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
and egotistically speaking, i think i had the best command of basketball skills of anyone that ever played. reporter: the champion of champions bill russell won more titles than any player in history. one thing i loved to do would be back on defense by myself and have a three on one fast break coming to me. i absolutely loved that. because over half 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 our offense. the 12-time all-star for the boston celtics revolutionized the game. if i m really going to be a good team player, i have to be willing to disappear sometimes. be out there without you knowing i m out there. he wasn t always such a force on the court. he took the only scholarship offered to the university of san francisco. in one year he won a championship, olympic gold medal and credits much of the success to his parents. first thing is i remember my mother and father