HoopsHype.com Rumors

Ira Winderman: Bill Russell is in the house. Someone is getting ready for a trophy presentation. Twitter @IraHeatBeat

Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, Bill Russell 

The Mailman joined "The Dan Patrick Show" on Tuesday to talk all things NBA when the topic of who to start an all- time greatest team with came up. Malone, who notably played in Jordan's shadow for the majority of his career, curiously named Oscar Robertson, John Stockton, LeBron James, Scottie Pippen and Bill Russell as his go-to squad while leaving No. 23 off of it. Philadelphia Inquirer

LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Karl Malone, Oscar Robertson, John Stockton, Bill Russell 

If given the choice of any player in NBA history to start a franchise, legendary coach Phil Jackson says Celtics center Bill Russell would win out over his former player Michael Jordan. “In my estimation, the guy that has to be there would be Bill Russell. He has won 11 championships as a player,” Jackson said in an interview with Time. “That’s really the idea of what excellence is, when you win championships.” SI.com

Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson, Bill Russell 

Miami Heat star LeBron James is named Most Valuable Player for the fourth time, league sources confirmed Friday. James has been voted MVP for the second straight season and for the fourth time in the past five years. He'll join Michael Jordan, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain with at least four MVP awards. ESPN.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell 

Only four men have won four MVP awards, and some believe they are the four greatest players ever. They are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (six), Michael Jordan (five), Bill Russell (five) and Wilt Chamberlain (four). “Anytime I’m mentioned with the greatest players to play the game or people period, it is a wow factor because I grew up and studied those guys and watched those guys, and a few of those guys were my inspiration growing up,’’ James said. James returned after missing three games due to a hamstring strain. He was just as good as before he left, if not better. FOXSports Florida

Miami Heat, LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell 

Apparently, that guy in the AT&T commercials is tired of speaking with children in order to highlight the company’s service offerings. The wireless provider went out and got Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell to appear in its most recent iteration of television spots, with the one in the video clip above featuring an emotionally sensitive Bird being reacting to Magic poking fun at his lack of speed on the court during his playing days. NBCSports.com

Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell, Commercials 

It was super cool to see Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell in attendance in Washington, D.C., on Monday morning at the inauguration of President Barack Obama for his second term in the Oval Office. It's not necessarily surprising — after all, the 78-year-old Russell was not only an exemplary athlete and champion, but also a proud, tireless advocate for civil and human rights who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Obama has previously recognized Russell's contributions to both sport and society by honoring him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. But still: Pretty cool. A bit less cool: Russell's identification by ABC News correspondent George Stephanopoulos, one of the hosts of the network's coverage of the inauguration festivities, as captured by closed captioning and Deadspin's Timothy Burke: Yahoo! Sports

Boston Celtics, Barack Obama, Bill Russell 

Iman Shumpert was joking the other day he’d be “thirsty’’ to have been around in the 1950s to get a chance to dunk on Bill Russell. Today, the cocksure Shumpert may have to be content to dunk on Tyson Chandler. Knicks coach Mike Woodson said last night Shumpert had knee tests yesterday and was on the verge of being medically cleared for his first 5-on-5 contact scrimmage — the last step in his eight-month comeback from an ACL tear. The Knicks practice today and tomorrow. New York Post

New York Knicks, Mike Woodson, Tyson Chandler, Bill Russell, Iman Shumpert 

Uncle Drew has returned. Kyrie Irving’s brilliant Pepsi ad campaign has added Kevin Love to the “hustle street ballers dressed as old men” game. It is again well-executed and amusing. I just hope that the guy Kevin Love leveled with a screen got an autograph. Bill Russell even makes a cameo, telling Kyrie, “This game has always been – and will always be – about buckets.” The Big Lead

Minnesota Timberwolves, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, Bill Russell, Showbusiness 

Three weeks later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar stopped by the suite at L’Ermitage and formally welcomed Howard into the pantheon of Lakers centers. Abdul-Jabbar showed Howard a championship ring and gave him a jersey. “He told me I had athleticism like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell,” Howard says. “He said, ‘You’ve put in a lot of work for the last eight years, you’ve sowed your seeds, and now it’s time to reap the benefits.’ ” When Abdul-Jabbar left, Howard wept, and not simply because he’d gained the acceptance he always sought. “With everything I was going through, all the pain,” Howard says, “I was just so happy someone understood how hard I had worked.” SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell 

Jordan aspires to be like Russell, even changing his jersey number from 9 to 6 prior to last season in order to pay tribute to the winningest big man in NBA history. Yet despite Jordan’s seemingly unlimited potential, the 24-year-old is still settling into his role as the Clippers’ anchor. “I think you have to take steps at a time, but if he understand he’s out there to control the defensive glass, to block shots, to run the court, to set good screens, and the other stuff will come,” Clippers head coach Vinny Del Negro said. “If he’s able to accept his role and understand his role all the other things will happen because he’s so athletic.” NBA.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Vinny Del Negro, DeAndre Jordan, Bill Russell 

What have you been up to this summer? Bill Russell: I mostly didn't do anything but I did take care of a health question that needed to be addressed. It's really funny, but what I did was almost routine. But when you describe it, it doesn't sound routine. I had a valve in my heart that had to be replaced and the way you replace it is by open-heart surgery. Well, open-heart surgery sounds difficult but this was not an emergency. It was something I had to do. The same operation in an emergency is life threatening. This was not life threatening. NBA.com

Bill Russell 

You sound good. You're feeling fine? Russell: Yes. It's all rehab basically. There was never ever any danger. The reason this was routine was because I was living a clean lifestyle. No drinking, smoking, etc. I'm in good shape. NBA.com

Bill Russell 

Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell recently underwent a heart procedure, but is feeling well and is hoping to be back in Boston in late October, according to his business manager Stuar Layne. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

Peter Vecsey: Bill Russell was unable to make trip to Eastern LI from Seattle. He had 2 heart procedures within last month. Some days worse than others. Twitter

Bill Russell 

Howard didn't seem eager to trade in his uniform for a business suit, but he liked the idea of being a player coach like the legendary Celtics center whose handed out the Bill Russell Finals MVP Trophy to James. "Yeah, like Bill Russell," Howard smiled. "I haven't got that far yet. I still got the passion and love for the game." Sun Herald

Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Juwan Howard, Bill Russell 

The Heat have performed well in these situations under coach Erik Spoelstra. According to Elias, Miami is 5-0 in playoff-series opening games at home under Spoelstra, and only four other head coaches in NBA history were 5-0 or better in series-opening home games: Doug Moe (8-0), Mike Dunleavy (6-0), Fred Schaus (5-0) and Bill Russell (5-0). ESPN.com

Miami Heat, Erik Spoelstra, Mike Dunleavy, Bill Russell, Fred Schaus, Doug Moe 

The design for a statue of Boston Celtics great Bill Russell has been unveiled. The statue scheduled to be placed on City Hall Plaza next year will feature Russell in uniform with his arm around a youth, reflecting his dedication to mentoring youngsters. Oklahoman

Boston Celtics, Bill Russell 

Where is the most room for improvement in your game? Basically, I need to shoot the ball at a more consistent rate and get stronger. Who do you most like to be compared to? Nerlens Noel: I like the comparison to Bill Russell. He was a great legend of the game. And he won multiple championships in Boston, and that’s where I’m from. So, that comparison means a lot to me. USA Basketball

Boston Celtics, Draft, Bill Russell, Nerlens Noel 

The 50th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game is not only an occasion to remember the accomplishment, but also the man. What better way to reflect on Chamberlain’s signature moment than through the eyes of his friend and most bitter rival? So I called Bill Russell, the 11-time champion of the Celtics, and asked if he’d be so kind as to share his thoughts about the occasion 50 years ago Friday. I’ll provide his response, followed by the context. The response from Russell: “Not really.” “Is it a bad time, or is it a topic you don’t really want to talk about?” “A little of both,” he said. And that was that. I apologized for the intrusion and wished Russell the best. “No intrusion,” Russell said. “And thank you.” CBSSports.com

Boston Celtics, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell