One of the most iconic NBA photo series ever is Bill Russell posing with his 11 rings. He had so many championships that his right pinkie finger had two. In one of these pictures, the Boston Celtics legend cradled the memento with his palms as his beaming smile lit up the photo.
Lately, however, things took an interesting turn. The photographer, Nathaniel “Nat” Butler, revealed in the Hoops Collective podcast that it was all an illusion. Of course, Russell had that many championships, but the thing is, he never had that many rings, primarily because teams back then weren’t wealthy enough to gift players with gold and diamond-studded jewelry.
“Bill Russell did not receive 11 rings, and a lot of fans don’t know that after they won a couple of championships, they no longer got rings so we had to borrow rings from some of the teammates and front office people to signify that particular shot,” Butler said . “There is a lot of folklore involved, and unfortunately a lot of people have passed, but we’re continuing to do an investigative reporting on what they actually received.”
Because the rings Russell posed with weren’t really championship keepsakes, he had to be creative with his shots. After all, some people may notice the discrepancy right before their eyes. Thus, magic has to be conjured.
“It was tricky for me to photograph because I didn’t want you know someone else’s name or year visible so it just focused on his eyes, his smile, his cackle,” revealed the “Courtside: 40 Years of NBA Photography” author.
What did Bill Russell receive instead of rings?
As surprising as it may seem, the team ceased to award Russell and his Boston teammates with rings after a couple of titles. Instead, they received a variety of other items. According to Butler, there were rumors that they were presented with watches, cuff links, and Zenith TV consoles.
If the talks are indeed true, the game has really changed since the great "Russ" dominated the hardwood. Today, teams spend $10,000 to $40,000 for each ring, and some exceed $100,000 if they are made with the finest materials and adorned with intricate designs. Moreover, they give jewelry to everyone, even to the end-of-the-rotation guy they traded in the middle of the season.
Related: "I wondered myself why he wasn't on the team" - Larry Bird knew Dream Team selection process would result in controversies
Paying Tribute to the Legendary Bill Russell
It’s almost a crime leaving out Russell in the GOAT conversation just because he didn’t have gaudy offensive numbers or because he was a teammate with a bunch of Hall of Famers. The fact of the matter is that Boston wouldn’t have 11 rings credited under their franchise without the USF alum.
Bill led the Celtics to 12 NBA Finals and barely lost one to the St. Louis Hawks in 1958 because of an ankle injury in Game 3. Otherwise, it would have probably been 12. The only clear-cut Russell defeat was the 1967 Division Finals, where the Wilt Chamberlain-led Philadelphia 76ers vanquished the Celtics in five games.
Clearly, Bill The Hill is the greatest winner in NBA history, regardless of position or era. He cracked the code and ran away with it. That’s his undeniable legacy, regardless of whether he had rings to show for it.
Related: "Bill Russell for sure!” — Paul Pierce on the Boston Celtics legend he would have liked to have a drink with
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