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

Renowned NBA journalist Jackie MacMullan credits Celtics’ Bill Russell for being ‘fearless’

“I would argue (that Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell) was the most important and impactful athletes that ever lived,” offered renowned sports journalist Jackie MacMullan in an interview on ESPN’s “Sports Center” show after news broke of Russell’s death at age 88 this past Sunday.

“Certainly the most impactful basketball player,” she added, a legend in her field in her own right. “I don’t say that he won at every level — which he did — I don’t say that because he won 11 championships in 13 seasons, which will never, ever be duplicated. I say that because in the face of all that, there was so much to lose.”

“This man was a fearless civil rights activist at a time when our country was really very racially divided,” added MacMullan.

The famed sports journalist had plenty more to say about the Celtics legend in the clip embedded above.

Watch it in full to get MacMullan’s perspective on a true legend of our times, both on and off the court.

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
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.