Russell Wanted to be a Laker

In 1987 Bill Russell told the Boston Globe that he wanted to become a Laker before joining the Boston Celtics.

What? The Lakers? The Tinseltown/La La Land Lakers?

Uh, no, not them. The iceberg Lakers. The Land of 10,000 Lakes Lakers. The mighty five-time NBA champion Minnesota Lakers.

"I met George Mikan in high school," Russell revealed. "He couldn't have been nicer. He said I would become a professional basketball player, but that I had to play for the Lakers. And that's what I wanted to do."

Russell, of course, spent his entire 13-year career with the Celtics and was a member of 11 championship teams.