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The Celtics announced plans yesterday to build a statue of Russell, the player who not only helped bring 11 NBA titles to Boston but also served as a symbol for the racial tension in the city during the civil rights movement and the progress ever since. “I think the president’s comments certainly catalyzed a lot of thoughts and efforts that were going on in the city,’’ said Celtics co-owner Stephen Pagliuca, who collaborated extensively with Mayor Thomas M. Menino to honor Russell. “The mayor was in favor of this. The governor was in favor of this. We were looking at doing this. So I think those comments really helped catalyze this group coming together and continuing to work to get this done. Now it’s going to become a reality. “When the president talks, people listen.’’ Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

The Boston Celtics announced Wednesday that, at long last, Bill Russell will be honored with a statue in the city of Boston. "We are honored to play a role in paying tribute to such an extraordinary athlete, leader and legacy," Celtics managing partner/co-owner Stephen Pagliuca said. "Bill Russell will forever be remembered in Boston, and it's fitting that the ultimate benefactors of his legacy will be future generations of our beloved city's youth." It was not immediately clear where the statue would be erected. Last year, a statue of Bruins legend Bobby Orr was unveiled in front of the TD Garden. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

For his part, Russell was humbled by the honor. "I am uncomfortable with honors such as this but my years as captain of the Boston Celtics were the proudest moments of my career," Russell said. "Mayor Menino's Boston has proven to be a city that embraces the diverse contributions of all its people and neighborhoods. I am thankful to the Celtics and all the contributors for the effort to create such a wonderful mentoring program." During a White House ceremony earlier this year in which he awarded Russell a Medal of Freedom, President Barack Obama said he hoped Boston would build a statue of Russell. "I hope that one day in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the man," Obama said. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

The Celtics will announce later today plans to build a statue to honor Hall of Famer Bill Russell, according to a team source. Russell brought 11 NBA titles to Boston from 1956 to 1969, and carved a legacy on the court and away from it. Details regarding the style and location of the statue are not known. Considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, as well as one of the game's most dominant defenders, Russell won more championships than anyone in NBA history, anchoring teams led by Red Auerbach, his coach and close friend. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Hall of Fame, Bill Russell, Red Auerbach 

Q. Do you mind sharing your list? A. Sure. In chronological order it was Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. There are two players today, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, who have a chance to join that list. Q. Compare your son Luke’s talents to yours. A. He’s a much better player than I was. He’s in his eighth season as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, the best team in basketball, and he plays for Phil Jackson. New York Times

LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Walton, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell 

Bryant has been complimentary of each player he has passed on the list this season while also admitting his focus isn't on total points but championships. "I don't know, we'll see what happens," Bryant said earlier this year when asked how high he will go on the all-time scoring list. "The ladder I'm more focused on climbing is Bill Russell's ladder, so we'll see." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Bill Russell 

The unveiling of a Bill Russell statue in Boston appears to be just a matter of time. According to Celtics [team stats] co-owner Steve Pagliuca, the organization has already begun the process of getting the statue created and placed. And it didn’t hurt Tuesday when President Barack Obama, while awarding Russell the Medal of Freedom, mentioned that such a monument should be erected for future generations. “We’ve had preliminary discussions with most of the constituencies, and the mayor (Thomas Menino) wants it to happen, President Obama wants it to happen, and,” said Pagliuca, “we’re going to really try to help make it happen. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

“I think this final push from the president is great for us and great for Bill. “We started looking at this in the last six months, and we talked to all the right people and so far all the people are very interested and very supportive. It’s been great, and hopefully something will happen very soon.” As for whether Russell is on board, Pagliuca smiled and said, “We were hoping to surprise Bill, but maybe the president let that cat out of the bag.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

Mike Trudell: On the stage with Jerry West: Mitch Kupchak, Dr. Buss, David Stern, Pat Riley, Kareem, Bill Russell & Elgin Baylor. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Pat Riley, Jerry West, David Stern, Elgin Baylor, Bill Russell 

Ben Golliver: Lakers fans booing Bill Russell at Jerry West statue unveiling... Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Jerry West, Bill Russell 

Celtics legend Bill Russell was among 15 people awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on Tuesday, the highest honor the president can bestow on a civilian. Kevin Garnett was asked about Russell and his impact. “Not only did he transcend on the court, but off the court,” Garnett said. “Being righteous for what he believed in, and speaking up and standing up for that right. Different times back in the day, man. I respect a lot of the OG’s just because they went through in order for us to be here today. Bill Russell is everything and I just want to say congratulations.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett, Bill Russell 

Given his blast-from-the-past ’60s positions on race and just about anything, Russell is often asked about his reaction to the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he will receive from President Obama on Tuesday, as will former President George H. W. Bush, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, Stan Musial and 11 others. Is this the greatest personal honor in his life? “A close second,” Russell replied. Umm, what’s first? The tentativeness of the question elicited the familiar whooping roar of laughter occasionally emitted by this publicly serious man. “When he was about 77, my father and I were talking,” Russell answered. “And he said: ‘You know, you’re all grown up now, and I want to tell you something. You know, I am very proud of the way you turned out as my son, and I’m proud of you as a father.’ New York Times

Boston Celtics, Barack Obama, Bill Russell 

“I remember at the press conference,” he said, “probably the second or third question one of the Boston reporters asked me, ‘Can you coach the white guys without being prejudiced?’ Now, I didn’t recall anybody asking a white coach if he could coach the black guys without being prejudiced. All I said was, ‘Yeah.’ ” New generations have no idea what it was like back then. Russell was born in West Monroe, La.; his parents knew people who had been born slaves. Once his mother made a handsome suit for herself, and police officers told her not to wear “white women’s clothes,” Karen Russell said. “Black people had to wait in line at a drugstore or gas station, and white people went first,” she continued. “One day, my grandfather tried to pull away from a gas line, and the owner pulled a shotgun and said, ‘Boy, you’re going to buy your gas from me.’ ” New York Times

Boston Celtics, Barack Obama, Bill Russell 

He and Marilyn were invited to the Obama inauguration in January 2009, but she was dying of cancer in Seattle. She urged him to go, but when he landed in Washington, he heard she had taken a downward turn, and he got back on a plane. “We held hands and watched the inauguration,” he said. “We sat there all night, and then I said, ‘Listen, I’m going to take a shower, now wait for me, I’ll be right back,’ and she said she’d wait. Well, as soon as I left she died. So I said to the nurse, ‘She promised she would wait,’ and the nurse said this happens quite commonly. A lot of people don’t want their loved ones to see them die. And so it was like we shared this moment together and she did not want me to see her die.” When he was notified about the medal, he said, “I went down to the grave and shared it with her, and I do that now and then.” New York Times

Boston Celtics, Barack Obama, Bill Russell