FanHouse Bill Russell

Sam Jones won 10 NBA championships, more than anyone in history except for Bill Russell. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1984. He was named one of the NBA's 50 Greatest Players in 1996. He scored more than 15,000 points in his 12 seasons with the Boston Celtics (1957-69), carving a reputation as one of the greatest clutch shooters -- and winners -- that the league has ever seen.

Yet despite his legendary career, he can walk through a shopping mall or a downtown hotel lobby today without being recognized, arguably the most under-exposed great in basketball history.

Jones, 76, sat down with FanHouse earlier this week to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his strange disconnect with the franchise he represented so well, to the racism that drove him out of coaching in the early '70s, to his sometimes unflattering view of today's NBA stars.

His opinions might surprise you.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Tuesday, there are seven days remaining.

OK, so Quinn Buckner doesn't excite too many. Other than that, this is one of the best basketball lists you'll ever find.

There are just seven men who have won an NBA title, an NCAA crown and an Olympic gold medal. Other than Buckner, they are Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell, Jerry Lucas, K.C. Jones and Clyde Lovellette.

Other than Buckner, all are Hall of Famers. Jordan, Johnson and Russell are on just about everybody's list when it comes to an all-time NBA starting lineup.

Now, Denver forward Carmelo Anthony and Utah forward Carlos Boozer have a chance to join this super seven. Both have NCAA titles and Olympic golds, and need an NBA championship ring.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Monday, there are 8 days remaining.

This was the kind of domination that puts to shame the Los Angeles Lakers of this decade and the Chicago Bulls of the '90s. It's something those outstanding teams could only dream about.

It's the kind of domination that professional sports will never ever see again.

The Boston Celtics won eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966, the most impressive streak in high-profile team sports, a mind-boggling string that sounds almost mythical today.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 48 days remaining.

It might be the most remarkable, most unbreakable record in NBA history. And it's not his 100-point game.

It's only fitting that larger-than-life Wilt Chamberlain holds the record that never will be broken, and never will be approached.

NBA games are only 48 minutes, yet Chamberlain averaged 48.5 minutes during his remarkable 1961-62 season, a feat that goes behind Herculean, putting today's so-called Ironmen to shame.

Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Wednesday, there are 55 days remaining.

There are no cheap records in the NBA. But one of the most eye-popping records Wilt Chamberlain holds, all things considered, is his mark for most rebounds in a game: 55, captured against Bill Russell's Celtics early in the 1960-61 season. The final score of that game (on November 24, 1960) was 132-129.

Interestingly enough, it was Russell's record that Wilt broke. (Russell had 51 rebounds against the Syracuse Nationals late in the 1959-60 season.) But as was so often the case in the Wilt/Russell rivalry, while Wilt got the record, Russell got the win.

Every Tuesday this summer, two of our NBA experts will go at it with a Debate in the Paint. This week, the topic is Michael Jordan and his upcoming induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Is Michael Jordan the best player in all of basketball history?

Hey, I drew the short straw. So, I don't want to hear it. It's come down to me to argue that Michael Jordan isn't the greatest player in NBA history.

Don't get me wrong, I can do it. It's just that I don't go out of my way to pick a fight and this would seem to be doing just that. No, I don't think Jordan's the greatest. But I also know it's tough to win. Hence, the short straw. Nevertheless, here goes ...

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Tip-Off Timer counts down the days until the first game of the 2009-10 season. On Thursday, there are exactly 75 days remaining.

There are former NBA greats that when they enter an arena today, they quickly attract a crowd of well-wishers and autograph-seekers, drawn like moths to a bright light after dark. Everyone wants to get close for a look or a touch.

Then there is Bill Russell, who came to watch the Celtics/Magic playoff series in Orlando two months ago. When he entered, the crowd didn't swarm. It parted, stood back and watched from a distance, too awed by his presence to approach.

They wondered how he once walked on water.

Shaquille O'Neal may be headed to Cleveland or may team with Amar'e Stoudemire to push the Lakers in the Pacific Division next year. Either way, it appears his beef with Kobe Bryant is officially over.

After the Lakers cruised to a 99-86 win for their 15th NBA championship and Bryant's first without O'Neal, the Big Aristotle gave props to Kobe via Twitter:

John Wooden is, without question, one of the greatest college basketball coaches to ever set foot on the hardwood. A (seriously) spry 96 years old, Coach Wooden was kind of enough to take some time out of his Championship Monday to speak with FanHouse. From his upcoming Gatorade commercial (it debuts tonight, you can get a sneak preview of it here), to how he feels about the money and attention that college coaches receive, to who he has pegged to win Monday night's big game, Coach Wooden had plenty to say. Hit the jump to read the full interview.

Dwight Howard is on the verge of making history and no one seems to notice. He's averaging 2.9 blocks and 14.0 rebounds a game, putting him on pace to become not only the youngest player to lead the league in blocked shots (beating out Marcus Camby by nearly a year) but also only the fifth player in NBA history to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season.