Bill Russell’sunmatched legacy lives on after his death last year — and a new Netflix documentary will soon tell his story.
Bill Russell: Legend, will showcase the life and accomplishments of the NBA star and civil rights activist, as seen in the trailer, shared exclusively with PEOPLE Wednesday.
The trailer shows other NBA legends and close friends of the player’s commemorating Russell, who died in July 2022 at 88 years old.
“I don’t think even he knew what type of player he was going to be,“Steph Curry, four-time NBA championship winning player, said in the trailer.
netflix
As it was made in collaboration with Russell before his death, the documentary will contain his own vast personal archives, as well as the last interview he gave.
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty
“You know what’s on his hands?” former NBA star Jalen Rose says in the trailer. “More rings than fingers.”
Beyond his sports career, Russell was a champion for Black rights, boycotting an NBA game in 1961 when a restaurant in Kentucky refused to seat him and his Black teammates, according to Doug Merlino’sbookThe Crossover: A Brief History of Basketball and Race, from James Naismith to LeBron James. He also marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and spoke out against segregation.
“More than any athlete of his era, Bill Russell came to define the word winner,” Obama said when he presented Russell with the award, a moment featured in the trailer. “Bill Russell the man is someone who stood up for the rights and dignity of all men.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Between personal clips and interviews with those who knew and admired him, the film promises to give an in depth look into the life of the NBA icon.
Bill Russell: Legendwill be available to stream on Netflix on Feb. 8.
source: people.com
