-old Russell started playing basketball.

Russell didn't become a starter at McClymonds High School until he was a senior, and he didn't earn a scholarship to the University of San Francisco until he tried out as a freshman. In all, it was a relatively inauspicious debut for a man who eventually would win two collegiate national championships, an Olympic gold medal and 11 NBA titles.

At USF, he led the Dons to 55 consecutive victories and back-to-back national championships in 1955 and '56. Following the '56 season, he led the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal in Melbourne, Australia, then promptly joined the Boston Celtics and helped them win their first NBA title.

Known for his shot-blocking and rebounding, Russell won five MVP awards and 11 NBA titles. He averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game over his career.

A consummate team player and leader, he became the NBA's first black head coach in 1966, when he assumed the role of player-coach for the Celtics. He would win two more titles before retiring as a player in 1969.