How important was Bill Russell’s impact on the NBA in its early years?

One can make a convincing case that without Boston Celtics Hall of Fame big man Bill Russell, there likely would not have been the Celtics dynasty of the late 1950s and 1960s. But there might not even have been an NBA to speak of in the modern era with Russell and his battles with lifelong friend and rival Wilt Chamberlain and Russell’s Celtics’ battles with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers keeping a young and poorly-watched NBA afloat and relevant in its early years.

Just how important was Russell’s impact on the NBA in its early years in helping to spark interest in what was barely seen as a professional league in its first decade of existence?

After his passing, the hosts of the CLNS Media “A-List” podcast explored the Celtics icon’s contributions to the league, his team, and the world more generally.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi