Photo: Michael Tullberg/Getty; Rich Fury/Getty
NBA legend Bill Russell is auctioning off a slew of memorabilia from his career on Friday, and he has at least one high-profile former athlete ready to make a bid.
Russell, who earned a record 11 NBA championships as a player during his time with the Boston Celtics, is currently auctioning off items from his Hall of Fame career to benefit two charitable organizations, Mentor and Boston Celtics United for Social Justice.
“I’ve decided to sell most of my collection,” the 87-year-old said in avideo. “There are a few things I’ll keep for myself, but the rest I will share with the world.”
When it comes to Russell’s rings, former Los Angeles Lakers centerShaquille O’Nealis more than interested.
“I’d like to take some of that stuff off their hands,” O’Nealsaid on TNT’sInside the NBAon Tuesday night.
“To be able to have all 11 of those rings, nobody’s outbidding me on that one,” he added.
O’Neal has four championship rings himself, having won three withKobe Bryantand the Lakers from 2000 to 2002, and one with the Miami Heat in 2006.
On Thursday, Russell announced he was adding one more item to the auction — a hat he has frequently worn that features Bryant’s initials, “KB.” Bryant died in a helicopter crash at age 41 in January 2020.
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“There are many things that the public, as fans would assume, that a player would keep. And yet there are things that every one of these players and their families value that have nothing to do with money,” David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions, toldBoston Sports Journal.
“It sounds cliche, but I mean for example, his Medal of Freedom, that happens to be worth a lot of money, but it’s not relevant. He’s keeping that,” he said “They’re not selling it, which is wonderful. But then there’s other things such as the photograph that might be signed from a particular person to him, that may not be worth, you know, $500 but he wouldn’t sell it for a million.”
source: people.com
