64-1965 Bill Russell Boston Celtics Game Used Warmup Jersey - MVP Season (MEARS)

Auction: Summer Classic 2022

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64-1965 Bill Russell Boston Celtics Game Used Warmup Jersey - MVP Season (MEARS)

Boston Celtics warmup jacket worn by Hall of Fame center Bill Russell during the 1964-1965 season. Accompanied by a Letter of Authenticity from MEARS certifying the garment as "Authentic" (as per its policy, MEARS does not grade warmup jackets). The white fleece button-down jacket is lettered "Celtics" across the front in green on gold tackle twill. "Russell" is lettered in gold tackle twill upon a green name plate on the reverse. (The name plate snaps on and is removable.) A green-and-gold cloverleaf patch appears on each sleeve. The left sleeve also displays a black memorial armband in honor of Celtics owner and founder Walter Brown, who died on September, 7, 1964. Both the year and size ("6546") are stamped in black on the interior rear tail. The faded green "Hall of Fame" basketball patch on the left breast appears to have been added at a later date. Aside from that, the jacket is original as issued and displays heavy wear. Russell enjoyed another banner performance during the 1964-1965 season. Playing in his ninth season, Russell averaged a league-high 24.1 rebounds per game and 15.1 points per game to help lead the Celtics to their seventh consecutive World Championship. For his efforts, Russell earned his fifth MVP Award at seasons end.Bill Russell is one of the most iconic figures in American sports. If there is one word to define Russell it would have to be "winner." <span data-contrast="none" xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" class="TextRun SCXW112013108 BCX8" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 16.1875px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif;">Wherever Russell went, wins followed. In college he led the San Francisco Dons to consecutive NCAA basketball championships in 1955 and 1956. Then he captained the 1956 Olympic Basketball Team to a Gold Medal in the 1956 Olympics. He went straight to the Boston Celtics and continued his winning ways, taking the Celtics to 11 NBA Championships in his 13 seasons with the team. In 1966 he became the first African American coach in NBA history when he succeeded Red Auerbach as coach of the Celtics, and one year later he became the first African American NBA coach to win a championship. Included among his many individual achievements are five MVP Awards, twelve All-Star Game appearances, and three All NBA First Team selections. <span class="EOP SCXW112013108 BCX8" data-ccp-props="{'201341983':0,'335551550':1,'335551620':1,'335559739':160,'335559740':259}" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 16.1875px; font-family: Verdana, Verdana_EmbeddedFont, Verdana_MSFontService, sans-serif;">Bill Russell just recently passed away on July 31, 2022, and the NBA took the unprecedented step by retiring his uniform number (6) from all NBA teams beginning with the 2022-23 season (LeBron James' use of the number will be grandfathered in.) In addition, all NBA courts will sport a shamrock in honor of Russell for the 2022-23 season. Bill Russell game-used items are scarce. This is just the second Russell Celtics warmup jacket we have ever offered and the fact that it dates from both an MVP and World Championship season makes it all the more significant.