Celtics legend Bill Russell will be the subject of a documentary on Netflix | Launderer’s report
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Netflix is producing a documentary about Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, according to Variety’s Angelique Jackson.
Russell, widely considered one of the greatest players in NBA history, was a five-time MVP and 11-time champion in 13 years with the Celtics. He was also a two-time college champion, leading San Francisco to titles in 1955 and 1956.
The 88-year-old’s legacy extends far beyond the basketball court.
During and after his playing career, Russell was a strong civil rights advocate.
In October 1961, he helped organize a boycott of an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky, after teammates Sam Jones and Thomas Sanders were refused service at a cafe in their Lexington hotel.
In a first-person essay for slam, Russell also shared how he experienced racism around Boston. For example, burglars broke into his house, spray-painted the N-word on his walls, and defecated in his bed.
He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in February 2011.
Russell’s documentary will be a great way for younger generations to learn about his basketball success as well as his contributions to the civil rights movement and advocacy since the end of his career.