Bill Russell

Bill Russell was the first ever African-American coach in the NBA. I think that this set the precedent for the many years to come that not only do black players play the game, but they also coach the game as well. Blacks are just as capable of doing things as whites do and it took until 1966 for people to realize it and hire a black coach. Racism was still a part of the game, however, and it wasn’t all easy for Russell. Bill Russell was a five time NBA most valuable player and he was a twelve time all star (nba.com). He changed the sport's defensive tactics with his amazing ability to block the opposing teams shots. Bill Russell won eleven championships with the Boston Celtics over thirteen year time period. In seeing this, other teams and other coaches wanted to pay players to perform like Russell. He was so superior than other players in the NBA during the 1960's. Others coaches realized that they want to win as much as Russell did. 

In my opinion, the more and more talent that the NBA found, the more and more black players started being look at. In the video, it shows Bill Russell's career as a Boston Celtic. He changed the game defensively, and he knew how to win. Winning was an essential part to the rise of equality in race in the NBA.