Celtics

“I think it’s very fitting that the bridge is named after him because a bridge brings people together.”

An official ceremony marking the renaming of the North Washington Street Bridge after Bill Russell was held in Boston on Monday. Although the Celtics had scheduled a practice at a similar time, one player was able to attend: Jaylen Brown.

At the dedication, attended by a group that included Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Russell’s widow Jeannine, Brown thanked Brad Stevens, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations.

“Thank you, Brad, for allowing me to be late to practice to honor Bill Russell,” Brown said to Stevens (who was also in attendance), according to Zack Cox of The Boston Herald. He then entered the legacy of Russell, the legendary Hall of Fame basketball player and civil rights activist.

“We are here to talk about the legacy of the great Bill Russell,” he said. “Not just what he did for basketball, how many championships he won, but how many championships he won off the basketball court. Things he stood for in the community, things with education, things he stood for in a time that was much harder to stand for than it is now.

“Bill Russell transcends sports,” Brown continued. “I can go on and on about his resume, but his character, his behavior and how he dealt with adversity, I think that speaks volumes, especially in a time like today. I think it’s very fitting that the bridge is named after him, because a bridge brings people together. And the leadership of sport and the role that sport plays in our society brings people together.”

Brown has tried to model his life on and off the court after Russell, using his platform to advocate for social justice (participating in protests in 2020).

On the court, Brown is now 1/11 of the way to Russell’s incredible NBA title mark, having helped Boston win a championship in 2024.

“Bill challenged us every day,” Brown told the crowd. “He has challenged us throughout his legacy, throughout his career, throughout his time here, and as I maneuver through my career, I plan to continue to walk in his light.”

Brown added that he wanted to “challenge everyone in this room to continue to do the same thing and to continue to remember what Bill Russell stood for.”

Along with his current Celtics teammates, Brown will have the chance to emulate Russell’s long-standing ambition: fighting to repeat as NBA champions. The new season begins on Tuesday in Boston against the Knicks.