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. [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. [111] Russell notified Auerbach that he was resigning to join a career in television and movies "in order to find new sources of income for the future". [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. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. [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. He was convinced that the U.S. was a corrupt nation and that he was wasting his time playing something as superficial as basketball. They had three children and divorced in 1973. He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. Bill Russell - Stats, Rings & Spouse - Biography Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. [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. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. [135][136], On February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award would be renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his honor as an 11-time NBA champion. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." As Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry, the press speculated that Russell was worn down. [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. [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. Celebs, sports stars and fans are mourning the loss of NBA legend, Bill Russell. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. Russell was married three times. "[215], In 1966, Russell was promoted to head coach of the Celtics. Cooper, the Boston Celtics will never embarrass you.' The NBA Finals MVP Award was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in his honour in 2009. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Brown contacted Rochester owner Les Harrison and received an assurance that the Royals could not afford Russell, and they would draft Sihugo Green. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. William Felton Russell was born on February 12th in 1934. Russell regarded Auerbach as "the greatest of all coaches". Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. 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. He lost his mother when he was just 12 years old. 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. "[199] In 2009, Russell wrote his paternal grandfather's motto, passed down to his father and then to him: "A man has to draw a line inside himself that he won't allow any man to cross." [94], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. [4][8] While at USF, he and Jones helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop. '"[219] In retirement, Russell described the Boston press as corrupt and racist; in response, Boston sports journalist Larry Claflin claimed that Russell himself was the real racist. Bills understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. [66] The teams split the first two games, but Russell went down with a foot injury in Game 3 and only returned for Game 6. While Saperstein spoke to Woolpert in a meeting, Globetrotters assistant coach Harry Hanna tried to entertain Russell with jokes, but he was livid after this snub and declined the offer. "[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. [144][157] Russell is universally seen as one of the best NBA players ever,[5] and he was declared "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980. [188], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. Bill Russell died at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, on July 31, 2022. He reasoned that if Saperstein was too smart to speak with him, then he was too smart to play for Saperstein. [169] In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of theleague's 75 greatest players of all-time. He was one of five, along with James Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Dean Smith, and John Wooden, selected to represent the inaugural class. 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. As a freshman at McClymonds High School in Oakland,[23][24] Russell was almost cut again;[25] as he saw Russell's raw athletic potential, coach George Powles encouraged him to work on his fundamentals. "[208] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. [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). He was a standout in the high jump and according to Track & Field News was ranked the seventh-best high-jumper in the world in 1956, his graduation year, despite not competing in Olympic high-jump competition. Bill Russell's Wives Now: Where Are They Today? Bill Russell [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. He kept up his excellent performance during the 1964-65 season too when he helped the Celtics win a league-record of 62 games. His time as a non-player coach was lackluster; he led the struggling SuperSonics into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but Russell's defensive, team-oriented Celtics mindset did not mesh well with the team, and he left in 1977 with a 162166 record. [57] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. 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. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. WebBill Russell as seen in an Instagram Post in July 2019 (Bill Russell / Instagram) Bill Russell Facts. [223] When Russell originally retired, he demanded that his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. [34] In one incident, hotels in Oklahoma City refused to admit Russell and his black teammates while they were in town for the 1954 All-College Tournament. [62] Russell scored 21 points and grabbed an NBA Finals-record 40 rebounds, plus an assist, in a Game 2 loss,[74] and he added 22 points and 35 rebounds, along with 4 assists,[75] in the deciding Game 7, a 122103 victory for Boston. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. 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. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. They had three children: daughter Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. BILL Russell's wife has shared a sweet picture of the couple after his passing this weekend aged 88. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. Bill Russell - Wikipedia [67] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. [108], The Celtics were ahead by nine points with five minutes remaining; in addition, West was limping after a Game 5 thigh injury and Chamberlain had left the game with an injured leg. [103] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. Bill Russell Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. WebEarly Life. Johnny Havlicek stole the ball! In a game called as "unreal" and "devoid of emotion", the Sixers lost 127118 on April 5. [108] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. He was just the second player to have ever made 51 rebounds in a single game and the first NBA player to average more than 20 rebounds per game for an entire season. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. "[102] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. When the NBA All-Stars toured the U.S. in the 1958 offseason, white hotel owners in segregated North Carolina denied rooms to Russell and his black teammates, causing him to later write in his 1966 memoir Go Up for Glory: "It stood out, a wall which understanding cannot penetrate. [5] This took place during his last season (1969) and was the first season the NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected. Bill Russell grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. [44] Like fellow world-class high-jumpers of that era, Russell did not use the Fosbury Flop technique with which all high jump world records after 1978 have been set. [48], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. [112], In 1971, Russell joined NBA on ABC to do commentary on the Game of the Week. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Bill Russell Children: Meet Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr [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. The couple grew emotionally distant and divorced. My wife and Russell's laugh. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. Reserve forward Alex Hannum threw a long alley-oop pass to Pettit and Pettit's tip-in rolled indecisively on the rim for several seconds before rolling out again. "[30] The NCAA rewrote rules in response to Russell's dominant play; the lane was widened for his junior year. Bill Russell Family Tree : Parents, Wife, Children, Biography He was played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) "[154] In the book, Russell wrote: "Whenever I leave the Celtics locker room, even Heaven wouldn't be good enough because anywhere else is a step down With Red [Auerbach] and Walter Brown, I was the freest athlete on the planet. [50] He excelled at playing man-to-man defense, blocking shots, and grabbing defensive rebounds. [51], The St. Louis Hawks, who owned the second pick, drafted Russell but were vying for Celtics center Ed Macauley, a six-time NBA All-Star who had roots in St. Louis. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. Bill Russell Early Life & Biography. How many wives has Bill Russell had? Looking at the In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. Chamberlain outscored Russell by 81 points in the series, but the Celtics walked off with a 42 series win. 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. During a press conference, Russell was asked: "As the first Negro head coach in a major league sport, can you do the job impartially without any racial prejudice in reverse?" [175][176][177] During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added, honoring Russell's commitment to working with children. He won 11 NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics in 13 seasons. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! [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 in a similar list by The Athletic. Even against more physically imposing centers, like .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Wilt Chamberlain, Russell was a defensive and rebounding force. [121] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. Best Known For: Hailed as the greatest winner in sports, Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons. [113] His No. 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. [191] He was issued a citation and released, and the Transportation Security Administration indicated it would levy a civil penalty, which would be between $3,000 and $7,500. [116], As a consequence of his endured racist abuse, Russell was extremely sensitive to all racial prejudice. Bill Russell has been married on 4 different occasions but had never kept a marriage for up to 2 decades, the longest being 17 years (19561973) to a lady called His 1956 rookie contract was worth $24,000 (equivalent to $239,207 in 2021), only fractionally smaller than the $25,000 of top earner and teammate Bob Cousy. He became the centerpiece of a USF team that became a formidable college basketball team. If I looked at it objectively, detached myself, it would be a deficiency. [51] Auerbach later said that Brown offered Harrison guaranteed performances of the Ice Capades if they did not draft Russell; it is difficult to verify or disprove this, but it is clear that the Royals underrated Russell. He was 88. Russell scored 15.0 points per game and grabbed a career-high 24.7 rebounds per game, leading the NBA in rebounds for the first time since Chamberlain entered the league. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. Bill Russell Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life [50] After the game, Russell went over to the distraught West, who had scored 42 points and was named the only NBA Finals MVP in history from the losing team, clasped his hand and tried to soothe him. [152] He played in eleven deciding games (ten times in Game 7s, once in a Game 5) and ended with a 110 record. [70] It was the record for most rebounds in a single game until November 24, 1960, when Chamberlain grabbed 55 rebounds against Russell,[13] who led the Celtics to a 132129 win over the Philadelphia Warriors with 18 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. [20], At USF, Russell became the new starting center for coach Phil Woolpert of the San Francisco Dons. 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. Boston then beat the Los Angeles Lakers 42 in the 1968 NBA Finals, giving Russell his tenth title in twelve years. He married former Miss USA, Dorothy Anstett, a white woman, in 1977. 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. See the events in life of Bill Russell in Chronological Order, (One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time). [59], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. [77], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. [50] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. [72][73] In the 1960 NBA Finals, the Celtics outlasted the Hawks 43 in the series and won their third championship in four years. The fans could do or think whatever they wanted. [4] In his USF years, Russell took advantage of his relative lack of bulk to develop a unique defensive style: instead of purely guarding the opposing center, he used his quickness and speed to play help defense against opposing forwards and aggressively challenge their shots. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. It covered every area. 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. [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). 1934: Bill Russell is born in Louisiana Charles and Katie Russell welcome William Felton Russell on Feb. 12 in Monroe, a town in north Louisiana. Bill Russell was a once-in-a-generation activist athlete who made all around him better. [211] After that, the two were often seen together at various events and interviewed as friends. [200][201] Russell's motto became: "If you disrespect that line, you disrespect me. 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. [101] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know [130] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[131] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. William Felton Russell was an American professional basketball player. [185][186] He was a resident of Mercer Island, Washington, for over four decades. 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. "[50] That playoff series ended in a dramatic Game 7, when the Sixers were trailing 110109 five seconds before the end, but Russell turned over the ball. [2] Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where he looked for some employment at a shipyard. The couple actually tied the knot on December 9, 1956, with Bill soon making it clear he owed a vast majority of his ambition, compassion, drive, and success to his He Says He Is His Fathers Son. [207], Russell was known for his distinctive high-pitched laugh, of which Auerbach quipped: "There are only two things that could make me quit coaching. 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. Russell's 51 rebounds in a single game is the second-highest performance ever, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 55. Bill Russell He was growing older and slow and by the 1967-68 season, his figures were slowly declining. Bill Russell Net Worth He was 88 years old. 6 jersey across the entire league. I was the MVP at the Final Four. 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. [197] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. William Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. [125] In 1985, former Celtic teammate Don Chaney, who was head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, asked Russell to tutor Benoit Benjamin, the third overall draft pick from Creighton University, who left after his junior season; according to Chaney, Russell did not get paid for it. [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. I like most blacks because I am black." [123] Russell also wrote books, usually written as a joint project with a professional writer, including 1979's Second Wind,[124] and played Judge Roger Ferguson in the Miami Vice episode "The Fix" (aired March 7, 1986). The talented player had grown up in a neighbourhood notorious for its rampant racism. He passed away peacefully with his wife next to him. 101", "The NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, ranked: Where 76 basketball legends check in on our list", "NBA 75: Top 75 NBA players of all time, from MJ and LeBron to Lenny Wilkens", "President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients", "Bill Russell to receive NBA's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bill Russell's No. He thrived at the USF under Coach Phil Woolpert who helped him develop his unique technique of defense. The game was tied with two seconds left when Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the series. [171], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. Bill Russell Age, Net Worth, Wife, Family and Biography Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. [53], Due to his Olympic commitment, Russell could not join the Celtics for the 195657 NBA season until December. 5. Bill Russell In his first playoff game, Russell finished with 16 points and 31 rebounds, along with 7 reported blocks, which were not yet an officially registered statistic. Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. [50], The Celtics lost Cousy to retirement after the 196263 NBA season, and they drafted John Havlicek and were powered by Russell, who averaged 16.8 points and 23.6 rebounds per game, won his fourth regular-season MVP award, and earned the NBA All-Star Game MVP honors at the 1963 NBA All-Star Game following his 19-point, 24-rebound performance for the Eastern Conference's All-Star team. 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.

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