The NBA jersey advent calendar: 25 days of hoops history for the holidays

6. Bill Russell — Boston Celtics

No journey through the history of NBA style could possibly be complete without mentioning the classic, clean, green and white beauty worn by the Boston Celtics. It’s a perfect look and blend of a city’s heritage with the team’s nickname, colors, logo, and style. There’s a reason why it’s remained basically untouched since forever.

Quite a few other players could have been chosen to represent the Celtics on this list, but none more suited than 11-time NBA Champion Bill Russell. The man’s got more rings than fingers to wear them on and will forever be the standard to which all champions are measured.

A five-time league MVP, 12-time All-Star, and 11-time All-NBA player, Russell’s individual accomplishment pale in comparison to his reputation as a champion, a leader, and a competitor that put winning above all else. His 11 championships in 13 seasons as a player and coach prove that when Russel put his mind to doing something, he would accept no less than perfection.

His battles against fellow Hall-of-Famer Wilt Chamberlain have led to one of the great sports debate topics of all-time. Being forced to choose between the two is a litmus test to find out if someone values individual accomplishments over team success or vice versa.

Chamberlain once said of his rival “Bill Russell helped make my dream a better dream because when you play with the best, you know you have to play your best.” High words of praise from one of the undisputed greatest players to ever hit the court.

Bill Russell certainly deserved them, as he deserves this spot on the calendar.

Honorable Mention: LeBron James (Miami Heat), Julius Erving (Philadelphia 76ers), Kristaps Porzingis (New York Knicks)