“The Celtic ‘system’ was designed to permit intelligent, winning players to endlessly use their own curiosity and creativity to accomplish results. That was why each of the players felt such an extraordinary commitment to the team. It was a living, everyday thing, a practice far more than a promise, it was their team.”

ANGELA ROWLINGS/AP
Bill Russell has a light moment while answering questions from members of the media after a Celtics team practice in Waltham, Mass., in 1999. The Hall-of-Famer agreed to return to the team periodically to monitor, teach, and develop the players.