![ESPN on X: "55 years ago, Bill Russell became the first Black coach in NBA history. Russell served as a player-coach with the Celtics for three seasons, winning two titles 🏆 https://t.co/lT08zsjXER" / ESPN on X: "55 years ago, Bill Russell became the first Black coach in NBA history. Russell served as a player-coach with the Celtics for three seasons, winning two titles 🏆 https://t.co/lT08zsjXER" /](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EzQqK0jUcAkbGDY.jpg)
ESPN on X: "55 years ago, Bill Russell became the first Black coach in NBA history. Russell served as a player-coach with the Celtics for three seasons, winning two titles 🏆 https://t.co/lT08zsjXER" /
![CAAM | #blackhistory: On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in the NBA CAAM | #blackhistory: On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in the NBA](https://caamuseum.org/content/7-learn/1-600state/20200416-blackfact-on-april-16th-1966-bill-russell-becomes-the-first-african-american-head-coach-in-the-nba/blog_bill_russell_2000.jpg)
CAAM | #blackhistory: On April 16, 1966, Bill Russell becomes the first African American head coach in the NBA
![Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others | Sporting News Canada Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others | Sporting News Canada](https://library.sportingnews.com/styles/twitter_card_120x120/s3/2021-08/bill-russell-player-coach-nbae-gettyimages_ao9sqsexf30b1u308bmthi5ii.png?itok=3pALyhU9)
Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others | Sporting News Canada
![November 6, 1987, Sacramento, California, USA: Sacramento Kings Head Coach BILL RUSSELL, 43, court-side during a game. Hands say it all as the NBA legend guides his troops. (Credit Image: © Owen November 6, 1987, Sacramento, California, USA: Sacramento Kings Head Coach BILL RUSSELL, 43, court-side during a game. Hands say it all as the NBA legend guides his troops. (Credit Image: © Owen](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2JKACH5/november-6-1987-sacramento-california-usa-sacramento-kings-head-coach-bill-russell-43-court-side-during-a-game-hands-say-it-all-as-the-nba-legend-guides-his-troops-credit-image-owen-brewersacramento-beezuma-press-wire-2JKACH5.jpg)
November 6, 1987, Sacramento, California, USA: Sacramento Kings Head Coach BILL RUSSELL, 43, court-side during a game. Hands say it all as the NBA legend guides his troops. (Credit Image: © Owen
![Danny Ainge reflects on Bill Russell and the Sacramento Kings connection that bonded them - Deseret News Danny Ainge reflects on Bill Russell and the Sacramento Kings connection that bonded them - Deseret News](https://deseret.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/91216bc/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1999+0+188/resize/740x493!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2FNsS33EQnAZjhOzRAbHxQIsblxhs%3D%2F0x0%3A3000x2374%2F3000x2374%2Ffilters%3Afocal%281500x1187%3A1501x1188%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F23914114%2FAP569838110195.jpg)
Danny Ainge reflects on Bill Russell and the Sacramento Kings connection that bonded them - Deseret News
![Remembering Bill Russell's brief stint as Kings coach, general manager – NBC Sports Bay Area & California Remembering Bill Russell's brief stint as Kings coach, general manager – NBC Sports Bay Area & California](https://media.nbcsportsbayarea.com/2023/05/bill-russell-kings-coach-GETTY.jpg?quality=85&strip=all&resize=1200%2C675)
Remembering Bill Russell's brief stint as Kings coach, general manager – NBC Sports Bay Area & California
![As Bill Russell entered Hall of Fame as a coach, some former players shared their memories of him - The Boston Globe As Bill Russell entered Hall of Fame as a coach, some former players shared their memories of him - The Boston Globe](https://cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/bostonglobe/GXZ24EYBQBDH3B63BHVUAFDPA4.jpg)
As Bill Russell entered Hall of Fame as a coach, some former players shared their memories of him - The Boston Globe
![Head coach Bill Russell of the Seattle Supersonics looks on from the bench during an NBA basketball game ci… | Bill russell, Nba basketball game, Celtics basketball Head coach Bill Russell of the Seattle Supersonics looks on from the bench during an NBA basketball game ci… | Bill russell, Nba basketball game, Celtics basketball](https://i.pinimg.com/564x/f6/57/3f/f6573f310398d2ff7716276a3ea7c877.jpg)