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 [103] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. [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. 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. In his thirteen years, he averaged a relatively low 13.4 field goals attempted (normally, top scorers average 20 and more),[1] illustrating that he was never the focal point of the Celtics offense, who instead focused on his elite defense. [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. "[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. [105] He is one of four players (along with Cousy, George Mikan, and Bob Pettit) to have made all four NBA anniversary teams: the NBA 25th Anniversary Team (1970), the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980), the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996),[5] and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021). [129] On May 20, 2007, Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate by Suffolk University, where he served as its commencement speaker. [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. [60] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. [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. [67] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. However, he still made 12.5 points per game and 18.6 rebounds per game. Celtics owner Walter A. My wife and Russell's laugh. Russell. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. WebEarly Life. In the pivotal Game 7, Russell managed to hold Chamberlain to 22 points, 28 points below his season average, while scoring 19 points. In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky. Outside the classroom, Russell began playing basketball. "[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. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. 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. Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. [16] In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time for his coaching career. Over the next several decades he periodically came back to the game as a coach or as an executive, but his teams failed to win with the kind of regularity he enjoyed as a player. 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. [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. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. 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 "[202], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. [224] He thanked Chamberlain for taking him to the limit and "making [him] a better player", and the crowd for "allowing [him] to be a part of their lives. 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. [60], At the start of the 195758 NBA season, the Celtics won fourteen straight games and continued to succeed. Bill Russell started playing for the Celtics in the 1956-57 season in December. [159][160] In 2007, he was voted the third best center of all-time by ESPN behind Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone.[226]. [19] While there, they fell into poverty and Russell spent his childhood living in a series of public housing projects. One of his highest jumps occurred at the WCR, where he achieved a mark of .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6feet 9+14inches (2.06m);[43] at the meet, Russell tied Charlie Dumas, who would later in the year win gold in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia for the United States and become the first person to high-jump 7 feet (2.13m). Following Chamberlain's death in October 1999, Russell returned to prominence at the turn of the millennium. 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. His coach, George Powles, encouraged the youngster to develop his skills and become a good player. [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". [110] The same fate awaited his Boston restaurant Slade's, after which he had to default on a $90,000 government loan to purchase the outlet. When he attempted to leave and find a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in his face and threatened to kill him if he did not stay and wait his turn. [78], In the 1962 NBA Finals, the Celtics met the Los Angeles Lakers of forward Elgin Baylor and guard Jerry West. 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. 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. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. [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. Bill Russell Family Tree : Parents, Wife, Children, Biography He was played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) He was one of the most successful players ever to have graced American basketball. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was. Bill Russell Children: Meet Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led A cause of death wasnt given, nor did a family statement say where he died. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where he looked for some employment at a shipyard. [122] Perennially wary of what he long perceived as a racist city, Russell decided to make amends and gave his approval. [175][176][177] During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added, honoring Russell's commitment to working with children. Russell's 51 rebounds in a single game is the second-highest performance ever, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 55. 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. [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). Charles Russell was initially a janitor in a paper factory, and when World War II broke out, he became a truck driver. [121] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. [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. You are less. [122], Russell became a vegetarian, took up golf, and worked as a color commentator for CBS and TBS throughout the 1970s into the mid-1980s, but he was uncomfortable as a broadcaster. A the time of his death, he was [193], During his career, Russell was one of the first big earners in NBA basketball. [153] In 2009, Russell's erstwhile Knicks opponent Bill Bradley wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]". Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me. [59], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. Russell also had seven regular-season games with 40 or more rebounds, the NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9, 1957). 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. Auerbach replied that Gottlieb's statements were "absolutely ridiculous" and said any controversy was "a question of sour grapes". [210], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. [146] He also won two state championships in high school. He had a career of firsts & led the way for many. He was growing older and slow and by the 1967-68 season, his figures were slowly declining. They had three children and divorced in 1973. [217] He was quoted as saying: "From my very first year I thought of myself as playing for the Celtics, not for Boston. [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. You are a Negro. [57] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. In the beginning of the 1957-58 season, the Celtics won 14 straight games. 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. [5] This took place during his last season (1969) and was the first season the NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected. [5][97], In the 196566 NBA season, Russell contributed 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. [61] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! Auerbach agreed to trade Macauley, who had previously asked to be traded to St. Louis in order to be with his sick son, if the Hawks gave up Russell. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[164] and No. During his early life, Bill Russell struggled in his life as he [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. That did not happen My junior year in college, I had what I thought was the one of the best college seasons ever. [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. [142], Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. 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. NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away Sunday, July 31, according to After the loss, he led his grandfather through the Celtics locker rooms and the two saw the white Celtic Havlicek taking a shower next to his black teammate Sam Jones and discussing the game. 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. [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 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. WebBill Russell as seen in an Instagram Post in July 2019 (Bill Russell / Instagram) Bill Russell Facts. "[30] The NCAA rewrote rules in response to Russell's dominant play; the lane was widened for his junior year. [79] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. Russell's Celtics went 5737 in the regular season against Chamberlain's teams and 2920 in the playoffs, Chamberlain's losing seven of the eight series. [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. The game was tied with two seconds left when Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the series. [1] Boston defeated the Cincinnati Royals 41 to earn another NBA Finals appearance and then won against Chamberlain's newly relocated San Francisco Warriors 41. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. It's all over! The family of Bill Russell announced that he passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. He was a 5 When he attempted to leave and find a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in his face and thre He played 48 games with an average of 14.7 points per game and 19.6 rebounds per game. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. [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". The two men did not speak to each other for more than twenty years until Russell met with Chamberlain and personally apologized. . [32] Russell became one of several big men who have brought about NCAA rule changes. [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. [80] Game 7 was tied one second before the end of regular time, when Lakers guard Rod Hundley faked a shot and passed out to Frank Selvy, who missed an open eight-foot last-second shot that would have won Los Angeles the title. Celebs, sports stars and fans are mourning the loss of NBA legend, Bill Russell. [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. 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. [21] Of Russell the college basketball player, Mikan said: "Let's face it, he's the best ever. The basketball star and his fourth wife Jeannine had continued to When he became player-coach in 1966, Russell bluntly said to his teammates that "he intended to cut all personal ties to other players" and seamlessly made the transition from their peer to their superior. 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. 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. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, San Francisco Dons men's basketball 195455 NCAA champions, San Francisco Dons men's basketball 195556 NCAA champions, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks, List of National Basketball Association single-game rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association rookie single-season rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-season rebounding leaders, List of NBA players with most championships, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders, "Bill Russell, Henri Richard Famous Elevens Gallery", "195356 NCAA Championship Seasons: The Bill Russell Years", "Bill Russell's Trailblazing Legacy Is Secure (Even If Stats Can't Measure It)", "Bill Russell Is A Champion By Defintion [sic]", "Where does Bill Russell rank among best centers in NBA history? [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. [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. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. Although the salary was touted in the press as a record for an NBA coach, it is unclear whether Russell's continued $100,001 salary as a player was included in the calculation. Born In: Monroe, Louisiana, United States. [181] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[181] they divorced in 1980. [41] While blocked shots were not a recorded basketball statistic during Russell's career, he averaged 8.1 blocks in 135 games, as Boston writers often attempted to tally his blocks. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. In his first NBA playoff game against the Syracuse Nationals in 1957, he finished with 16 points and 31 rebounds along with 7 blocks. I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. He is depicted in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing the 11 championships he helped the Celtics win. Born to William Bill Russell and his college sweetheart Rose Swisher a year into their marriage (December 9, 1956) on November 2, 1957, William Bill Felton The Celtics won, earning their first NBA championship. [69] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. 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. 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. Before his rookie year, he was made the captain of the U.S. national basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics. [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. [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. "[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. [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. "[208] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. His third marriage was to Marilyn Nault which lasted till her death in 2009. [113] His No. [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. [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. 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. [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. [53], Due to his Olympic commitment, Russell could not join the Celtics for the 195657 NBA season until December. [209] The close relationship ended after Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, when Chamberlain injured his knee with six minutes left and was forced to leave the game. [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. [4][8] While at USF, he and Jones helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop. 6 was retired in 1972; he also refused to attend his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Russells superstardom was special not just because of his amazing performances, what made his success even more special was the fact that he was the first African-American player in the NBA history to achieve such glory' he was also the first African-American to become an NBA coach. [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. But by his senior year, his game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot. They were together from 1956 to 1973. 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. [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.
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