[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. 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. He replied: "Yes." While in Oakland he was very poor but became a Many people thought that Russell was more important even though he had only played half the season. .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 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 [51], Before his NBA rookie year, Russell was the captain of the 1956 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, which was held in November and December in Melbourne, Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere. Inside Bill Russells family life as NBA legend passes at Russel died on July 31, 2022. [111] Although White became a standout Celtics player, Boston lacked an All-Star center, went 3448 in the 196970 NBA season, and failed to make it to the 1970 NBA playoffs, marking the first time since 1950 that they did not make the playoffs. Bill Russell 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. [66] Many observers thought that Boston could have won had Russell not been injured, but Auerbach commented: "You can always look for excuses We just got beat. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. 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. [165], Of Russell, former NBA player and head coach Don Nelson said: "There are two types of superstars. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. "[66], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. [69] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. [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 notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. [188], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. In his first NBA playoff game against the Syracuse Nationals in 1957, he finished with 16 points and 31 rebounds along with 7 blocks. We won 28 out of 29 games. How many wives has Bill Russell had? Looking at the 6 jersey", "Bill Russell Statue Unveiled At Boston City Hall", "Bill Russell statue to be unveiled Nov. 1", "City Hall Plaza statue honors Celtics' Bill Russell", "Basketball's Bill Russell joins the Bronze Age", "Russell Rule Diversity Hiring Commitment", "The University of San Francisco Honors the Memory of Marilyn Nault Russell", "Bill Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Bill Russell, legendary Celtics center and NBA coach, dead at 88", "Indomitable Russell Values One Accolade Above the Rest", "Police: NBA legend Bill Russell arrested with gun at airport", "Bill Russell, Basketball Great With Record 11 NBA Titles, Dies At 88", "Celtics legend, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell dies at 88", "What NBA salaries would these superstar players make today? In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. [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. 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. "[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. [89] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. Early Life & Biography. All Rights Reserved. [77], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. He still holds the NBA record for rebounds in one half with 32 (vs. Philadelphia, November 16, 1957). He also served a three-season (19661969) stint as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black coach in the NBA and the first to win a championship. [71] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. Bill Russell Height, Weight, Family, Facts, Education, Biography [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. "[202], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. [The sound of Russell throwing up] is a welcome sound, too, because it means he's keyed up for the game, and around the locker room we grin and say, 'Man, we're going to be all right tonight. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. But by his senior year, his game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot. [213] He was often called Felton X, presumably in the tradition of the Nation of Islam's practice of replacing a European slave name with an X and purchased land in Liberia. Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Anstett (m. 19771980), Marilyn Nault (m. 19962009), Rose Swisher (m. 19561973). [1] While his rival had a record-breaking season of 50.4 points per game, including Chamberlain's 100-point game,[68] the Celtics became the first team to win 60 games in a season and Russell was voted as the league's MVP. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.died July 31, 2022), American basketball player who was the Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. 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. A cause of death wasnt given, nor did a family statement say where he died. The Celtics won the match 115-106. WebBill Russell as seen in an Instagram Post in July 2019 (Bill Russell / Instagram) Bill Russell Facts. [99] Third choice Tom Heinsohn also said no because he did not think he could handle the often surly Russell,[99] whom he proposed as a player-coach. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. [54] His former USF and future Celtics teammate K. C. Jones joined him on the Olympic squad and contributed 10.9 points per game,[55] including a RussellJones combined 29 points in the finals. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. [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". I owe so much to him it's impossible to express. [5] The Russell draft-day trade was later called one of the most important trades in the history of North American sports. 4 BEAUTIFUL WIVES OF NBA LEGEND BILL RUSSELL RIP "[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." Astrological Sign: Aquarius, Death Year: 2022, Death date: July 31, 2022, Article Title: Bill Russell Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/bill-russell, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: August 11, 2022, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Russell was "the greatest champion in all of team sports". He later commented that he would have participated in the high jump if he had been snubbed by the basketball team. [115] He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. We won the National Championship. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. In the 1960 NBA playoffs, Russell's Celtics met Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals. [5] Russell's team again beat Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers 41 in the Eastern Division Finals, proceeding to win the NBA Finals in a tight showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Russell scoring 25 points and grabbing 32 rebounds, plus giving out an assist,[98] in a 9593 win in Game 7. He was famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, Of the book, Bill Bradley wrote for The New York Times Book Review that "Bill Russell is a private, complex man, but on the subject of his love of Red Auerbach and his Celtic teammates, he's loud and clear. 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 It covered every area. [60], At the start of the 195758 NBA season, the Celtics won fourteen straight games and continued to succeed. 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. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. [16] In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time for his coaching career. Bill Russell . 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. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. Hewas married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. [159][160] In 2007, he was voted the third best center of all-time by ESPN behind Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain. [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. [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. [100] Russell became the first black head coach in NBA history,[5] and he commented to journalists: "I wasn't offered the job because I am a Negro, I was offered it because Red figured I could do it. [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. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. When I started to jump to make defensive plays and to block shots, I was initially corrected, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. He worked hard and used the benefits of a growth spurt to become a decent basketball player. The Celtics won, earning their first NBA championship. [50] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. They had three children and divorced in 1973. See the events in life of Bill Russell in Chronological Order, (One of the Greatest Basketball Players of All Time). So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. [60] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. [45][46][47] He also competed in the 440 yards (402.3m) race, which he could complete in 49.6 seconds. With the added defensive presence of Russell, the Celtics had laid the foundation for a dynasty, as the team utilized a strong defensive approach to the game, forcing opposing teams to commit many turnovers, which led to many easy points on fast breaks. He scored 15.0 ppg and 24.7 rebounds per game during the 1963-64 season. [29] When DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, he eagerly accepted. [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". I like most blacks because I am black." Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. Suddenly, his grandfather broke down crying. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. "[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. [137] During halftime of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Celtics captains Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce presented Russell a surprise birthday cake for his 75th birthday. [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. Bill Russell's Wives Now: Where Are They Today? "[5][122] On November 3, 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live, in which he appeared in several sports-related sketches. WebEarly Life. [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. He was 88. When the reporter asked how, Russell responded: "Because the most important factor is respect. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." [158], On August 11, 2022, it was announced that Russell's No. [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. [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). "[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. William Felton Russell was an American professional basketball player. [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 crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. 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. Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. To coach the Celtics, he had initially wanted his old player Frank Ramsey, who was too occupied running his three lucrative nursing homes. He thrived at the USF under Coach Phil Woolpert who helped him develop his unique technique of defense. [191], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. 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. [60] Despite their different ethnic backgrounds and lack of common off-court interests, his relationship with Cousy was amicable. "[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. This was the first time in seven years that he failed to average at least 23 rebounds a game. "[110] This supported the opinion of many white fans that Russell, who was by then the highest-paid Celtic, was egotistical, paranoid, and hypocritical. "[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. [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. Russell was married three times. Russell was so quick that he could run over for a quick double team and make it back in time if the opponents tried to find the open man. [161] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. [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. [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. Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. My wife and Russell's laugh. Auerbach had informed his players to not endorse candidates or causes, as it would alienate fans; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. He was born to Charles and Katie Russell. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. His father gave up his trucking job and became a steelworker in order to be closer to his children. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone.[226]. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. [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". 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. His early childhood was shaped by poor health, as the sickly Russell battled several different illnesses. [5][97], In the 196566 NBA season, Russell contributed 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. [197] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. [187] His older brother was the noted playwright Charlie L. The relationship between the two was tenuous at best. Russell used a copy as extra motivation and told his team to play a running game because in that case it was not the better but the more determined team that was going to win. [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. Russell was equally notable for his rebounding abilities, and he led the NBA in rebounds four times, had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds,[12] and remains second all time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. [106] Russell pulled himself together and put up 9.9 points and 19.3 rebounds per game;[1] the aging Celtics stumbled through the regular season. 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. "[100][216] As a result of repeated racial bigotry, Russell refused to respond to fan acclaim or friendship from his neighbors, thinking it was insincere and hypocritical. In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. Brown, who gave him a high $24,000 rookie contract, just $1,000 shy of the top-earning veteran Bob Cousy.[122]. In the beginning of the 1957-58 season, the Celtics won 14 straight games. [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. The Celtic coach Red Auerbach retired before the 1966-67 season. 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. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. 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.