May 2, 1968: Bill Russell and the Boston Celtics finish off a 4-2 series with the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA title, the team's 10th in 12 years.
Player-coach Bill Russell averaged 12.5 points and 18.6 rebounds in the regular season en route to the NBA Finals appearance. The Celtics won 124-109 to clinch the championship.
After the game, Lakers guard Jerry West uttered these famous words: "If I had a choice of any basketball player in the league, my No.1 choice has to be Bill Russell. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me."
Red Auerbach retired as Celtics coach after winning the 1966 NBA title. Russell replaced him as a player-coach. In his first season, the Celtics lost in the Eastern finals to the 76ers.
The Celtics won in 1968 and 1969 with Russell, who then retired.
