Bill Russell to Receive Arthur Ashe Courage Award at 2019 ESPYs

There have been many dominant big men throughout the history of the NBA. But Bill Russell has one achievement to his name that places him above all the others: 11 NBA championships.

Russell was a singular force in the leage for 13 seasons after debuting in 1956-57, and always delivered when it mattered most. But it what was more heroic was that he did it as a leader in the Civil Rights era in city with a checkered history when it comes to race. In order to honor Russell for all his accomplishments on and off the court, ESPN will be awarding the Arthur Ashe Courage Award to the Hall of Famer at the 2019 ESPYs.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is dedicated to individuals who transcend sports and show true resolve in the face of adversity. Last year's award was given to the survivors of the USA Gymnastics sex abuse scandal, with past recipients including Pat Summitt, Robin Roberts, Pat Tillman, and Muhammad Ali.

There's no doubt Russell deserves the award, as he was not just a champion, but a leader in the push for racial equality while he was a player. He kept fighting hard and winning for a city that ridiculed him with racism along the way, and later became the first African American coach in the NBA, winning two championship during his tenure as the Celtics' player-coach.

Russell is now beloved my many Boston fans, but it wasn't always that way. Russell famously had his jersey number retired privately, refusing to take part in a ceremony in front of the local crowds.

It's likely no other NBA player will ever equal Russell's incredible 11 championship rings. But what Russell stands for as a citizen has gone far beyond that. His legacy will always include the courage he showed during his career, and he's a rightful honoree at this year's ESPY Awards.