Former Kings coach, NBA legend Bill Russell passes away

The NBA is filled with larger than life personalities. There was none bigger than Bill Russell.

On Sunday morning, the news broke of Russell’s passing. The legendary center, coach and executive was 88 years old.

The rest of the day has been one tribute after another to the greatest winner that professional sports will likely ever know.

Russell was more than a legendary basketball player, although his greatness during his 13-year career was stunning. The Celtics great made 12 All-Star teams, took home five MVP trophies and was a member of 11 Championship rosters as a player.

In his final three seasons as a player, Russell also served as the head coach of the Celtics, where he took home his final two rings. He compiled a 341-290 record as a head coach, including one last stop in Sacramento with the fledgling Kings, in just their third season after relocating from Kansas City.

Like so many others, Russell failed to find success with the Kings, lasting just 11 months on the job. He transitioned to the front office where he acted as the general manager of the franchise from March of 1988 until December of 1989.

During his time with the Kings Russell traded for Rodney McCray, Wayman Tisdale, Ralph Sampson and Danny Ainge. He also selected Ricky Berry, Pervis Ellison and Vinny Del Negro.

For the last seven decades, Russell has been one of the faces of the NBA. Long after his greatness on the court, and even as a coach, Russell was a beacon of professionalism and grace. He was a civil rights activist, pushed for social justice and cherished the role of being so much more than just a basketball player.

During my time covering the league I’ve met plenty of legends. While I have been in the same building as Russell multiple times, I never had the pleasure of meeting him in person, which will always be a regret.

The game has lost a great ambassador and the world has lost a better man.

The basketball world is in mourning, but Russell wasn't the only legend to pass away on Sunday. While we cover hoops, we would also like to pay our respects to Nichelle Nichols, the great Lieutenant Uhura from Star Trek fame.

Nichols wasn't the first black woman on television, but her ground breaking role on Star Trek was described by Martin Luther Kings Jr. as "the first stereotypical role portrayed by a Black woman in television history."

Most widely known for her role on the three seasons of Star Trek and six films in the franchise, Nichols' career spanned from the late 1950s all the way until her death. She was an incredible pioneer of television and film, and helped to break down racial barriers, much like Russell.

In addition to her work in TV and movies, Nichols was a champion of women's rights, even contracting with NASA to help expand recruiting of minority and female candidates into the program to promote diversity in space exploration.