William Felton "Bill" Russell was a legendary American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969, widely regarded as one of the greatest in NBA history. Born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, Russell's impact on the game goes beyond statistics. He played the center position for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969, winning an astonishing 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons.