Shortly thereafter, Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing and Magic center Dwight Howard spent time with the man for whom the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy is now named. There was loud laughter. There were more encouraging words from Russell. And with picture after picture being snapped, Russell, 75, seemed comfortable with the adulation he often seemed to shy away from in the past.

``To me, one of the most gratifying things that has happened in my term as commissioner is bringing back Bill Russell to the league,'' NBA commissioner David Stern said. ``People seem to forget there was a time when Bill was considerably less appreciative of how people were appreciative of him and his contributions. And to see sort of the reciprocal admiration reestablished is great.

``And to really have somebody whose achievements, I think, won't ever be matched back in our game to present the MVP in a series that he owned, and you have more rings than fingers, you've earned it. It's an extraordinary thing.''

Russell never won a Finals MVP award; the trophy wasn't given out until the 1968-69 season, his last.

During All-Star weekend at Phoenix in February, the NBA announced that the MVP would be named after the man declared the best player of all time by the Professional Basketball Writers' Association of America in 1980.

An emotional Russell, whose wife, Marilyn, died of cancer in January, accepted the honor that night. He is slated to present the trophy to this year's MVP.

Although Russell is honored by the gesture, the man who epitomizes team Basketball felt a little uncomfortable having an individual award named for him.

``It's very nice. It's almost like an individual trophy. My whole thinking is team,'' Russell said.

Howard and Lakers guard Kobe Bryant expressed respect for Russell and his legacy yesterday.

``Well, I think the world of him,'' said Bryant. ``Obviously I've had plenty of opportunities to talk to him. He's given me a lot of great advice.

``I think it's well-deserved. He has 11 championships, eight in a row. You know, he's just great, the ultimate winner.''

Howard, 23, sounded like an NBA historian when talking about Russell and the late Wilt Chamberlain. Howard read ``Russell Rules'' and has watched old video from Russell's days with the Celtics .

``As far as Bill Russell, he's one of the few big men that I've always looked up to, him and Wilt,'' said Howard. ``And they were the only two big men that I always wanted to meet besides Patrick, and I never had a chance to meet Wilt, but probably the closest person to Wilt was Bill Russell. `Russell Rules' was one of the few books that I really enjoyed.

``It brought me a little bit closer to him just by reading that book and knowing who he was off the court and how he approached the game of Basketball. He was always about team first - basically I'm the same way. My team, that's the only thing that matters to me.''

Howard told Russell during All-Star weekend that to get to the Finals, the Magic would have to go through the Celtics . Howard was right, as Orlando defeated Boston in seven games in the second round, then eliminated Cleveland in the Eastern Conference finals. The Lakers routed the Magic in Game 1 of the Finals, with Game 2 tonight at Staples Center.

``I told him if we wanted to win a championship you've got to beat the team that won it last year,'' Howard said. ``He started laughing and joking, because he knows how tough the Celtics are. We want to be champions.

``We believe that we have a chance to win the championship. I just told him we've got to go through the Celtics to win the championship.''

Said Russell: ``Well, I feel bad for [the Celtics ]. But I feel good for [the Magic]. They're not here by invitation. They definitely earned it. [Howard] knows what he's doing. And he's making enormous progress.''

The Celtics were without Kevin Garnett for the entire playoffs because of a right knee injury, and Russell believes they will be a championship contender next season with a healthy Garnett.

``If Kevin is healthy next year, they will be OK,'' Russell said. ``I know my second year in the league I got hurt in the Finals and we didn't win. But we won the next year.''