Bill Russell’s Game 7

By Tim St.Sauver
Love of Sports Correspondent

The 1961-62 NBA season produced some of the most memorable moments and stats in the history of the NBA.

Wilt Chamberlain put up 100 points in a single contest on March 2, 1962, on his way to a record 50.4 PPG for the season. Not to be outdone, Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double for the year as well.

However, neither of them was named MVP! What’s a guy have to do to get some hardware?

Apparently, leading your team to a then NBA-record 60 wins helps. Bill Russell did just that, and he also led his team somewhere else Chamberlain and Robertson had never been: the NBA Finals.

The 1962 Finals was the first of six Finals matchups the Celtics had with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1960s, and Russell played up to his MVP status in the series.

Elgin Baylor put the Lakers up three games to two before Boston stole Game 6 in Los Angeles. Back in Boston for Game 7, Russell had one the greatest games the NBA has ever seen.

Russell put up 30 points, which was significantly higher than his season average of 18.9. Thirty points may not seem mind-blowing all alone, but when put next to Russell’s 40 rebounds in the stat line, they look pretty damn good! The Celts won the game in overtime, 110-107.

Russell’s 40 boards are still an NBA Finals record. Nineteen of his 40 boards came in one quarter, which is also an NBA record.

To put this all in perspective, the 2007-08 Miami Heat averaged just 37.6 rebounds a game this year, which leads me to believe that Russell could beat the Heat all by himself. Probably with one arm tied behind his back. Russell is that good (and Miami is that bad).

Russell’s 30-40 night gave the Celtics their first of six Finals wins over the Lakers in the 60s. It was also his fifth title in his first six years in the league. He’d go on to win championships with the Celtics in 11 of his 13 NBA seasons.

So, here’s some Old School Love to Bill Russell and his monster Game 7 in the 1962 NBA Finals.