American basketball player and coach (19342022), 19561958: Rookie champion and early years, 19581966: Eight straight NBA championships, 19661969: Player-coach champion and final years, Racist abuse, controversy, and relationship with Boston fans. [78] In the Eastern Division championships of the 1962 NBA playoffs, the Celtics met the Philadelphia Warriors led by Chamberlain, who averaged 50 points per game that season, and Russell did his best to slow him down. Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. [156] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". Hall of Fame basketball center Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA titles before starting his pro career with the Boston Celtics in 1956. [174] The statue was unveiled on November 1, 2013, with Russell in attendance. Equally skilled at grabbing rebounds, he was just one of the only two players to have made more than 50 rebounds in a single game and had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. Of the book, Bill Bradley wrote for The New York Times Book Review that "Bill Russell is a private, complex man, but on the subject of his love of Red Auerbach and his Celtic teammates, he's loud and clear. [81] As the game was tied, Russell had the daunting task of defending against Baylor with little frontline help: Loscutoff, Heinsohn, and Satch Sanders, the three best Celtics forwards, had fouled out. So after the season was over, they had a Northern California banquet, and they picked another center as Player of the Year in Northern California. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. [39][40] During his college career, Russell was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1955, averaging 20.7 points per game and 20.3 rebounds per game. William Felton Russell was born on February 12th in 1934. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in their daily lives. Bill Russell . Bill Russell averaged 16.9 points and 23.9 rebounds per game in the 1960-61 season leading his team to 57-22 record. Russell regarded Auerbach as "the greatest of all coaches". The Celtics won the match 115-106. They had three children and divorced in 1973. I was first team All American. [141] Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday at the White House tennis court. Bill Russell started playing for the Celtics in the 1956-57 season in December. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. [168] On June 15, 2017, Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. The talented player had grown up in a neighbourhood notorious for its rampant racism. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. [14][192] The news was announced in a Twitter post by his family. Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Anstett (m. 19771980), Marilyn Nault (m. 19962009), Rose Swisher (m. 19561973). The fans could do or think whatever they wanted. [61] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! [72][73] In the 1960 NBA Finals, the Celtics outlasted the Hawks 43 in the series and won their third championship in four years. In Game 2, Philadelphia evened the series with a 115106 win and then went on to win Games 3 and 4. [117], After retiring as a player, Russell had stints as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (19731977) and Sacramento Kings (19871988). We won 28 out of 29 games. [57] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. In its announcement, the WCC stated: "The 'Russell Rule' requires each member institution to include a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the pool of final candidates for every athletic director, senior administrator, head coach and full-time assistant coach position in the athletic department. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. In addition to Macauley, who was the Celtics' premier player at the time, he wanted Cliff Hagan, who had been serving in the military for three years and had not yet played for the Celtics. [89] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. [5] This took place during his last season (1969) and was the first season the NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. 6 jersey", "Bill Russell Statue Unveiled At Boston City Hall", "Bill Russell statue to be unveiled Nov. 1", "City Hall Plaza statue honors Celtics' Bill Russell", "Basketball's Bill Russell joins the Bronze Age", "Russell Rule Diversity Hiring Commitment", "The University of San Francisco Honors the Memory of Marilyn Nault Russell", "Bill Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Bill Russell, legendary Celtics center and NBA coach, dead at 88", "Indomitable Russell Values One Accolade Above the Rest", "Police: NBA legend Bill Russell arrested with gun at airport", "Bill Russell, Basketball Great With Record 11 NBA Titles, Dies At 88", "Celtics legend, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell dies at 88", "What NBA salaries would these superstar players make today? [178], On August 2, 2020, the West Coast Conference (WCC), which has been home to Russell's alma mater of USF since the league's formation in 1952,[179][a] became the first NCAA Division I conference to adopt a conference-wide diversity hiring commitment, announcing the Russell Rule, named after Russell and based on the National Football League's Rooney Rule. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. [110] Russell was also notorious for his refusal to give autographs or acknowledge the Celtics fans, and was called "the most selfish, surly and uncooperative athlete" by one pundit. If I looked at it objectively, detached myself, it would be a deficiency. "[27] In an autobiographical account, Russell said that while on a California High School All-Stars tour, he became obsessed with studying and memorizing other players' moves, e.g., footwork such as which foot they moved first on which play, as preparation for defending against them, which included practicing in front of a mirror at night. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Bill Russell. Many people thought that Russell was more important even though he had only played half the season. [110] In response, Russell described Boston as a "flea market of racism". [19], During World War II, the Second Great Migration began, as large numbers of Black people were moving to the West to look for work there. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. . [161] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. [116], As a consequence of his endured racist abuse, Russell was extremely sensitive to all racial prejudice. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. [116] While Russell long had sore feelings towards Boston, there was something of a reconciliation, and he visited the city regularly in his later years, something he never did in the years immediately after his retirement. [128] On November 17, the two-time NCAA champion Russell was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Early Life & Biography. Bill Russell Age, Net Worth, Wife, Family and Biography A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. [181] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[181] they divorced in 1980. [108] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. [139][140] Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011. Bill Russell The Celtics made good use of the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers had exhausted the St. Louis Hawks in a long seven-game Western Conference Finals,[76] and Boston won the 1961 NBA Finals in five games. The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics. "[50], Duiring the 196869 NBA season, Russell was shocked by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, and weary from his increasingly stale marriage to his wife Rose; the couple later divorced. [1] The NBA reasoned that other centers were better all-round players than Russell but no player was more valuable to his team. All Rights Reserved. He was one of five, along with James Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Dean Smith, and John Wooden, selected to represent the inaugural class. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. After USF kept Holy Cross Crusaders star Tom Heinsohn scoreless in an entire half,[31] Sports Illustrated wrote: "If [Russell] ever learns to hit the basket, they're going to have to rewrite the rules. [80] Game 7 was tied one second before the end of regular time, when Lakers guard Rod Hundley faked a shot and passed out to Frank Selvy, who missed an open eight-foot last-second shot that would have won Los Angeles the title. Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. Russell's WebBill Russell as seen in an Instagram Post in July 2019 (Bill Russell / Instagram) Bill Russell Facts. He was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. Bill Russell, an NBA Hall of Famer, was being treated for what appear to be cardiac problems in a hospital in Washington state with him passing away due to the illness and age related ailments. Bill Russell - IMDb Bill Russell grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away peacefully Sunday, In the first two games, Russell ordered his players not to double-team West, who used the freedom to score 53 and 41 points in the Game 1 and 2 Laker wins. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. [106] He was 15 pounds overweight, skipped mandatory NBA coach meetings, and was generally lacking energy; after a New York Knicks game, he complained of intense pain and was diagnosed with acute exhaustion. [38] Russell led the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game for the competition. His father gave up his trucking job and became a steelworker in order to be closer to his children. The Celtic coach Red Auerbach retired before the 1966-67 season. [137] He was named as a 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know [62] In Boston, both fans and journalists felt betrayed because Russell left the Celtics without a coach and a center, and he sold his retirement story for $10,000 to Sports Illustrated. Bill Russell, one of the greatest basketball players of all time who led the charge on and off the court, has died, his family announced Sunday. 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. He was very happy to receive this scholarship as it provided him an opportunity to escape the life of poverty and racism. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. The basketball star and his fourth wife Jeannine had continued to Born to William Bill Russell and his college sweetheart Rose Swisher a year into their marriage (December 9, 1956) on November 2, 1957, William Bill Felton [54] His former USF and future Celtics teammate K. C. Jones joined him on the Olympic squad and contributed 10.9 points per game,[55] including a RussellJones combined 29 points in the finals. In the last play, Sam Jones used a triple screen by Bailey Howell, Larry Siegfried, and Havlicek to hit a buzzer beater that equalized the series. [25] Sports journalist John Taylor described it as a watershed event in Russell's life because he realized that basketball was his chance to escape poverty and racism, and he swore to make the best of it. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Asked by Russell what was wrong, his grandfather replied how proud he was of him, being coach of an organization in which blacks and whites coexisted in harmony. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. [154] He could score with putbacks and made mid-air outlet passes to point guard Bob Cousy for easy fast-break points. During Russell's college career, the conference was known as the California Basketball Association. Full Article. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.), American basketball player who was the first outstanding defensive centre in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one of the sports greatest icons. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with He wrote these words after recounting how grandfather Jake Russell had stood up to the Ku Klux Klan and other whites who attempted to thwart his efforts to build a schoolhouse for black children; his grandfather was the first person in Russell's patrilineal line born free in North America and was himself illiterate. [68] On November 7, 1959, Russell's Celtics hosted Chamberlain's Warriors and pundits called the matchup between the best offensive and defensive centers "The Big Collision" and "Battle of the Titans". When I started to jump to make defensive plays and to block shots, I was initially corrected, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. The Lakers featured new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West, and were the favorites. He later said: "The most successful television is done in eight-second thoughts, and the things I know about basketball, motivation, and people go deeper than that. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for that season. [1] The 195657 Boston Celtics season saw the debut of a starting lineup made up of five future Hall-of-Famers: center Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of National Basketball Association (NBA), William Felton Bill Russell is a retired professional basketball player who was the centerpiece of the Bostons Celtics dynasty for a period of 13 years. He was very famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. Jones treated like 'Rock' stars at Alcatraz", "Bill Russell, Who Transformed Pro Basketball, Dies at 88", "Bill Russell Receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award At ESPYS", "Watch Bill Russell be inducted into Hall of Fame as a coach", "Bill Russell's No. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. National tragedy struck on April 4, day of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. With eight of the ten starting players on Sixers and Celtics being black, both teams were in deep shock and there were calls to cancel the series. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha and Jacob. In addition, Auerbach had already used his NBA territorial pick to acquire talented forward Tom Heinsohn. [57] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA), William Felton Bill Russell was a professional basketball player who was the centerpiece of the Bostons Celtics for a period of 13 years. [185][186] He was a resident of Mercer Island, Washington, for over four decades. [103] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. He most likely would have led the league in blocked shots many times, but the NBA had not yet started keeping track of the statistic. [28], Russell was ignored by college recruiters and received not one offer until recruiter Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco (USF) watched him play in a high school game. I averaged over 20 points and over 20 rebounds, and I was the only guy in college blocking shots. He won five regular season MVP awards and was selected three times to the all-NBA First Teams. [129] On May 20, 2007, Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate by Suffolk University, where he served as its commencement speaker. They were together from 1956 to 1973. Bill Russell He was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2011 for his accomplishments in the Civil Rights Movement, both on and off the court. [171], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. [5] Russell is the all-time playoff leader in total (4,104) and average (24.9) rebounds per game, he grabbed 40 rebounds in three separate playoff games (twice in the NBA Finals), and he never failed to average at least 20 rebounds per game in any of his thirteen playoff campaigns. [110], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. August 1, 2022 NBA reacts to death of iconic Bill Russell [224] He thanked Chamberlain for taking him to the limit and "making [him] a better player", and the crowd for "allowing [him] to be a part of their lives. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of And so the guy that owned the Celtics [Walter Brown] was [in addition to Auerbach for whom Russell expressed 'respect' and 'actual love'] another one of the fine, good, and decent human beings that I've ever encountered. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. [60] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Basketball provided him a means of rising above this negativity and he grew up to prove his mettle. [112], In 1971, Russell joined NBA on ABC to do commentary on the Game of the Week. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. Celtics owner Walter A. He was convinced that the U.S. was a corrupt nation and that he was wasting his time playing something as superficial as basketball. [149][150], In his first NBA full season (195758), Russell became the first player in NBA history to average more than 20 rebounds per game for an entire season, a feat he accomplished ten times in his thirteen seasons. Celebs, sports stars and fans are mourning the loss of NBA legend, Bill Russell. Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Russell also ignored Heinsohn's request for an autograph on behalf of his cousin and openly said to Heinsohn that he deserved half of his $300 Rookie of the Year check. Bill Russell [195][196] For his promotion to coach, the Celtics paid Russell an annual salary of $25,000 which was in addition to his salary as a player. [104], In Game 7, 15,202 Philadelphia fans witnessed a home-team 10096 defeat, making it the first time in NBA history a team lost a series after leading 31. The first [NBA organization] to hire a black [head] coach was the Boston Celtics, and they've had at least five [black head-coaches] over the years. [1] Boston defeated the Cincinnati Royals 41 to earn another NBA Finals appearance and then won against Chamberlain's newly relocated San Francisco Warriors 41. [5], Despite his limitations on offense, as Russell averaged 15.1 points per game, his rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. [5] Auerbach's thoughts were unorthodox, as in that period centers and forwards were defined by their offensive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary. [163] In 2022, he was ranked No. Bill Russells Kids Now: Where Are They Today? Update Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.died July 31, 2022), American basketball player who was the "[50], The Celtics swept the Nationals in three games to earn the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in the 1957 NBA Finals,[63] where they met the St. Louis Hawks, led by Pettit and former Celtic Ed Macauley. He reasoned that if Saperstein was too smart to speak with him, then he was too smart to play for Saperstein. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." [102] Russell acknowledged the first real loss of his career, as he had been injured when the Celtics lost the 1958 NBA Finals, by visiting Chamberlain in the locker room, shaking his hand, and saying: "Great. My wife and Russell's laugh. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic. [108] The teams split the next two games and it all came down to Game 7 in Los Angeles, where Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke angered and motivated the Celtics by putting "proceedings of Lakers victory ceremony" on the game leaflets. He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. [13], Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. [50] On offense, Russell's output was limited and his NBA career personal averages show him to be an average scorer (15.1 points career average), a poor free-throw shooter (56.1%), and average overall shooter from the field (44%, not exceptional for a center). When he became player-coach in 1966, Russell bluntly said to his teammates that "he intended to cut all personal ties to other players" and seamlessly made the transition from their peer to their superior. [20] Russell stated that his father became his childhood hero, later followed up by Minneapolis Lakers superstar George Mikan, whom he met when he was in high school. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. [108], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes. Constantly provoked by New York Knicks center Ray Felix during a game, he complained to coach Auerbach, who told him to take matters into his own hands. Bill Russell Bill Russell was born on January 10, 1935, and died at age 61 years old on March 9, 1996. [165], Of Russell, former NBA player and head coach Don Nelson said: "There are two types of superstars. He had a career of firsts & led the way for many. With the added defensive presence of Russell, the Celtics had laid the foundation for a dynasty, as the team utilized a strong defensive approach to the game, forcing opposing teams to commit many turnovers, which led to many easy points on fast breaks. [60], At the start of the 195758 NBA season, the Celtics won fourteen straight games and continued to succeed. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. Hewas married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. Bill Russell: Early Life and Education. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 - CNN A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. [184] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a [68][109] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. [225], On September 26, 2017, Russell posted a photograph of himself to a previously unused Twitter account in which he was taking the knee in solidarity with the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests. 4 BEAUTIFUL WIVES OF NBA LEGEND BILL RUSSELL RIP Russell also had seven regular-season games with 40 or more rebounds, the NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9, 1957). He was one of the most successful players ever to have graced American basketball. Bill Russell married his college sweetheart Rose Swisher in 1956. In 2014, after the unveiling of his statue at City Hall in Boston, Russell spoke a bit about his parents and what his life was like [The sound of Russell throwing up] is a welcome sound, too, because it means he's keyed up for the game, and around the locker room we grin and say, 'Man, we're going to be all right tonight. This was in contrast to other Celtics who had to work during the offseason to maintain their standard of living; Tom Heinsohn sold insurance, Gene Guarilia was a professional guitar player, Cousy ran a basketball camp, and Red Auerbach invested in plastics and a Chinese restaurant. He was growing older and slow and by the 1967-68 season, his figures were slowly declining. As Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry, the press speculated that Russell was worn down. Bill Russell He was selected by the Boston Celtics during the 1956 NBA Draft because of his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess. As part of the 1961 Celtics boycott, he and the other black teammates refused to play in the exhibition game and flew home, drawing a great deal of controversy and publicity. His team won 49 games and easily made the first berth in the 1958 NBA Playoffs. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was.
Ronald Reagan Quote About Government Is The Problem,
Articles B
