"Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission..."

Last month, the world lost a basketball hero who transformed the Boston Celtics Basketball team from 1956 to 1969. During that time, he was a cornerstone of a team that won 11 championships in 13 years, he was a five-time MVP, and he both played and coached the team for three seasons. His jersey #6 is going to be retired going forward, not just for the Boston Celtics, but across the NBA (though current players, such as LeBron James, may continue to wear #6 until they retire). He was not the first Black player in the NBA, but arguably he was the first to reach star status.

Russell was born in West Monroe, Louisiana, in the 1930s, and his family moved to Oakland, California during World War II. In his early years, Russell was not a strong basketball player – he didn’t make his junior high school team. His coach encouraged him to work on the fundamentals, and over time, he became known for his unusual defensive style. He was an amazing rebounder, and had a unique ability to block shots, obsessively studying and memorizing other players’ moves.

Russell also came to be a superstar during a formative time in American History. Growing up in segregated Louisiana, and playing in Boston, he endured widespread racism during his time as a player and afterward. He joined the 1963 March on Washington, and was seated in the front row for Dr. King’s famous I Have a Dream speech. He opened an integrated basketball camp, and was among those who supported Muhammed Ali during his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War. And in 2017, after Trump told NFL coaches to fire players who took a knee to protest racial justice, Russell posted a photo on social media taking a knee with his Presidential Medal of Freedom in an act of solidarity.

 “Learning is a daily experience and a lifetime mission. I truly believe in the saying: We work to become, not to acquire.” – Bill Russell

I’ve been reflecting on Russell’s legacy the last couple of weeks since he died, and that quote has really stuck with me. Basketball did not come easy to him – he had to study it, practice, and work at it. As a kid, he didn’t make the team at first and so many of us might have quit or tried a different sport or hobby. But he persisted, and learned to  And of course, it would not be possible without his dedication and desire for lifelong learning.  In his memory, may we all strive to learn daily.

-Reshma