6 for No. 6: Celebrating the life and legacy of the NBA's greatest winner, Bill Russell

(Editor's note: This series was published before the 2022-23 NBA season.)

Bill Russell is an icon, a pioneer and the ultimate winner. His presence loomed large over the NBA community both on and off the court for a large part of its history.

It's safe to say you can't tell the story of the NBA without mentioning Bill Russell.

As we celebrate what would have been his 89th birthday, we mourn the loss of a legend who paved the way for many of today's superstars and laid the foundation for others to use their voices for good. 

Six of The Sporting News' talented NBA writers paid homage to Russell by telling six different stories. It's our small way of saying thank you to No. 6 and a reminder that his legacy will never be forgotten. 

From childhood in Louisiana through legendary career with Celtics, Bill Russell never lost passion in fight for racial equality

We know about the 11 rings in 13 years, but basketball didn't define Russell. He was a man who not only believed in equality but stood on the frontline to fight for it.

TSN's lead NBA writer Steph Noh read Russell's autobiography "Go Up For Glory" and found out just how much Russell meant to the fight for racial equality as he did the NBA.

I was too young to have lived through much of the history of Bill Russell, so I picked up his book "Go Up for Glory."

Here's what I learned — Bill Russell was a badass and a hero. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his fight towards racial equality.https://t.co/0prBCoV6qX

— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) October 18, 2022

Bill Russell's all-encompassing legacy includes being the greatest mentor basketball has ever seen

After retiring from the game in 1969, Russell remained close to the game of basketball. He spent time as a commentator and coach, but it was his impact as a mentor that was felt for generations to come. From Kobe Bryant to Kevin Garnett, Russell's mentorship helped shape the modern NBA.

TSN's Gil McGregor looked into what Russell meant long after he played his final game.

Remembering Bill Russell, the greatest big-game winner in sports history

When the game was on the line, there was no better closer than Russell. He went a perfect 21-0 in winner-take-all games.

TSN's Kyle Irving dove into the stakes that were on the line in each closeout game of Russell's career and how he performed in them. 

Bill Russell Game Experience: Here’s what I learned watching the Celtics legend play for the first time in the 1963 NBA Finals

Multiple generations of NBA fans never had the privilege of watching Russell dominate the NBA the way he did for 13 seasons. TSN's Scott Rafferty falls in that category.

Too young to see Russell's greatness, Rafferty went back and watched Game 6 of the 1963 NBA Finals and came away with a newfound respect for one of the NBA's greats.

How Bill Russell revolutionized defense: Late Celtics legend had physicality, mentality to dominate in any NBA era

From Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace to Rudy Gobert and Draymond Green, the NBA has seen some all-time great defenders. None, however, hold a candle to Russell's dominance on that end of the floor.

TSN's Jordan Greer looked into what made Russell so special and how he revolutionized defense in the NBA.

From high jump to Olympic glory, Bill Russell's sporting legacy extends well beyond the NBA

In 1956, Russell led the United States men's basketball team to Olympic gold in Melbourne, Australia. And while it's easy to imagine Russell winning Olympic gold on the hardwood, he could've had an opportunity to add another Olympic medal to his trophy case.

TSN's Benyam Kidane dove into Russell's otherworldly athleticism and how he might have medaled in another Olympic sport.