Russell and the Celtics Fast Break
1957 to 1969. 11 titles in 13 seasons, built on defense
Bill Russell joined the Boston Celtics in December 1956, after winning two college titles with the University of San Francisco and Olympic gold in Melbourne. Coach Red Auerbach already had a brilliant point guard in Bob Cousy.
Russell turned defense into offense. He grabbed a defensive rebound and fired an outlet pass to Cousy, and the Celtics were off on the fast break before the other team could get back. When he blocked a shot, he tried to keep it in play instead of swatting it into the crowd, so his blocks often started fast breaks too.
Boston won 11 championships in Russell's 13 seasons, including eight in a row from 1959. Russell averaged 22.5 rebounds per game for his career and won five MVP awards. In 1966 he became the first Black head coach in the NBA, as a player-coach.
What changed
Defense and rebounding became the start of the offense, not just a way to stop the other team. A quick outlet pass after a rebound or a block is still how coaches teach the fast break today.
In the Dictionary: Block