NBA Finals MVP award to honor Bill Russell

PHOENIX, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award will permanently be named after Hall of Fame Celtics center and Coach Bill Russell, the league announced in Phoenix.

Commissioner David Stern made the announcement Saturday in Phoenix during the league's All-Star festivities.

Russell, 75, led the Celtics to 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons as player and coach. He won the NBA MVP award five times between 1956 and 1969, and Boston won eight straight NBA titles between 1958 and 1966.

Russell led the Celtics to league titles in two of his three seasons as player-coach after longtime Coach Red Auerback retired.

Russell -- who spent his entire NBA career with the Celtics -- averaged 15.1 points and 22.5 rebounds per game in that time. A 12-time all-star, he was inducted into the basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.