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Season 1 – Bill Russell: Legend

Play trailer 1:46 Poster for Season 1 – Bill Russell: Legend Feb 2023 Documentary Biography Sports Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
100% Tomatometer 15 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
NBA champion, coach and civil rights icon Bill Russell builds a larger-than-life legacy both on and off the court during his career.
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Bill Russell: Legend — Season 1

Bill Russell: Legend — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Blending sports and sociopolitical history, Bill Russell: Legend is a fitting tribute to an athlete and activist whose legacy transcends the game.

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Critics Reviews

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Noel Murray Los Angeles Times 02/17/2023
This documentary goes deep into NBA history, but also covers the uncommon pressure put on Black sports stars in the civil rights era to excel in and out of the arena. Go to Full Review
Christy Lemire FilmWeek (LAist) 02/15/2023
So good -- even if you are a Lakers fan, as I am. Go to Full Review
Corbin Smith Rolling Stone 02/08/2023
It features talking-head interviews with NBA stars present and past, canned music, a chronological narrative. But Legend has an ace up its sleeve: an endlessly fascinating subject. Go to Full Review
Diego Batlle Otroscines.com 07/25/2023
3.5/5
Bill Russell: Legend (this time the title does not exaggerate) covers in detail chronologically the life and career of this player who had an enormous rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain... [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Leslie Byron Pitt The Playlist 02/25/2023
B
“Bill Russell: Legend” will not say anything new to well-versed basketball heads. However, it’s a worthy watch for those who want to get to grips with one of the greatest players of all time. Go to Full Review
Carla Renata The Curvy Film Critic 02/20/2023
Bill Russell literally flipped the script and changed the rules of the game forever. This giant of a man never wavered in his defiant quest for equality in a sport throughout most of his career refused to garner him the same respect and dignity. Excellent Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Sal D @JustTheLaw 11/27/2023 Incredibly inspiring film about a man true to his core, combatting racism, who also happened to be an exceptional team-oriented basketball player and biggest ever champion. See more JF H @RT36223713 07/27/2023 Basically every you need to know about Bill Russell on and obviously off the court. Great basketball player and even greater human being, well produced too. See more dave d @RT34924333 04/05/2023 I wish there was more! Bill Russell is an inspiration and this two-part Netflix documentary is an in-depth approach to tackling the massive subject. See more Frank P @RT16736886 03/07/2023 I was expecting it to be just about sports. Instead probably 40% of it was about civil rights. If you are looking for a sports series this will not be for you. See more Tom C @RT52852168 02/13/2023 One of the greatest documentaries I've ever seen. What an amazing athlete and person and the whole thing was so well told. I was particularly moved by all the prejudice that he had to struggle against in Boston even while he was winning all those championships. Also, the interviews with current players who knew so much about him and had great appreciation for both his game and his example. Riveting! See more Michael W @mawilps 02/12/2023 This sports documentary series was very good. The entire crew did a spectacular job on making this documentary series. This true story about NBA legend Bill Russell was inspirational, dramatic, and amazing. It really goes into detail on his career, personal life, and his time as an activist. If you're a Netflix member, you should watch this documentary series sometime. It's a definite must see. See more Read all reviews
Bill Russell: Legend — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 8, 2023 Part 1 As the Boston Celtics' star defender and a civil rights leader, Bill finds himself playing defense beyond the hardwood amid segregation and competition. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 8, 2023 Part 2 Between fierce opponents and injustice all around, Bill helps the Celtics cement their dynasty. A historic role change puts Bill in a position of power. Details
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Season Info

Director
Sam Pollard
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Documentary, Biography, Sports
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 8, 2023
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