boston celtics

Basketball Icon and Celtics Legend Bill Russell Dead at Age 88

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Bill Russell in the Green Room

Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88.

Russell, widely considered one of the greatest players in basketball history, won eight straight championships with the Celtics and 11 overall during his career. Russell was also the NBA’s first Black head coach.

Russell won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics and two NCAA Championships.

As a member of the Celtics, Russell played in 12 championships, won five MVPs, and was a 12-time All-Star. In his career, Russell had 21,620 rebounds while also averaging 15.1 points and 4.3 assists.

Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88.

Russell, widely considered one of the greatest players in basketball history, won eight straight championships with the Celtics and 11 overall during his career. Russell was also the NBA’s first Black head coach.

Russell won a gold medal at the 1956 Olympics and two NCAA Championships.

As a member of the Celtics, Russell played in 12 championships, won five MVPs and was a 12-time All-Star. In his career, Russell had 21,620 rebounds, while also averaging 15.1 points and 4.3 assists.

“From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippi’s first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evans’ assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010, Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness and thoughtful change,” his family said in a statement. “Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded. And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved #6.”

Additional statements from the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and more can be viewed below.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Boston Celtics Take Game 1 of The NBA Finals 120-108

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If someone said Stephen Curry would have six 3-pointers in the first quarter and Jayson Tatum would only have 12 points, you would think the Warriors would win, right? Well, that didn’t happen. Despite an aggressive start for Curry, the Boston Celtics still stole game one of the NBA Finals, 120-108.

The young Boston Celtics, who collectively have zero finals experience, leaned on a combination of energetic youth athleticism and veteran leadership. The 15-year season vet, Al Horford, led the Celtics with 26 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers.

“I felt like the guys kept finding me time after time. Also, Derrick White hit some tough shots there, too,” said Horford, who turns 36 on Friday (June 3). “I was just getting the looks, knocking them down. That’s that.”

The Warriors put on a show scoring 38 points in the third and led 92-80. The former San Antonio Spur, Derrick White, added to the 3-point mirage. White finished with 21 points and shot 5-8 from behind the arc. Going into the fourth quarter, the Celtics trailed by 12.

However, in the fourth quarter, Boston beat the Warriors at their own game. They hit their first seven 3-pointers en route to a 40-16 fourth quarter. That fourth-quarter exposition for the Celtics led them to take the game in San Francisco. Stephen Curry, who finished the first quarter with 21-points, finished the game with 34.

Tatum, despite having only 12-points, played a role as a play-maker. He finished with 13 assists, and his running mate Jaylen Brown, the new addition to Kanye’s DONDA Sports, finished with 24 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.

Golden State will have a chance to even this best of seven series on Sunday night back at Chase Center.

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Jaylen Brown Is Reportedly Joining Kanye West’s Donda Sports

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Jaylen Brown is on his way to the first NBA Finals of his career, as the Celtics finally broke through the Eastern Conference Finals ceiling on their fourth visit in the six years Brown has been on the roster, as he has developed into the Celtics second star alongside Jayson Tatum.

The former No. 3 overall pick has steadily improved over the course of his career and is now among the best two-way wings in the NBA, and as he prepares for an increased profile off of a Finals run, he’s making an off-court move to capitalize. TMZ reports Brown has signed with Kanye West’s Donda Sports, although it’s not abundantly clear what the exact relationship will be between the budding agency and the NBA star. Brown is currently on the second year of a four-year, $106 million deal with the Celtics that was negotiated by agent Jason Glushon.

Brown joins Aaron Donald with Donda Sports, as the NFL star announced his partnership with the agency this week — although he noted it was a partnership focused on off the field endorsements and ventures. Whether Brown is leaving Glushon Sports Management in total for Donda Sports or if he is joining them, like Donald, for off-field management remains to be seen, but either way it’s clear he’s getting ready to expand his brand with a new agency.

SOURCE SPORTS: Jayson Tatum Wins Inaugural Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP Award

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It was fitting the winner of the inaugural Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP awards was a member of the Boston Celtics. Tatum scored 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding 6 assists in 46 minutes.

“It’s an honor,” Tatum said. “It still doesn’t even seem real right now. I’m just extremely happy and grateful for all of this. Regardless of how long I’ve been in the league, I’m not too far removed from when I was in high school and when I was dreaming about moments like this.

“I still feel like a kid at some times that I’m truly living out my dream. I thank God every day just to be in this position to be able to do that. To be the first person to win this award, obviously, after Larry Bird, it still hasn’t like sunk in yet. I’m going to take it home and show Deuce and enjoy it.”

The Celtics will play the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Jayson Tatum Wins Inaugural Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP Award

by
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It was fitting the winner of the inaugural Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP awards was a member of the Boston Celtics. Tatum scored 26 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding 6 assists in 46 minutes.

“It’s an honor,” Tatum said. “It still doesn’t even seem real right now. I’m just extremely happy and grateful for all of this. Regardless of how long I’ve been in the league, I’m not too far removed from when I was in high school and when I was dreaming about moments like this.

“I still feel like a kid at some times that I’m truly living out my dream. I thank God every day just to be in this position to be able to do that. To be the first person to win this award, obviously, after Larry Bird, it still hasn’t like sunk in yet. I’m going to take it home and show Deuce and enjoy it.”

The Celtics will play the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

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Jack Harlow Had A Perfect Response For The NBA Refs Who Didn’t Know Who He Was

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There’s little denying that Jack Harlow is a bonafide star now, but that doesn’t mean that everyone knows who he is. He’s got two No. 1 hit singles — Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby” and his own “First Class” — and his breakout single “What’s Poppin” is practically ubiquitous at sporting events, but two NBA referees at last night’s playoff game between the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks had a laugh at Harlow’s expense during a miked-up moment in which they admitted they had no clue who he is.

He was sitting courtside at the time, so he didn’t get to hear them in person, but once he got home and found out about the viral moment, he had the perfect response. Part of the reason he’s so popular is because of his “extremely online” personality and good-natured sense of humor. So, instead of being offended that a pair of 50-year-old NBA refs were unaware of his general existence — let alone how popular he is –, he referenced an amusing meme about himself.

“Clearly these mfs have never seen Narnia,” he joked. Of course, that’s a reference to a fan’s joking tweet pointing out Jack’s resemblance to actor James McAvoy, who played the faun Mr. Tumnus in The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe. It’s a funny moment that allowed him to have the last laugh, without taking himself too seriously.

Jack’s got plenty of reasons to feel good about himself though. In a short time, he’s gone from fanning out in Bryson Tiller’s DMs to having his fellow Louisvillian helping to promote his upcoming album, Come Home The Kids Miss You. Led by the singles “Nail Tech” and “First Class,” Harlow’s latest will drop this Friday, May 6 via Atlantic Records.

SOURCE SPORTS: Kyrie Irving Fined $50K for Flipping the Bird at Celtics Fans During Game 1

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Kyrie Irving knew he would be hit with a hefty fine for giving the Boston Celtics fans the double bird during game 1 of the NBA playoffs. Well, the league hit the Brooklyn Nets point guard in the pockets. The NBA has fined Irving $50k for his actions toward the fans Sunday afternoon.

“The same energy they have for me, I’m going to have for them,” Irving said following the game. “And it’s not every fan. I don’t want to attack every Boston fan, but when people start yelling “p****” and “b****” and “f*** you” and all of this, there’s only so much you can take as a competitor. We’re the ones expected to be docile and be humble and take a humble approach. No. F*** that. It’s the playoffs. This is what it is.”

Heading into tonight’s game 2 with the Nets trailing in the series 1-0, it will be interesting to see if Irving will continue to stand by his word to give the Celtics fans the same energy again.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Celtics Guard Marcus Smart Wins 2021-22 Kia Defensive Player of the Year Award

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The NBA announced today that Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart has been chosen the 2021-22 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

“To be able to be named the Defensive Player of the Year and be the first guard since Gary Payton in 1996 to win this, it just shows not only me and everybody else that it can be done,” said Smart.

Smart wins his first NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award, becoming the first guard to do it since Gary Payton in the 1995-96 season. Smart is the Celtics’ second player to earn the award, following Kevin Garnett (2007-08).

Smart added, “The way the game is changing, the guards are being more recognized for their abilities to do certain things that we shouldn’t be able to do at our size. I think this award and me winning it shows that and the path for us guards now and in the future.”

A global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters gave Smart 257 points (37 first-place votes). Mikal Bridges of the Phoenix Suns came in second with 202 points (22 first-place votes). Rudy Gobert, the Utah Jazz center and three-time Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, finished third with 136 points (12 first-place votes).

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