Bill Russell, pictured here in 1969, has died at the age of 88.
(CNN) --
Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion as a player for the Boston Celtics and the league's first black coach, passed away "peacefully" on Sunday, according to a statement from his family on his verified Twitter account.
He was 88 years old.
"It is with a very sad heart that we would like to pass on to all of Bill's friends, fans and supporters," the statement read.
"Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, died peacefully today at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side. Funeral arrangements for him will be announced soon."
"Bill's two state championships in high school offered a glimpse of the unparalleled streak of purely team achievement to come: two-time NCAA champion; captain of a gold-medal-winning U.S. Olympic team; 11-time NBA champion, and leading two NBA championships as the first black head coach of any American professional sports team.
"Along the way, Bill earned a series of individual awards that is unprecedented in that he was not mentioned by him. In 2009, the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was renamed in honor of the two-time member of the Hall of Fame as the 'Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award'.
"Bill's wife, Jeannine, and their many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Maybe you can relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or remember his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story." story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope that each of us can find a new way to act or speak with Bill's uncompromising, dignified, and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last and lasting victory for our beloved #6".
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Russell won 11 championships with the Boston Celtics, including eight in a row from 1959 to 1966. He was a five-time NBA MVP and a 12-time league All-Star.
As coach of the Celtics, he led the Men in Green to two titles, becoming the first black coach to win an NBA championship.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shared his condolences.
"Bill Russell was the greatest champion in all of team sports," Silver said in a statement.
"The countless accolades he earned for his storied career with the Boston Celtics - including a record 11 championships and five MVP awards - only begin to tell the story of Bill's immense impact on our league and society at large." .
"Bill represented something much bigger than sports: the values of equality, respect and inclusion that he imprinted in the DNA of our league. At the height of his sports career, Bill was a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice, a legacy that he passed on to the generations of NBA players who followed in his footsteps.Despite taunts, threats and unthinkable adversity, Bill overcame it all and remained true to his belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity ".
Bill Russell Boston Celtics NBA
