When the Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper and they came into Washington, D.C., to sign his contract, Walter Brown the owner of the team walked up to him and said: 'Mr. [5], In the 196465 NBA season, the Celtics won a league-record 62 games and Russell averaged 14.1 points and 24.1 rebounds per game, winning his second consecutive rebounding title and his fifth MVP award. They had three children and divorced in 1973. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for that season. [61] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! [110], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. [181] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[181] they divorced in 1980. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. [50] He ranks No. [127] Russell's Rules was published in 2001, and he convinced Miami Heat superstar center Shaquille O'Neal to bury the hatchet with fellow NBA superstar and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant and end the ShaqKobe feud in January 2006. See the events in life of Bill Russell in Chronological Order, (One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time). [5][97], In the 196566 NBA season, Russell contributed 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. Inside Bill Russell's marriage to his fourth wife as 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 Russell. 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. NBA Legend Bill Russell Biography, Age, Height, Family, Wife Russell's 51 rebounds in a single game is the second-highest performance ever, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 55. 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. I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. On the road it was not uncommon for him to have to sleep in a different hotel from the one the rest of the club used. We won 28 out of 29 games. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. 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. Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. Career-wise in rebounds, Russell ranks second to Chamberlain in regular season total (21,620) and average per game (22.5), and he led the NBA in average rebounds per game four times. The couple grew emotionally distant and divorced. He played 48 games with an average of 14.7 points per game and 19.6 rebounds per game. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. His father gave up his trucking job and became a steelworker in order to be closer to his children. After DeJulio was unimpressed by Russell's meager scoring and "atrocious fundamentals",[29] but he sensed that the young Russell had an extraordinary instinct for the game, especially in the clutch. [19], His father was said to be a "stern, hard man" who initially worked in a paper factory as a janitor, which was a typical "Negro Job"low-paid and not intellectually challenging, as sports journalist John Taylor commented. [117], After retiring as a player, Russell had stints as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (19731977) and Sacramento Kings (19871988). 5. [220] The FBI maintained a file on Russell and described him in their file as "an arrogant Negro who won't sign autographs for white children". [138] Russell attended Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals to present Bryant the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. Bill Russell Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life [21], Under head coach Gerald Tucker, Russell helped the U.S. national basketball team win the gold medal in Melbourne, defeating the Soviet Union national basketball team 8955 in the final game with an 80 undefeated run. 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. In overtime, Frank Ramsey, the fourth forward, fouled out trying to guard Baylor, so Russell was robbed of his usual four-men wing rotation; he and little-used fifth forward Gene Guarilia successfully pressured Baylor into missed shots. (embedded photo)", "Rare Photos of Bill Russell (third photo in gallery", "Eight players who have won NCAA, NBA, and Olympic titles", "2003 draft eventually may be best in history", "Philadelphia Warriors vs Boston Celtics Box Score, January 1, 1957", "Russell of Celtics Violates N.B.A. They were together from 1956 to 1973. "[218] Referring to a time when the Celtics did not frequently sell out the Boston Garden, while the generally mediocre and all-white NHL Boston Bruins did, Russell recalled: "We [the Celtics] did a survey about what we could do to improve attendance. Well, that let me know that if I were to accept these as the final judges of my career I would die a bitter old man." Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. Bill Russell Family His father was Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. [57] Russell never had to work part-time. 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. [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). [187] His older brother was the noted playwright Charlie L. [69] Both men awed onlookers with "nakedly awesome athleticism",[69] and while Chamberlain outscored Russell 30 to 22, the Celtics won 115106, and the match was called a "new beginning of basketball". Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. In addition, Auerbach had already used his NBA territorial pick to acquire talented forward Tom Heinsohn. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. He last led the Sacramento Kings as president of basketball operations in the late 1980s. [139][140] Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011. [13], Russell played in the wake of black pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, and he was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. "[215], In 1966, Russell was promoted to head coach of the Celtics. He ended his playing career at the age of 35. Bill Russell was born on January 10, 1935, and died at age 61 years old on March 9, 1996. [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. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[164] and No. Russell described himself as an avid reader of Dell Magazines' 1950s sports publications, which he used to scout opponents' moves for the purpose of defending against them. Bill Russell, one of the greatest Boston Celtics and NBA players ever, died, his family said Sunday. Bill Russell had an impressive record not just as a basketball player, but more importantly, as a civil rights activist. 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. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. [122] Perennially wary of what he long perceived as a racist city, Russell decided to make amends and gave his approval. "[5][122] On November 3, 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live, in which he appeared in several sports-related sketches. With Russell anchoring the middle of the floor, the Celtics finished with the NBA's best record in 1957, and went on to win the title over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series. The game was primarily considered a match between Russell and the Warriors center, Wilt Chamberlain, as both of the playerswere amazing centers. 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. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. [57] Russell's defense was called into question by Eddie Gottlieb, coach of the Philadelphia Warriors, after the WarriorsCeltics game on January 1, 1957, in which he recorded 17 points and 25 rebounds, plus an assist. Bill Russell was born on 12 February 1934. "[202], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky. BILL Russell's wife has shared a sweet picture of the couple after his passing this weekend aged 88. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. The already hostile atmosphere between Russell and Boston hit its apex when vandals broke into his house in Reading, Massachusetts, covered the walls with racist graffiti, damaged his trophies, and defecated in the beds. [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. [118] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. Eleven-time NBA champion and Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell died 'peacefully' at the age of 88, his family confirmed Sunday. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. Bill Russell 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. "[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. Cooper, the Boston Celtics will never embarrass you.' [57] He also became famous for his shot-blocking skills and pundits called his blocks "Wilsonburgers", referring to the Wilson NBA basketballs he "shoved back into the faces of opposing shooters". [171], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. Lakers coach Bill van Breda Kolff kept him on the bench until the end of the game, saying later that he wanted to stay with the lineup responsible for the comeback. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. [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. [68][109] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. [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. As a child, he witnessed how his parents were victims of racial abuse, and the family eventually moved into government housing projects to escape the daily torrent of bigotry. [56] Russell's first Celtics game came on December 22, 1956, against the St. Louis Hawks, led by star forward Bob Pettit, who would go on to hold several all-time scoring records. Bill Russell Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life [5] He was also known as a fine passer and pick-and-roll setter, featured a decent left-handed hook shot, and finished strong on alley oops. 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. 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. [71] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. [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. I like most blacks because I am black." Boston then beat the Los Angeles Lakers 42 in the 1968 NBA Finals, giving Russell his tenth title in twelve years. [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. [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. [57] In previous years, the Celtics had been a high-scoring team but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out tight games. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics. [60] In the highly-competitive Game 7, Russell tried his best to slow down Pettit, as Heinsohn scored 37 points and kept the Celtics alive;[60] Russell contributed by completing the famous "Coleman Play", as he ran down Hawks forward Jack Coleman, who had received an outlet pass at midcourt, and blocked his shot despite the fact that Russell had been standing at his own baseline when the ball was thrown to Coleman. [1] On March 11, 1965, in a 112100 win over the Detroit Pistons, Russell grabbed 49 rebounds, which tied for the third-most in a single game in NBA history,[93] along with 27 points and 6 assists. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. He led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 consecutive victories, and a 26-point, 27-rebound, 20-block performance in one game. A morass to fight from. 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. He was a 5 Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing,[110] was not there; he ended his career and cut all ties to the Celtics. [107], Russell and the Celtics achieved upsets over the 76ers and the Knicks to earn a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. 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 following season the Celtics became the first team to win 60 games in a season and he was again voted as the NBAs Most Valuable Player. 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. A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. [141] Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday at the White House tennis court. He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led [58] Gottlieb protested the next day, saying that Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, to only be called once. Because Russell ignored virtually any well-wisher who approached him home or away, including the vast majority of media, his autograph was among the most difficult to secure of any professional athlete of his time. [184] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. Bill Russell The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. 4 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time, the second best center behind Abdul-Jabbar and ahead of Chamberlain. 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. Celebs, sports stars and fans are mourning the loss of NBA legend, Bill Russell. Bill Russell [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. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me. Bill Russell [110] Journalists were often treated to the "Russell Glower", described as an "icily contemptuous stare accompanied by a long silence". [222] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. I owe so much to him it's impossible to express. Russell articulated these views with a measure of self-criticism, saying: "I consider this a deficiency in myselfmaybe. [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". [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. [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. He scored 15.0 ppg and 24.7 rebounds per game during the 1963-64 season. 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, After he graduated, the NCAA rules committee instituted a second new rule to counter the play of big men like Russell; basket interference was now prohibited. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He is depicted in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing the 11 championships he helped the Celtics win. [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 was offered a scholarship from the University of San Francisco (USF). Russell was married three times. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. [1] Before the January 31, 1963, 18-point, 22-rebound performance in a 128125 win against the Cincinnati Royals at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland,[84] the Celtics were to tour the White House and Russell had a "Do not disturb" sign on his phone. 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. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where he looked for some employment at a shipyard. [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. He had a career of firsts & led the way for many. [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. The NBA Finals MVP Award was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in his honour in 2009. Russell [203] Later in Russell's career, John Havlicek said of his teammate and coach that he threw up less often than early in his career, only doing so "when it's an important game or an important challenge for himsomeone like Chamberlain, or someone coming up that everyone's touting. He passed away peacefully with his wife next to him. [101] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. He later recalled: "To play good defense it was told back then that you had to stay flatfooted at all times to react quickly. 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. NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 - CNN The Celtics managed a 108-89 victory and swept the Nationals in three games. 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. [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. 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. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Bill Russell . Russel died on July 31, 2022. Bill Russell Net Worth Bill Russell "[66], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. His early childhood was shaped by poor health, as the sickly Russell battled several different illnesses. He replied: "Yes." We won the National Championship. [144] By winning the 1956 NCAA championship with USF and the 1957 NBA title with the Celtics,[145] Russell became the first of only four players in basketball history to win an NCAA championship and an NBA championship back-to-back, the others being Henry Bibby, Magic Johnson, and Billy Thompson. Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. [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. "[110] This supported the opinion of many white fans that Russell, who was by then the highest-paid Celtic, was egotistical, paranoid, and hypocritical. [121] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. In these eleven games, Russell averaged 18.3 points and 29.4 rebounds. [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. During his early life, Bill Russell struggled in his life as he 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. 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? 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. [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, 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. [191], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. He's so good, he scares you. They had three children: daughter Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, Bill Russell [162] In 2020, he was ranked No. His coach, George Powles, encouraged the youngster to develop his skills and become a good player. 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?" I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. Bill Russell "[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. Bill Russell Family Tree : Parents, Wife, Children, Biography He was played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) 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. [67] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. [108], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes. [57] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. 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. [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. [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. Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. [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).