# Kareem in a Rocking Chair. Larry Bird Made ONE Phone Call. Bill Russell Just Disappeared. — Bob Ryan

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/kareem-in-a-rocking-chair-larry-bird-made-one-phone-call-bill-russell-just-disappeared-bob-ryan
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/kareem-in-a-rocking-chair-larry-bird-made-one-phone-call-bill-russell-just-disappeared-bob-ryan.md
Podcast: [NBA History Story Tellers on CLNS](https://stenobird.com/podcast/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520)
Published: 2026-07-25T19:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM9033491859.mp3
Audio file: https://pscrb.fm/rss/p/traffic.megaphone.fm/NSM9033491859.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/nba-history-story-tellers-on-clns-6383520/episodes/kareem-in-a-rocking-chair-larry-bird-made-one-phone-call-bill-russell-just-disappeared-bob-ryan
Duration seconds: 986

## Resource

Nobody retires the same way. Bill Russell walked away in secret — no announcement, no ceremony, gone. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar got a season-long farewell tour with a rocking chair waiting in every arena. Larry Bird picked up the phone at 8:45 in the morning and told one writer. And Bob Ryan was there for all of it. In this episode, Bob remembers how the greatest players in NBA history said goodbye — the exits that matched the men: Russell’s silence, Kareem’s long goodbye, Bird’s phone call, Wilt, Dr. J’s send-off, and Jordan leaving three different times. Which legend got the exit right? That’s the debate. NBA History and Storytellers on CLNS Media is Powered by: 💰 Prize Picks - Sign up at http://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS & Download the app today and use code CLNS to get $150 instantly in lineups when you win your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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