Hall of Famer & NBA legend rushed to hospital by ambulance
The winningest player in team sports history had a health scare, but it now appears that Bill Russell will be fine.
An ambulance rushed the 84-year old Celtics legend to a hospital near his home in Seattle on Friday night, as he was was reportedly having heart issues.
TMZ broke the story, reporting that the Hall of Famer was also suffering from shortness of breath.
On Saturday morning, TMZ reported that while Russell was kept overnight, he was expected to be fine.
Russell tweeted out Saturday afternoon that the biggest problem was not his heart, but dehydration.
Thank you everyone for the kind thoughts, yes I was taken to the hospital last night & as my wife likes to remind me I don’t drink enough. On my way home & as most my friends know I don’t have a heart to give me trouble @NBA @celtics @TMZ @TMZLive @NBAonTNT @MSNBC @YahooSports
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) May 19, 2018
In typical Russell humor, he added that most of his friends “know I don’t have a heart to give me trouble.”
He was also hospitalized four years ago after fainting at a speaking engagement near Lake Tahoe.
During his career on the court, the big man was all business, leading Boston to 11 titles in his 13-year career — including two as a player/coach.
In addition to having the most championships as as player in NBA history, he was a five-time league MVP.
For his career, Russell averaged an incredible 22.5 rebounds per game.
His biggest impact was on the defensive end, where he often got the best of the much bigger Wilt Chamberlain.
Russell was also a leading voice for civil rights back in the 1960s, and in 2011, he won the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Known as the ultimate teammate, “Russ” has been following his Celtics in their improbable playoff run, even chiming in with support for Marcus Smart, who scuffled with Cleveland’s J.R. Smith after a hard foul on Al Horford in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
#marcussmart has it correct always stick up for your teammates. #CelticsNation #CelticsVsCavs @Al_Horford @NBA @espn Really enjoying the @celtics play Team work!
— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) May 16, 2018
Once a champion, always a champion.
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