Bill Russell, the legendary figure in NBA history, is set to offer fans and collectors a rare chance to own a piece of his storied career. Russell has announced plans to auction off a significant portion of his personal memorabilia collection. This collection includes a wide array of items such as trophies, championship rings, basketballs, jerseys, letters, photographs, and other treasured keepsakes. These items not only highlight his illustrious 13-year tenure with the Boston Celtics as a player and coach but also reflect his impactful work during the civil rights movement and beyond.

Among the standout items are his first and last NBA championship rings from 1957 and 1969, respectively, which are part of his record 11 titles. Additionally, four of his five NBA Most Valuable Player trophies and his 1956 Olympic gold medal from the U.S. men’s basketball team will be up for grabs. In a video announcement, Russell mentioned, “There are a few pieces I’ll keep for myself, but the rest I will share with the world.” The auction will be managed by Hunt Auctions, a company renowned for handling memorabilia from sports icons like Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio, and Roberto Clemente. The event is expected to take place in Boston later this fall or winter.

Russell has indicated that a portion of the auction proceeds will benefit MENTOR, a Boston-based nonprofit organization he co-founded over 30 years ago, which is dedicated to enhancing mentoring relationships. Another portion will support Boston Celtics United for Social Justice, an initiative focused on tackling racial and social inequalities in the Boston area.

Dave Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions, expressed his excitement and honor in managing Russell’s collection. “There’s not a lot of folks at Bill Russell’s level. The air gets real thin,” Hunt commented. “There are certain players whose names transcend the sport, and Bill Russell is one of them.” While the exact value of Russell’s memorabilia is yet to be determined, past auctions conducted by Hunt have achieved remarkable results, such as a rare Babe Ruth Yankees jersey that fetched $5.64 million in 2019.

Among the items Russell has chosen to keep is the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which he received in 2011 from former President Barack Obama. Another significant piece is a letter from Jackie Robinson, written after Russell and other Black Celtics players boycotted a game in Lexington, Kentucky, due to being denied service at a hotel. “It’s just an amazing piece, and it’s very difficult to put a monetary value on an item like that,” Hunt noted. “But what better way for this to be shared than directly from the person who participated, and doing good as well as a result of that offering.”