At the award ceremony, Bill Russell joked with Roger.
He held up three fingers: "Didn't expect someone to be only three short of me."
You can understand that as the once modest, low-key, team-oriented Bill Russell now loving to boast as he grows older.
Of course, you can also see it as Bill Russell's heartfelt appreciation and praise.
After all, in the modern basketball environment, no player can win eight championships—even a lucky role player can't get eight titles.
Among those players who won eight championships, old man Tom Sanders retired in 1973, and KC Jones ended his coaching career in '92.
Tom Heinsohn ended his player career in '65 and his coaching career in '78. The ultimate winner John Havlicek is the closest among all those with eight crowns to modern basketball, but he also retired in '78.
As for those with more championships, Sam Jones with 10 and Bill Russell with 11, their glory was all in the 60s.
