Bill Russell is viewed by Larry Bird as someone who “set the bar, but he set it too high.”

Bill Russell is viewed by Larry Bird as someone who “set the bar, but he set it too high.”

While Larry Bird may not always share his respect for his fellow NBA greats, when he does, it is evident in the sincerity of his words. For example, in 2011, “Larry Legend” expressed his candid opinions about Bill Russell.

Bird claims that Russell’s 11 NBA titles put a great deal of pressure on the Boston Celtics as well as the league as a whole. In addition, Larry said that Bill’s influence extends beyond basketball, which further cemented Bill’s status as an inspirational athlete and human being.

In 2011, Bird told CBS News, “I adore Bill Russell; he’s one of my idols.” “He has made enormous contributions to both the world and the game. We all love him so much in this game. He was the one who raised the bar, even if it was too high.”

Larry also acknowledges the contributions of his deceased Celtics comrades.
In terms of all-time great Celtics players, Russell and Bird are without a doubt first and first-class. Nevertheless, “The Hick from French Lick” also acknowledges the influence and accomplishments of other legendary Celtics players, including a few of his teammates.