Basketball and hedge funds are perhaps not the most natural bedfellows, but they came together in spectacular fashion yesterday as former Boston Celtics superstar Bill Russell wowed an enraptured crowd of finance professionals with an intriguing, anecdotal lecture on the value of team work and hard graft as a recipe for success.

Speaking at the 11th International Conference on Hedge Fund Investments at the Fairmont Southampton Princess, Russell described the nature of the all conquering ?Celtic Spirit? of the 1960s and suggested ways in which these themes might be incorporated into ?successful business strategies?.

?At Celtic we made winning a mission, leadership an art and teamwork the key,? he said.

?Despite our egos and our individual ambition, we all respected one another and worked together towards a common goal. Above all, no matter what our role or status, we never lost sight of each others? humanity.?

Russell is one of the most celebrated players of all time and has been described by legendary UCLA coach John Wooden as ?the most important player ever in the history of either collegiate or professional basketball?.

In a glittering career spanning 21 years, the 6 ft 10 ins, 220 lbs centre claimed 11 NBA Championships with the Celtics, including eight consecutive titles between 1959 and 1966.

An aggressive advocate of black empowerment in the civil rights era, Russell became the first ever African-American head coach when he was appointed to succeed Red Auerbach at the Celtics in 1967.