NBA’s Bill Russell collapses during Lake Tahoe speech

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Celtics officials say NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell is doing OK after collapsing during a speaking engagement near Lake Tahoe.

Team spokesman Brian Olive says the 80-year-old Russell felt faint after the Thursday morning fall at the Hyatt Regency resort in Incline Village, Nevada, but was planning on returning home to Seattle this evening.

Witness Michael Rooney tells The Associated Press that Russell was telling a story about Wilt Chamberlain to a roomful of Konica Minolta employees when he started to sway at the podium and then fell backward.

Rooney says Russell seemed to be conscious as hotel personnel and first responders came to his aid. The meeting was cut short and attendees left.

Russell, a five-time NBA MVP, is considered one of the best players in basketball history.

He won 11 championships in 13 years as a center with the Celtics. As a player-coach for the last two, he was the first black head coach in a major U.S. pro sport.

Pierce officially joins Wizards

WASHINGTON — The Washington Wizards have officially signed veteran forward Paul Pierce.

Pierce, who turns 37 in October, spent 15 seasons with the Bos- ton Celtics before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets last season.

“We are very happy to welcome Paul to our organization and add his championship experience and history of clutch play to our team,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said in a statement.

Pierce averaged a career-low 13.5 points last season in his first year with the Nets. But he is a 10-time All-Star who has gained a reputation as one of the best big-moment players in the league.

Led by guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, Washington reached the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs last season, their first postseason appearance since 2008.