On February 5, 1960, Bill Russell ignored a charley horse to grab a personal best 51 rebounds in a 124-100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. This was the second-highest total in NBA history, after only Wilt Chamberlain’s 55-rebound performance in November of 1960. Bill Russell was one of the greatest defenders and rebounders of all time, averaging 15 points and 22.5 rebounds per game over his NBA career. Russell is perhaps most famous for his role in the Celtics dynasty of the 50s and 60s, in which he helped them win 11 championships. Russell was such a presence in the NBA Finals that the NBA named the NBA Finals MVP after him.
Today in Sports History: February 5
