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, [152] He played in eleven deciding games (ten times in Game 7s, once in a Game 5) and ended with a 110 record. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. [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. Bill Russell 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. [77], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. Russell was offered the role of player-coach, which he acceptedmaking him the first African-American NBA coach. He was selected by the Boston Celtics during the 1956 NBA Draft because of his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess. [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. [19] While there, they fell into poverty and Russell spent his childhood living in a series of public housing projects. [5][41] His stint as coach of the Celtics was also of historical significance,[147][148] as he became the first black head coach in the NBA,[14] when he succeeded Red Auerbach. 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. Russell articulated these views with a measure of self-criticism, saying: "I consider this a deficiency in myselfmaybe. Bill 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. He replied: "Yes." The game featured Shane Battier, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Obama's friends from high school. He was the central focus of the Celtics dynasty, who won 11 NBA championships so over course of his 13 The Celtic coach Red Auerbach retired before the 1966-67 season. I averaged over 20 points and over 20 rebounds, and I was the only guy in college blocking shots. [110][221], Russell refused to attend the ceremony when his jersey No. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. [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. Bill Russell had an impressive record not just as a basketball player, but more importantly, as a civil rights activist. [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. He Says He Is His Fathers Son. In the 1960 NBA playoffs, Russell's Celtics met Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals. [158], On August 11, 2022, it was announced that Russell's No. [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. Outside the classroom, Russell began playing basketball. [85] President John F. Kennedy posed for a picture with Auerbach and the nine Celtics but not Russell, who overslept because he thought it was just a tour of the White House and did not know President Kennedy would be meeting them. [59], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. The basketball star and his fourth wife Jeannine had continued to I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." The Celtics were already a high-scoring team but the addition of Russell added to their strengths. Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. That did not happen My junior year in college, I had what I thought was the one of the best college seasons ever. 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. A the time of his death, he was [110] He was so tense before every game that he regularly vomited in the locker room; early in his career, it happened so frequently that his fellow Celtics were more worried when it did not happen than when it did. [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. [171], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. [163] In 2022, he was ranked No. 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. [142], Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. The Celtics won 52 gamesa league record. "[166] In 2000, his longtime teammate Tom Heinsohn described both Russell's stature and his uneasy relationship with Boston more earthily, saying: "Look, all I know is the guy came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a bleeping tunnel after Ted Williams. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. [13], Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. He was also much respected for his ability to inspire and motivate his team members to improve their playing techniques and give their best. [182] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[183] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. WebBill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. Brown contacted Rochester owner Les Harrison and received an assurance that the Royals could not afford Russell, and they would draft Sihugo Green. 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. [138] Russell attended Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals to present Bryant the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Bill Russell Age, Net Worth, Wife, Family and Biography [32] Russell became one of several big men who have brought about NCAA rule changes. He was one of five, along with James Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Dean Smith, and John Wooden, selected to represent the inaugural class. [18][170] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey are grandfatheredthey may keep the number until they voluntarily change it or retirebut the number will not be issued again to a new 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. Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Anstett (m. 19771980), Marilyn Nault (m. 19962009), Rose Swisher (m. 19561973). He is depicted in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing the 11 championships he helped the Celtics win. '"[204], In a retrospective interview, Russell described the state of mind he felt he needed to enter in order to be able to play basketball: "I had to almost be in a rage. However, he still made 12.5 points per game and 18.6 rebounds per game. [1] The Celtics broke a league record by winning 52 games and Russell's strong performance once again helped lead the Celtics through the 1959 NBA playoffs, as they returned to the NBA Finals. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. They were together from 1956 to 1973. 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. [57] In previous years, the Celtics had been a high-scoring team but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out tight games. He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. [50] He excelled at playing man-to-man defense, blocking shots, and grabbing defensive rebounds. Following Chamberlain's death in October 1999, Russell returned to prominence at the turn of the millennium. During a conversation with students, a reporterunknown to Russellheard Russell describe Chamberlain as a malingerer and accused him of "copping out" of the game when it seemed that the Lakers would lose. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. "[66], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. Chamberlain outscored Russell by 81 points in the series, but the Celtics walked off with a 42 series win. [162] In 2020, he was ranked No. He went to McClymonds High School, where he started playing basketball. The talented player had grown up in a neighbourhood notorious for its rampant racism. Bill Russell, a towering figure in the NBA and in American sports history, died at 88 on Sunday, his family announced. 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. 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. [130] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[131] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. The Internal Revenue Service discovered that Russell owed $34,430 in tax money and put a lien on his house. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. [188], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. [158] Russell ranked No. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. Bill Russell was born on 12 February 1934. After the next provocation, Russell pounded Felix to the point of unconsciousness, paid a modest $25 fine, and rarely was the target of cheap fouls thereafter. [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. [48], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. 4 BEAUTIFUL WIVES OF NBA LEGEND BILL RUSSELL RIP [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. [29] When DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, he eagerly accepted. [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. [50] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. 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. 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. [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. Bill Russell 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. [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. 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. It's all over! Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. They had three children and divorced in 1973. [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). Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of 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. Inside Bill Russell's marriage to his fourth wife as All Rights Reserved. He reasoned that if Saperstein was too smart to speak with him, then he was too smart to play for Saperstein. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Celebrities & Notables Running the Boston Marathon, 7 Facts About Gymnast and TikTok Star Olivia Dunne, Nat Sweetwater Cliftons First NBA Season, 8 Negro League Legends Featured in a New MLB Game, Get to Know NCAA Tournament Star Caitlin Clark. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. The teams split the first six games. children: Jacob Russell, Karen Russell, William Russell Jr. Grouping of People: Black Baseball Players, U.S. State: Louisiana, African-American From Louisiana, awards: 1955 - NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 1955-1956 - 2 NCAA champion 1963 - NBA All-Star Game MVP, 19571959 - 5 NBA rebounding champion 19641965 - 5 NBA rebounding champion 1958 - 5 NBA Most Valuable Player 1965 - 5 NBA Most Valuable Player 19611963 - 5 NBA Most Valuable Player 1957 - 11 NBA champion 19591966 - 11 NBA champion 19681969 - 11 NBA champion. "[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. [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). [61], The Celtics finished the 195657 regular season with a 4428 record, the team's second-best record since beginning play in the 194647 BAA season, which guaranteed Russell his first NBA playoffs appearance,[62] where the Celtics met with the Syracuse Nationals, a team led by Dolph Schayes, through the Eastern Division Finals. [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. 6 to be retired across NBA following legend's death last month", "Chat Transcript: Celtics Legend Bill Russell", "Russell 'So good, he scares you' Mikan", "Bill Russell Named Boston Celtic Coach; Basketball Star To Draw $125,001 Salary a Record for a Pro Coach or Manager He'll Take over Next Season", "Who's Better At Hoops: Bill Russell Or Frank Robinson? We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. How many wives has Bill Russell had? Looking at the "[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.
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