Question 1

True or false: Bill Russell played his entire 13-year NBA career with the Boston Celtics.

Accepted Answer

True. He was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956 but was traded to the Celtics, where he spent his entire career.

Question 2

True or false: Bill Russell never won an Olympic gold medal.

Accepted Answer

False. Russell captained the U.S. basketball team to a gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, dominating with his defense.

Question 3

True or false: Bill Russell was a two-time NCAA champion at the University of San Francisco.

Accepted Answer

True. He led USF to back-to-back NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, also winning the tournament MVP in 1955.

Question 4

True or false: Bill Russell averaged over 30 points per game for his NBA career.

Accepted Answer

False. Russell averaged 15.1 points per game; his dominance was defense and rebounding, not scoring. He led the league in rebounds many times.

Question 5

True or false: Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships, more than any other player in history.

Accepted Answer

True. Russell won 11 titles with the Boston Celtics from 1957 to 1969, a record that still stands as the most by any NBA player.

Question 6

True or false: Bill Russell was the first African American head coach in NBA history.

Accepted Answer

True. In 1966, he became player-coach of the Boston Celtics, making him the first Black head coach in the NBA.

Question 7

True or false: Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain were close friends who never had on-court rivalry.

Accepted Answer

False. They had a fierce rivalry, meeting in the playoffs eight times, but became close friends later in life, not during their playing days.

Question 8

True or false: Bill Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

Accepted Answer

True. President Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his civil rights activism and basketball achievements.

Bill Russell Trivia Questions