“He’s sort of the founding father of the modern NBA.” League Commissioner Adam Silver perfectly described Bill Russell’s impact on the game of basketball following his death. There was a lot more to the NBA icon than people knew about him. He didn’t like taking pictures or signing autographs, but preferred to have deep conversations with his fans. He cared about his friends and young basketball players; only a few can match his contributions to society. So it was not surprising to see Silver speak warmly about the 11x NBA champion during the Fanatic Fest.

It was during his early days working as an employee in the league. Silver shared how Russell was a great and active listener. The NBA legend listened to the people around him, took heed of their advice and opinions, and was willing to change his own opinion if faced with a fault. It was because of this that Silver was able to forge a deep bond with Mr. 11 Rings. When asked about the best advice learned in life, Silver was instantly reminded of Russell.

“He was a very active listener and I think again even if people disagreed with him, I think they had the real sense that he was incorporating their thoughts, truly listening to them,” Silver revealed during the interview. “And he was also willing to change his mind if somebody could convince him otherwise, so I think that single piece of advice is just to be a good listener.” The NBA commissioner joined the league back in 1992 and worked in various roles, one of which had him visiting different cities along with Bill Russell.

The two were quite close. So much so that when Silver suspended the league following the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, Russell tweeted that Silver’s predecessor, David Stern, would have been proud of his decision. Silver was also joined by another NBA icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and WNBA superstar Sarina Ionsescu on the panel.

Without the 12x NBA All-Star and his ideals, the league wouldn’t be what we see today. And Silver wants his kids to learn from arguably the greatest winner in league history.

Adam Silver wants his children to learn one special quality from Bill Russell 

Russell played in the league for 13 years, achieving nearly every accomplishment out there and making an impact that will go on to inspire people for decades. He led the Boston Celtics to 11 championship titles. Russell’s support for civil rights and his involvement in the 1961 protests was huge. There was passion and dedication in everything he did, both on and off the court.

“He’s sort of the founding father of the modern NBA,” Silver said of the Boston Celtics legend in 2022. Another thing that he learned from Russell and wants his kids to replicate is that same dedication and mindset to be ready to sacrifice if needed to achieve success, even if it’s not sports or something competitive.

“But I’d want to teach them that quality of truly being willing to give your all to what you’re passionate about. And that’s the unique quality that Bill had,” Silver said. Despite winning 11 NBA championships, Russell made a bigger impact off the court. That just tells you about the legacy the basketball icon left behind.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.