look back at russell s incredible career. i took basic skills and eg egotistically speaking, i had the best skills of anyone who played. reporter: and bill russell had the best skills of anyone playing, and he had one thing on his mind winning. one thing that i would love to do is to be back on defense of myself, and have a three-on-one fast break coming to me, because over half of the time i could stop it. i brought defense to a level where it was as important or more important than offense, but my defense was part of the offense. reporter: the 12-time all-star for the boston celtics revolutionized the game with the shot-blocking game, but he put more emphasis on the victories than the individual numbers. if i want to be a team player, i have to disappear sometimes, and be out there without you knowing that i am out there. reporter: he was not only the force on the court, but he took the only scholarship that he was offered to the university of san francisco. h
revolutionized the game with the shot-blocking game, but he put more emphasis on the victories than the individual numbers. if i want to be a team player, i have to disappear sometimes, and be out there without you knowing that i am out there. reporter: he was not only the force on the court, but he took the only scholarship that he was offered to the university of san francisco. he won a ncaa championship and gold medal and nba title, and he credits much of his success in life to his parents. i remember that my mother and father loved me. she said, you must always be willing to fight for yourself. never be a victim. and that is how i have conducted my life. i have avoided as much as possible being a victim. reporter: russell was a private person who did not want to stir trouble, but given the tensions, trouble was around him whether he liked it or not, and