Legendary NBA center Bill Russell was arrested Wednesday at the Seattle-Tacoma (Sea-Tac) Airport when a loaded handgun was allegedly found in his luggage, according to multiple reports.

KING-5 News and KIRO-TV in Seattle both report that Russell, 79, was arrested after a loaded .38-caliber handgun was found during a Transportation Security Administration screening of his carry-on bag.

Russell reportedly had a permit for the weapon, which was confiscated. KIRO-TV reported that Russell, who has since been released, was cited by the Port of Seattle for carrying a weapon in a prohibited area and that the TSA will assess a monetary penalty.

KOMO News reports additional details.

The 11-time NBA champion was arrested just after 9 p.m. when Transportation Security Administration workers found a loaded .38 caliber Smith & Wesson firearm in his carry-on bag, according to Lorie Dankers with the TSA. The Port of Seattle Police arrested and cited the 79-year-old on a state charge. He was released that night, but his gun was confiscated, according to airport spokesman Perry Cooper.

In addition to winning 11 titles with the Celtics in the 1950s and 1960s, Russell was a five-time MVP and 12-time All-Star during his Hall of Fame career. After retiring in 1969, Russell went on to coach the Celtics, SuperSonics and Kings. The NBA has named its Finals MVP trophy in his honor, and Russell was on hand in Miami in June to present the award to Heat forward LeBron James.

Russell has been honored in countless ways in recent years. The Celtics announced in 2011 that Russell, who lives in Washington state, will be honored with a commemorative statue in Boston’s City Hall Plaza that will be unveiled in November. In May of this year, Phil Jackson paid Russell the
ultimate basketball compliment, saying that he would select the Celtics center over Michael Jordan if he was starting a team from scratch.

he's an old man, so he forgot he put his handgun in the carry-on, big deal

dk7th wrote:

IronWillGiroud wrote:won't hurt his image,

he's an old man, so he forgot he put his handgun in the carry-on, big deal

russell is a winner in every aspect of human existence. papabear...?

i think this was one of his best wins

bill russell don't give a ****, dk7th

Bill Russell was a great player and a knicks killer. Unfortunatly he was a hater LoL Coming from the south he and his family went through things. They moved to California. Played for the university of San Fransico then played for boston. I need not tell you what kind of town Boston was in the 50's and 60's. He just couldn't let it go. He could have made millions after his retirement but he was a hater and he even hated some of his own team players. He refused to sign autographs. He went through a lot. He planned to move back to Africa but his investment went bad in Africa. I repeat Russell could have made millions after his retirement. But those hate demons stayed with him. However this does not take away what he did for basket ball and he was one of the great ones and he was mostly a one way player. He Played defense Russell was not a good scorer and thats why he was kept off of the All first team back then and he was told he was kept off because he was a one way player. Does that sound familiar? Oh by the way Russell didn't have to make his players better, hell they were already great.

Ignore is a great button to use. you don't have to read what someone is saying . I will never post on his thread. I wish he would do the same thing for me. Thats why I ignore him. Someone who have so much hate for just a sports player who is the best on our team. That's why he is on my ignore button. Iwish not to hold a conversation with that person. Will someone please let him know he is on ignore. I wish not to read what he says and I wish he does the same. It's called peace of mine and my love for my Knicks team. I have not read what he post but it probably have something about Melo in it. LOL If he ever make a thread believe me I won't post on it. Everything that he posted before I put him on ignore was nothing but hate and he posted in a rage and such anger of hate I just said this dude is sick. And sick with hate. STAY OFF MY THREADS.

Dagger wrote:This won't affect his legacy, probably just a senior moment, he was at least licensed to have it.

I will have to agree with you. But did you read his Bio? There is more to this man than just his basketball career.This man was out spoken in a large way during the Civil rights movement. People did him and his family wrong. He played on a basketball team where he didn't get along with some of the key players. Like I said before he could have made millions but he just couldn't forgive and forget.

Dagger wrote:This won't affect his legacy, probably just a senior moment, he was at least licensed to have it.

Yeah, this probably happens more times than people think. Laws for carry permits can vary from building to building, forget about state lines.