Basketball world reacts to death of Celtics great, NBA pioneer Bill Russell

The NBA world is paying respects to NBA legend Bill Russell, who died on Sunday at the age of 88.

Russell’s death was announced on his Twitter account on Sunday afternoon, with a statement reading he “passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side.”

“Bill Russell was the greatest champion in all of team sports,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “The countless accolades that he earned for his storied career with the Boston Celtics – including a record 11 championships and five MVP awards – only begin to tell the story of Bill’s immense impact on our league and broader society.

“Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever,” the statement read.

NBA players past and present, as well as other prominent sports figures, shared their condolences on social media and praised Russell for his contributions to basketball.

Contributing: Kaleb Anderson

Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY