Russel, a Hall of Famer and NBA legend won 11 titles as a player and coach (2 as player/head coach) in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, but never won an award since all his titles were won before the MVP Award was in place. Russell, is however, a five-time NBA regular season MVP (Maurice Podoloff Award). "This is one of my proudest moments in basketball, because I determined early in my career, the only important statistic in basketball is the final score," Russell said.
The NBA Finals MVP Award was first awarded in 1969 to Jerry West of the Los Angeles Laker, in an NBA Finals that featured the Russell's Boston Celtics and the Laker. The Celtics did win the Finals that year, but West was the first and to-this-day, the only player that has won an MVP Award on a losing team.
Statistically, Russell was a nightmare on the defensive end. For 10 seasons, he averaged 20 rebounds a game, and holds the second highest record for rebounds in game, 51. Russel's jersey was retired in Boston in 1972, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.
