Bill Russell is celebrated as the greatest winner in basketball history. He is renowned for his unparalleled success as a player, winning 11 championships in his 13-year NBA career. Yet, less known is the fact that 'Bill The Hill' also achieved success as a head coach, capturing two titles.
True to his no-nonsense approach as a player, the five-time MVP carried the same demeanor onto the sidelines, leaving no room for ambiguity as he firmly communicated his expectations from his players.
Kenny Smith offered a glimpse into what it was like to have Russell as your head coach, drawing from his experience with his Sacramento Kings in the 1987-88 season.
Kenny on how Bill obliterated the Kings' players
Reflecting on the Kings' practice session during his rookie days, 'The Jet' shed light on Russell's unapologetically blunt approach to critiquing players for their lack of effort.
Frustration peaked when Bill actually dozed off during a practice session. Instead of expressing concern, the Boston Celtics legend turned the tables, criticizing the players for their lackluster display, which he deemed was so lifeless that it did not motivate him to remain awake and observe their game.
"Coach Russell really didn't run practice that much. So he would let Willis Reed run the practices, and he would read the paper. He was kinda like Bear Bryant," Smith said on Open Court. "So he's sitting down, he's reading the paper, and all of the sudden I look over and you see him sleeping at practice. He kinda stumbles, and everyone laughs, and he's like, 'Everybody out of practice! If y'all wasn't so damn boring, I wouldn't be sleeping here!'"
Russell was never satisfied during his coaching stint
While the role of a head coach often involves uplifting the team's performance and addressing individual player voids, the NBA legend grew increasingly frustrated by the Kings' players' performance.
This became apparent during a plane ride. He singled out multiple players on the team, bluntly labeling them 'losers' before instructing Kenny to sit beside him, effectively excluding the others from his company.
"So I started walking to the back and he grabs me back. He said, 'Young fella, you gotta sit next to me,'" Smith said. "I'm like, 'Why do I have to sit?' (Russell said), 'Because he's a loser, he's a loser, he's a loser, and they're never gonna win.'"
For a winner like Bill, it must be challenging to be associated with a below-average team, who only recorded a 14-41 record in the '87-88 season, finishing only 6th best in the Midwest Division. Which eventually led to his emotions getting the better of him more often than not in Sacramento.
Related: "It was one of the most helpful things they could've done" - Bill Russell scoffed at NCAA rule change that was supposed to slow him down
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