The game was primarily considered a match between Russell and the Warriors center, Wilt Chamberlain, as both of the playerswere amazing centers. [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". He scored 15.0 ppg and 24.7 rebounds per game during the 1963-64 season. Bills understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. Russell was married three times. That same year, in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics orchestrated a deal with the St. Louis Hawks and traded for the draft rights to the young center. Bill Russell In his first NBA playoff game against the Syracuse Nationals in 1957, he finished with 16 points and 31 rebounds along with 7 blocks. Bill Russell, one of the most important and accomplished athletes in history, died on Sunday at the age of 88 with his wife Jeannine by his side, his family announced. [8][38] His awards and achievements include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons,[53] two of which were won as player-coach,[143] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. Cooper, the Boston Celtics will never embarrass you.' [101] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. Celtics owner Walter A. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. He ended his playing career at the age of 35. Bill Russells Kids Now: Where Are They Today? Update In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. He was 88 years old. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where he looked for some employment at a shipyard. "[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. [222] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. After He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. His coach, George Powles, encouraged the youngster to develop his skills and become a good player. [173] The art is by Ann Hirsch of Somerville, Massachusetts, in collaboration with Pressley Associates Landscape Architects of Boston. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". Throughout his career, Bill Russell won 11 NBA championship rings. Bill Russell, the greatest defensive player of all time, has a special place in the NBAs Hall of Fame. This unlikely superstar came into the NBA as a center for the Boston Celtics and played for the team for his entire 13 years of career. "[50] The next day, The Boston Globe read: "Russell's Reflexes Befuddles Visitors. Bill Russell Biography, Life, Interesting Facts - Famous Birthdays Inside Bill Russell's marriage to his fourth wife as Bill Russell's Wives Now: Where Are They Today? [21][42] That year, Russell won high jump titles at the Central California Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet, the Pacific AAU meet, and the West Coast Relays (WCR). [50] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. [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 capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. [19] When he later became a standout college player at USF, Russell recalled how he and his few fellow black teammates were jeered by white students. How many kids did Bill Russell have? Exploring the lives 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. Bill Russell died at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, on July 31, 2022. [18], Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Bill Russell Family Tree : Parents, Wife, Children, Biography He was played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) He worked hard and used the benefits of a growth spurt to become a decent basketball player. Bill Russell - IMDb After the loss, he led his grandfather through the Celtics locker rooms and the two saw the white Celtic Havlicek taking a shower next to his black teammate Sam Jones and discussing the game. [59], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. Inside Bill Russells family life as NBA legend passes at He led the San Francisco Dons to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956,[4] and he captained the gold-medal winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics. The game was tied with two seconds left when Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the series. [184] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. The NBA Finals MVP Award was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in his honour in 2009. Bill Russell Age, Net Worth, Wife, Family and Biography He played 48 games with an average of 14.7 points per game and 19.6 rebounds per game. [190] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. To coach the Celtics, he had initially wanted his old player Frank Ramsey, who was too occupied running his three lucrative nursing homes. [174] The statue was unveiled on November 1, 2013, with Russell in attendance. [21] Of Russell the college basketball player, Mikan said: "Let's face it, he's the best ever. [53] The U.S. dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points per game. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Bill Russell grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. And what we would do is[Auerbach] trusted all his playersso like when he'd make a coaching decision, he could talk: he talked to [Bob] Cousey [who is white], he talked to me [black], he talked to [Bill] Sharman [white], he talked to Sam [Jones] [black]all of us: 'What do you think?' Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. He made a free throw, blocked a shot by Sixers player Chet Walker, grabbed a rebound off a miss by Greer, and passed the ball to teammate Sam Jones, who scored to clinch the win. NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 - CNN William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 July 31, 2022) 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. [57] Auerbach assigned him to shut down the Hawks' main scorer and Russell impressed the Boston crowd with his man-to-man defense and shot-blocking. His talent did not immediately shine through. He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led He helped the team win a Gold medal. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. The Celtics managed a 108-89 victory and swept the Nationals in three games. [20] Russell was closer to his mother Katie than to his father,[20] and he received a major emotional blow when she suddenly died when he was 12 years old. Eleven-time NBA champion and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell died 'peacefully' at the age of 88, his family confirmed Sunday. [45][46][47] He also competed in the 440 yards (402.3m) race, which he could complete in 49.6 seconds. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. Bill Russell . All Rights Reserved. The Bill Russell Legacy Foundation, established by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, funded the project. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. [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. [65], The Celtics won 49 games and made the first berth in the 1958 NBA playoffs, where they met in the 1958 NBA Finals with their familiar rivals, the St. Louis Hawks. "[208] To teammates and friends, Russell was open and amicable; he was extremely distrusting and cold towards anyone else. [133][134] In 2008, Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." [50] He ranks No. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. The Celtics won 52 gamesa league record. He was a 5 NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. "[214] Describing the Celtics organization, as distinguished from Boston sports fans in the 1950s and 1960s, as very progressive racially, Russell recalled in 2010 a list of the organization's accomplishments on racial progress both in terms of objective milestones and his own subjective experience as a member of the organization. This was the first time in seven years that he failed to average at least 23 rebounds a game. Bill Russell was born on 12 February 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. [191], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. "[102] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. 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. Bill Russell Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. In 1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to start three African-American players: K. C. Jones, Hal Perry, and Russell. [197] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. 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. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[164] and No. [182] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[183] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. [5][50], In the 196061 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.9 points and 23.9 rebounds per game,[1] leading his team to a regular season mark of 5722. [5] In addition, Russell holds the NBA Finals single-game record for most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960, vs. St. Louis, and April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), and most consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds (15 from April 9, 1960 April 16, 1963). Bill Russell, a towering figure in the NBA and in American sports history, died at 88 on Sunday, his family announced. [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. He kept up his excellent performance during the 1964-65 season too when he helped the Celtics win a league-record of 62 games. William Felton Russell was born on February 12th in 1934. 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. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. 6 was retired in 1972; he also refused to attend his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Over the next several decades he periodically came back to the game as a coach or as an executive, but his teams failed to win with the kind of regularity he enjoyed as a player. He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. Bill Russell [113] His No. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. He was famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. [86] On February 10, 1963, Russell recorded his first regular season triple-double after putting up 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 129123 win over the New York Knicks. This basketball great was declared as the "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/william-felton-bill-russell-859.php. A morass to fight from. A the time of his death, he was The Celtics won Game 4 in an upset, but the Hawks prevailed in Games 5 and 6, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6. [60] Despite their different ethnic backgrounds and lack of common off-court interests, his relationship with Cousy was amicable. [50] He excelled at playing man-to-man defense, blocking shots, and grabbing defensive rebounds. [41], In his career, Russell won five NBA MVP awards (1959, 196163, 1965),[5] which is tied with Michael Jordan for second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's six awards, and is at No. When the reporter asked how, Russell responded: "Because the most important factor is respect. I averaged over 20 points and over 20 rebounds, and I was the only guy in college blocking shots. 5. If I looked at it objectively, detached myself, it would be a deficiency. "[110][208] When his white Celtics teammate Frank Ramsey asked whether he hated him, Russell stated that he had been misquoted but few believed it. How many wives has Bill Russell had? Looking at the During his three-year varsity career, in which he led the team to consecutive NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. In his thirteen years, he averaged a relatively low 13.4 field goals attempted (normally, top scorers average 20 and more),[1] illustrating that he was never the focal point of the Celtics offense, who instead focused on his elite defense. They had three children and divorced in 1973. [57] Russell never had to work part-time. [155] He was selected three times to the All-NBA First Teams (1959, 1963, 1965) and eight Second Teams (1958, 196062, 1964, 196668), and was a 12-time NBA All-Star (19581969). "[99], Boston's championship streak ended at eight in his first full season as head coach when Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers won a record-breaking 68 regular-season games and were the favorites heading into the 1967 NBA playoffs, where they beat the Celtics 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. One of the most important moments of his life was when he met with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and took part in the pivotal March on Washington in 1963. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. "[208] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. Jones. [41] While blocked shots were not a recorded basketball statistic during Russell's career, he averaged 8.1 blocks in 135 games, as Boston writers often attempted to tally his blocks. [57], Russell was an elite help defender who allowed the Celtics to play the "Hey, Bill" defense: whenever a Celtic requested additional defensive help, he would shout "Hey, Bill!" Bill Russell 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. [49], In the draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach set his sights on Russell, thinking his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess were the missing pieces the Celtics needed. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. [115] He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. [50] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career. Although Russell was a good runner and jumper and had large hands,[20] he did not understand the game and was cut from the team at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. NBA Legend Bill Russell Biography, Age, Height, Family, Wife [50], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. [4] Decades later, Russell explained that his experiences hardened him against abuse of all kinds,[35] saying: "I never permitted myself to be a victim. [142], Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. In addition, Auerbach had already used his NBA territorial pick to acquire talented forward Tom Heinsohn. Outside the classroom, Russell began playing basketball. [110], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. [153] In 2009, Russell's erstwhile Knicks opponent Bill Bradley wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]". One of his highest jumps occurred at the WCR, where he achieved a mark of .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6feet 9+14inches (2.06m);[43] at the meet, Russell tied Charlie Dumas, who would later in the year win gold in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia for the United States and become the first person to high-jump 7 feet (2.13m). 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. [91][92] It was their sixth consecutive and seventh title in Russell's eight years with the team, a streak unreached in any U.S. professional sports league. [49] He was active in the Black Power movement and was among the African-American athletes and the one political leader who came together at the 1967 Cleveland Summit to support Muhammad Ali and his decision to refuse to be drafted. He replied: "Yes." This attitude contributed to his bad rapport with fans and journalists. [105] After losing for the fifth straight time against Russell and the Celtics, Hall-of-Fame Lakers guard Jerry West stated: "If I had a choice of any basketball player in the league, my No. He was very happy to receive this scholarship as it provided him an opportunity to escape the life of poverty and racism. [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. [158], On August 11, 2022, it was announced that Russell's No. [217] He was quoted as saying: "From my very first year I thought of myself as playing for the Celtics, not for Boston. Auerbach knew that the Rochester Royals, who owned the first draft pick, already had a strong rebounder in Maurice Stokes, were looking for an outside shooting guard, and were unwilling to pay Russell the $25,000 signing bonus he requested. Bill Russell | Biography, Height, Championships, & Facts [162] In 2020, he was ranked No. He was offered a scholarship from the University of San Francisco (USF). [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. [30], Combining the stature and shot-blocking skills of a center with the foot speed of a guard, Russell became the centerpiece of a USF team that soon became a force in college basketball. A cause of death wasnt given, nor did a family statement say where he died. [198], In 1966, The New York Times wrote that "Russell's main characteristics are pride, intelligence, an active and appreciative sense of humor, a preoccupation with dignity, a capacity for consideration once his friendship or sympathy has been aroused, and an unwillingness to compromise whatever truths he has accepted. NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away Sunday, July 31, according to [79] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. Their 4834 record was the team's worst since the 195556 NBA season and they entered the 1969 NBA playoffs as the fourth-seeded team in the East. [116] He attended his 2021 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know [51] He had the option to skip the tournament and play a full season for the Celtics, but he was determined to play in the Olympics. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. "[167] During the NBA All-Star Weekend on February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals MVP award would be named after Russell. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. He was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996,[5] one of only four players to receive all three honors, and selected into the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. [130] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[131] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. "[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. 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 [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. The basketball star and his fourth wife Jeannine had continued to [105] He is one of four players (along with Cousy, George Mikan, and Bob Pettit) to have made all four NBA anniversary teams: the NBA 25th Anniversary Team (1970), the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980), the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996),[5] and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021). He won 11 NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics in 13 seasons. [108], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes.
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