Bill Russell's Best Teammates Throughout His NBA Career

Pat Alexander
Updated June 2, 2024 21 items
Voting Rules

Vote up the best teammates Bill Russell ever had.

Who is Bill Russell's best teammate ever? The Secretary of Defense, a.k.a. Mr. 11 Rings, had a lot of NBA All Star teammates over the course of his long and storied NBA career. The captain of the Boston Celtics led the storied franchise to eleven NBA championships, including eight straight. Bill Russell's greatest teammates have included NBA champions, longtime journeyman, and talented rookies here and there. But who is the best Bill Russell teammate of all time? Which of Bill Russell teammates throughout his entire career do you love? 

When it comes to Bill Russell's best teammates, Sam Jones and John Havlicek have to be at the top. The trio joined forces to win eight championships for the Boston Celtics. Other Bill Russell teammates like Bob Cousy, K.C. Jones, and Tom Heinsohn were instrumental in title runs as well. Lest we forget Bill Russell teammates, such as Satch Sanders, Bill Sharman, and Don Nelson, who are among some the best NBA players of all time.

Vote up the best Bill Russell teammates, and help decide which of Bill Russell All Star teammates was #1.

  • John Havlicek
    1
    64 votes

    John Havlicek

    One of only three players in NBA history with an outstanding and perfect 8-0 record in the NBA finals, John Havlicek is widely regarded as one of the best NBA players of all time for good reason. An NBA Finals MVP, 8-time NBA champion, 13-time NBA All-Star, 5-time Defensive First Team member, and a member of the 35th, 50th, and 75th NBA Anniversary Teams, Havlicek was one of the anchors of the Bill Russell and Celtics Dynasty. Averaging an astounding 20.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, Havlicek brought greatness each and every night on the court and would go on to be considered to be one of the greatest Celtics in the history of the franchise. 

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  • Clyde Lovellette
    2
    5 votes

    Clyde Lovellette

    Clyde Lovellette was a phenomenal basketball player during his prime. Lovellette won an NBA championship and was a 4-time all-star long before he joined the Boston Celtics. During the twilight of his career, however, Lovellette wanted one more chance to reach the top of the mountain, and the backup center got just what he wanted. While he may have only played 9 minutes per game as a backup for Bill Russell during his time in Boston, he would go on to win two more championships. 

  • Arnie Risen
    3
    5 votes

    Arnie Risen

    Arnie Risen spent the last 3 years of his professional career playing for the Boston Celtics, and he arrived just shortly after Bill Russell. The center would take Russell under his wing and teach him how to play the game at the professional level, and while his minutes may have shrunk every year, he was able to give off his wisdom to the big fella, and even win a championship along the way.

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  • Gene Conley
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      • Boston Celtics
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    4
    5 votes

    Gene Conley

    Gene Conley was a rare athlete who actually player professionally for both the NBA and the MLB. Through 8 years, Conley would play 4 years with the Boston Celtics, averaging 14 minutes a game and helping the Celtics win 3 NBA championships. Conley would later go on to leave the Celtics, but his impact on the team will always be remembered for how he helped them win championships.

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  • Bob Cousy
    5
    53 votes

    Bob Cousy

    The starting point guard throughout the first half of the Celtics dynasty, Bob Cousy is widely regarded to be one of the best teammates Bill Russell ever had, even rivaling him in honor of who the best Celtic of all time is! While nearly everyone would have Russell, Cousy was no slouch on the court, averaging 18.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game throughout his career. Cousy would go on to win 6 championships with Russell as his defensive anchor, and he would even go on to win the NBA MVP, become a 13-time NBA All-Star, and 10-time All-NBA First Team member. Cousy was the bread to Russell's butter, and the two together formed the core of what would be the early Celtics dynasty.

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  • Sam Jones
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    6
    51 votes

    Sam Jones

    A ten-time NBA champion, five-time NBA All-Star, member of the 25th, 50th, and 75th NBA Anniversary team, and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Sam Jones is one of the greatest basketball players to ever step on the court, and his laundry list of accomplishments don't just end there. Jones was one of three Celtics, along with his teammates Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, to be a part of the Celtic's legendary and masterful eight-year championship run, and Jones has the second most NBA championship points, only trailing the great Bill Russell. Jones spent all 12 seasons in the NBA right alongside Russell, providing a powerful one-two punch on the defensive and offensive end, with Jones at one point averaging a monstrous 25.8 points per game! When Jones retired in 1969, it took just a few years until the Celtics lifted his #24 jersey to the rafters, where it will remain for all time.

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  • Tom Heinsohn
    7
    38 votes

    Tom Heinsohn

    Mr. Celtic himself, Tom Heinsohn spent his entire playing career alongside the great Bill Russell as a member of one of the most feared and prestigious frontcourts of all time. The 6'7" power forward provided a scoring prowess strong enough to ensure that Russell could focus all his energy on the defensive end. Heinsohn averaged 18 or more points 5 times during his 9-year career and would help provide a scoring punch that would help Russell to win 8 championships over that time. Heinsohn would go on to be a six-time NBA Al-Star, and after he retired, he would go on to become a coach, and eventually, a broadcaster for the Celtics.

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  • K. C. Jones
    8
    34 votes

    K. C. Jones

    K.C. Jones has the very rare honor to not only play alongside the great Bill Russell, but also to coach him. Jones was the point guard throughout the Celtic's legendary dynasty and helped them achieve 8 championships while he played, and another 3 as a coach. Jones may not have had the flashiest numbers or eye-popping stats, but what he lacked in the statistical categories, he more than made up for with his incredible basketball IQ and tenacious defense. Jones provided phenomenal defense throughout his career, but knowing the big fella had his back ensured he could take more gambles and risks on that side of the ball. To this day, Jones is one of only eight players to win an NCAA championship, NBA championship, and an Olympic gold medal. Bill Russell, of course, is one of the other members of that prestigious list. 

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  • Bill Sharman
    9
    26 votes

    Bill Sharman

    Bill Sharman played his last 10 years in the NBA on the Boston Celtics, and 5 of those years with the great Bill Russell where he was a prolific scoring guard in his early days, and a phenomenal backup in the backend of his career. Sharman would go on to win 4 Championships, 3 of which were with Bill Russell, and he would even become quite the prolific star, being named to 8 All-Star games, even winning an All-Star Game MVP. Sharman had the peak of his career before Russell arrived, however, he was there to help take Russell under his wing and show him what it took to be a winning player.

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  • Don Nelson
    10
    22 votes

    Don Nelson

    The ultimate glue Guy, Don Nelson proved that it didn't matter how much playing time you got, what mattered was what you did during your time on the court. Nelso was a rare NBA player who switched from the Los Angeles Lakers to join the Boston Celtics, Nelson rounded out the Celtics dynasty by giving the team a reliable, do-it-all small forward who could defend and score at will. Nelson would go on to help the Celtics win 5 NBA championships during his time with the team, and he would even have his number retired.

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  • Satch Sanders
    11
    19 votes

    Satch Sanders

    Satch Sanders proved to be a fantastic backup power-forward who could score in bunches off a few shots and grew to become a staple in the Bill Russell dynasty. Helping the Celtics win 8 championships during his 13 years with the team, Sanders is one of only three players in NBA history with a perfect 8-0 record in NBA Finals. The eighth overall pick of the 1960 draft was also a defensive anchor, and a huge help to Russell on that end of the court, making the NBA All-Defensive team in 1969. Sanders would go on to retire in 1973, but his role in the Russell dynasty was massive, and he would eventually go on to have his number retired by the team.

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  • Willie Naulls
    12
    14 votes

    Willie Naulls

    A journeyman throughout the greater portion of his career, NBA forward Willie Naulls looked to make the Boston Celtics his home for the last leg of his career, and what a home he could. The backup small forward may have only averaged 20 minutes per game, but he would excel during his time on the court, being named to 3 consecutive NBA-All-Star Teams and winning 3 NBA Championships. Most notably, however, was the fact that Naulls joined Bill Russell, K.C, Sam Jones, and Satch Sanders in 1964 to form the first-ever all-black starting lineup in NBA history.

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  • Bailey Howell
    13
    20 votes

    Bailey Howell

    Bailey Howell was a phenomenal NBA player throughout his career, but as he reached his twilight, one thing still seemed out of reach for the forwards, an NBA championship. Howell would spend 4 of the last 5 years of his NBA career playing for the Boston Celtics, and during that time, he would go on to win 2 NBA championships. The 6-time NBA All-Star provided a powerful and potent scoring punch during his time with the team, averaging nearly 19 points per game, and giving Bill Russell a much-needed helping hand on the offensive side of the basketball.

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  • Frank Ramsey
    14
    20 votes

    Frank Ramsey

    The prolific backup guard/forward throughout the Celtics dynasty, Frank Ramsey played an integral part in what made the Celtics so formidable, their tremendous depth. Playing nearly his entire career behind Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, Ramsey still managed to score at will, averaging over 15 points per game in 5 of his 9 seasons in the NBA. Ramsey had tremendous chemistry with Russell, and while he may not have always been the best defender on the court, Ramsey always knew he could count on Mr. 11 Rings to have his back. Ramsey would go on to retire a seven-time NBA champion and have his jersey retired by the team.

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  • Don Chaney
    15
    6 votes

    Don Chaney

    Don Chaney only played one year with Bill Russell, when he was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1968. Chaney became a champion with the Boston Celtics during his rookie year, in 1969. Chaney was widely known for his defensive skills, appearing on NBA all-defensive teams five times during his career. He was also known for providing notable numbers in minutes off the bench. Chaney is also the only Boston Celtic who played with both Bill Russell and Larry Bird.

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  • Mel Counts
    16
    6 votes

    Mel Counts

    NBA backup big man Mel Counts was drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1964 as a backup for their legendary star Bill Russell. During his time with the team, Counts would go on to average 12.5 minutes per game, 6 points per game, and 5 rebounds per game. While he may not have seen the court all that much, he provided wonderful minutes while Russell was on the bench, and was even a part of two of the team's championship teams.

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  • Gene Guarilia
    17
    6 votes

    Gene Guarilia

    A backup forward for the Boston Celtics throughout his 4-year playing career, Gene Guarilia proved to be the team's ultimate bench guy, always ready to go in and prove himself, but also always ready to be there for his teammates. Guariglia may not have been the biggest or best NBA player, but many of his Celtic brothers, including Bill Russell. love him and his time on the team.

  • Larry Siegfried
    18
    17 votes

    Larry Siegfried

    Playing for the Boston Celtics for 7 years of his career and alongside Bill Russell for 6 of them, guard Larry Siegfried provided the perfect replacement for Bob Cousey when he retired. The tenacious defender could also put the ball in the hoop, making his a premier two-way player in the league. Siegfried may Russell's life much easier, and vice versa, thanks to the two tenacious and rambunctious defensive prowess. Many Celtics fans will still recall Boston announcer Johnny Most calling "Ziggy's in his shirt tonight,'" to describe just how intense a defender he was.

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  • Jim Loscutoff
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    19
    13 votes

    Jim Loscutoff

    While some may know him as “Jungle Jim” or “Loscy," Jim Loscutoff is known by all of Celtics nation to be a legend. An integral member of the Celtics dynasty, Loscutoff was a premiere backup forward for the team who aided Bill Russell in the team's immaculate defensive prowess. A rebounding machine, Loscutoff set a Celtics record when he was just a rookie with 26 rebounds in a single game, and while his numbers may not have been eye-popping, only averaging 6.18 points per game and 5.57 rebounds per game, the Celtics dynasty would have been much more difficult to achieve if it weren't for Loscutoff and his masterful defense.

  • Lou Tsioropoulos
    20
    9 votes

    Lou Tsioropoulos

    Lou Tsioropoulos was drafted the same year as Bill Russell, and the 6 foot 5 inch forward may have only been in the NBA for 3 years, but he was able to help the Celtics win 2 NBA Championships. Averaging 19 minutes per game throughout his career, Tsioropoulos was an average scorer who elevated his play during the playoffs. 

  • Ron Bonham
    21
    9 votes

    Ron Bonham

    Ron Bonham may have had an incredibly brief NBA career, only lasting 4 years in the league, but during his time with the Celtics, he would go on to win 2 NBA championships. The swingman from Muncie, Indiana proved to be a valuable addition off the bench, and while he may have retired after those championships, he will forever be remembered by Celtics nation.