(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. The Bill Russell Legacy Foundation, established by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, funded the project. Prior to Game 5, no NBA team had ever come back from a 31 deficit. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was. It notably did not mention the COVID-19 vaccine as his cause of death, so anyone who claims that they did (looking at Jason Pires of Vancouver Times!) [49] He ranks No. 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. I was the MVP at the Final Four. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. [101], In the 196768 NBA season, the 34-year-old Russell averaged 12.5 points per game and 18.6 rebounds per game,[1] the latter of which was good enough for the third-highest average in the league. [60], 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,[61] where the Celtics met with the Syracuse Nationals, a team led by Dolph Schayes, through the Eastern Division Finals. Bill Russell parents Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast and furious . Around that time, according to John Taylors book, The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball, they grew emotionally distant and divorced. Both of them had three children together. 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, according to a family statement from. Asked by Russell what was wrong, his grandfather replied how proud he was of him, being coach of an organization in which blacks and whites coexisted in harmony. [88] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. His nickname is Russell William Ellis. 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. [53] His former USF and future Celtics teammate K. C. Jones joined him on the Olympic squad and contributed 10.9 points per game,[54] including a RussellJones combined 29 points in the finals. The relationship between the two was tenuous at best. [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. 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. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. Suddenly, his grandfather broke down crying. [192] When Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to earn $100,000 in salary in 1965 (equivalent to $859,873 in 2021), Russell went to Auerbach and demanded a $100,001 salary, which he promptly received. The 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday. Career, Awards, and Achievements [163], Of Russell, former NBA player and head coach Don Nelson said: "There are two types of superstars. [56] 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". 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. When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. [105] 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. Early years Family. Powered by. 6 jersey would be retired throughout the National Basketball Association, the first time a jersey had been retired league-wide in NBA history, and joining Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky in the honor among the four major American sports leagues. [65] The teams split the first two games, but Russell went down with a foot injury in Game 3 and only returned for Game 6. As the teams split the first six games, the tension was so high that in Game 3 Celtics coach Auerbach punched his colleague Ben Kerner and received a $300 fine. In honoring the legendary athlete, ESPN writes that recipients of the distinguished award, reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. [222] In 1995, the Celtics left the Boston Garden and entered the FleetCenter, now known as the TD Garden; as the main festive act, the Celtics wanted to re-retire Russell's jersey in front of a sellout audience. Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years - the last two as the first Black head coach in any major US sport - and marched for. 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. [109] According to Taylor, Russell discounted the fact that his career was facilitated by white people who were proven anti-racists: his high school coach George Powles, who encouraged him to play basketball, his college coach Phil Woolpert, who integrated USF basketball, Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who made him the first black NBA coach and is regarded as an anti-racist pioneer for his no color barrier, and Celtics owner Walter A. Rusell states, It was one bedroom, so my brother and I both had rollaway beds. He's so good, he scares you. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. [119] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. Dorothy, according to a 1968 Associated Press article, was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. [180] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[181] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. [93], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. Rose Swisher (1956-1973) - Bill began dating his college acquaintance Rose Swisher in 1956, his senior year in college. 6 jersey to be retired throughout NBA", "NBA players who currently wear No. 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. By profession, Karen is an attorney and political expert. American baseball player and coach. [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! He included the picture below. [156] Russell ranked No. [56] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. Dorothy, who went by Didi, hailed from Kirkland, Washington, and went on to compete at the Miss Universe Pageant in July in Miami Beach of that same year. http://t.co/rFfk4qnCEb, KarenKenyattaRussell (@Karen_Russell) June 19, 2013. While Saperstein spoke to Woolpert in a meeting, Globetrotters assistant coach Harry Hanna tried to entertain Russell with jokes, but he was livid after this snub and declined the offer. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. "[206] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. [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. Following Chamberlain's death in October 1999, Russell returned to prominence at the turn of the millennium. [135] 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. [58], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. To coach the Celtics, he had initially wanted his old player Frank Ramsey, who was too occupied running his three lucrative nursing homes. 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. [198][199] Russell's motto became: "If you disrespect that line, you disrespect me. In the piece, she explains how she experienced such privilege in her life at times, but how she was also met with periods of intense racism and sexism. [77] In the Eastern Division championships of the 1962 NBA playoffs, the Celtics met the Philadelphia Warriors led by Chamberlain, who averaged 50 points per game that season, and Russell did his best to slow him down. [19], During World War II, the Second Great Migration began, as large numbers of blacks were moving to the West to look for work there. The couple grew emotionally distant and divorced. [107] The teams split the next two games and it all came down to Game 7 in Los Angeles, where Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke angered and motivated the Celtics by putting "proceedings of Lakers victory ceremony" on the game leaflets. [136] Russell attended Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals to present Bryant the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award. KEY POINTS. [147][148], 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. Updated: July 31, 2022 Biography ID: 192868748 Jump to: Biography Memories Family Tree 1 Follower William Russell's Biography [117] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. As part of the 1961 Celtics boycott, he and the other black teammates refused to play in the exhibition game and flew home, drawing a great deal of controversy and publicity. "[49], In the 195960 NBA season, the NBA witnessed the debut of 7ft 1in (2.16m) Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged a record 37.6 points per game in his rookie year. He was preceded in . [20] Russell was closer to his mother Katie than to his father,[20] and he received a major emotional blow when she suddenly died when he was 12 years old. Arthur was a man of great courage. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972,[113] Russell had worn the same number 6 at the USF and for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years . Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. [185] His older brother was the noted playwright Charlie L. According to Taylor, he often perceived insults even if others did not. Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. With a flair for defense never before seen on a basketball court, allied with an uncanny ability to excel under pressure and an indomitable will to win, Russell dominated the game of basketball from his earliest days as a student . The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. [49], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. Well, Karen Kenyatta had four important members in her family. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. [94] In Game 5, Russell contributed with 12 points, 28 rebounds, and 7 assists, plus 10 blocks and 6 steals; blocks and steals became officially recorded statistics in the 197374 NBA season. As Russell takes to the stage to accept the award, some fans may grow curious about his family and children. [49] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959 and lives in Renton, Washington with his 44-year-old wife Sara Marckx Russell. [161] In 2022, he was ranked No. [56] In previous years, the Celtics had been a high-scoring team but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out tight games. 1 in NBA history for defensive win shares at 133.6, with Tim Duncan in second at 106.3. Avery Brundage, head of the International Olympic Committee, argued that Russell had already signed a professional sport contract and was no longer an amateur sportsman, but Russell prevailed. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. Johnny Havlicek stole the ball! At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. [47], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. Gottlieb stated: "Our Paul Arizin went underneath for a simple backboard lay-up, and as the ball traveled down towards the basket, Russell batted it away. [144] He also won two state championships in high school. Bill Russell- a pioneer of NBA, legendary player, Hall of Famer, activist, and Boston Celtics icon who had bagged five MVPs awards and 11 Championships in his career, died on July 31, 2022, due to natural reasons at his home at the age of 88. [103], 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. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "FULL KYRIE IRVING and GORDON HAYWARD CELTICS Press Conference" youtube.com/watch?v=f7FoDj4-Nzw -~-~~-~~~-~~-~-, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times. Bill Russell passed away peacefully at age 88 Sunday with his wife Jeannine by his side, according to his family; The NBA legend played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969 Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. The couple got divorced in 1973. Bill Russell's Parents Charles Russell and Katie Russell are his parents. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana.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. [5] This took place during his last season (1969) and was the first season the NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected. If you were too sheltered, Im afraid youd be too naive. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. "[109][206] When his white Celtics teammate Frank Ramsey asked whether he hated him, Russell stated that he had been misquoted but few believed it. [68] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. 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. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. 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. A 1987 essay by Bill Russell's daughter detailed racism the family faced in Mass. The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. He didn't. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. Bill Russell with his coach, Red Auerbach, in December 1964 after scoring his 10,000th career point in a game in Boston Garden. Russell, a longtime Mercer Island resident died on Sunday at the age of 88. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. [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. "We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends." His family said that arrangements for Russell's memorial service will be announced in the coming days. Born on November 2, 1957, in Melrose, Massachusetts, William Felton Russell Jr. worked for Cox Trucking for several years. [5][41] His stint as coach of the Celtics was also of historical significance,[145][146] as he became the first black head coach in the NBA,[14] when he succeeded Red Auerbach. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. You are less. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. 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? She already does volunteer work as a tutor for underprivileged children in her hometown.. William Lane Russell (Bill), age 78 of Tunnel Hill, Georgia died unexpectedly on November 24, 2020. [201] 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. Your login session has expired. He won more championships than any other NBA player and made the Boston Celtics one of the most successful franchises in the league's history. Russell had three children with his first wife; two sons and a daughter. [56], Russell was an elite help defender who allowed the Celtics to play the "Hey, Bill" defense: whenever a Celtic requested additional defensive help, he would shout "Hey, Bill!" However, it is reported that he lives with his wife Sara Marckx Russell in Washington State. [56] Russell never had to work part-time. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. We didnt have much, but there is something my father said: It is not what you give, but what you share, for the gift without the giver is bare. My fathers philosophy was, Always share what I have., Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. In the first two games, Russell ordered his players not to double-team West, who used the freedom to score 53 and 41 points in the Game 1 and 2 Laker wins. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. 1962) (TV Pundit, Lawyer) and 2 sons named William Russell Jr. and Jacob Russell. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. He was 88. @NBATV before Game 6 of 2013 #NBAFinals. I was able to separate the Celtics institution from the city and the fans. ___ [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. [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. He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. [14][190] The news was announced in a Twitter post by his family. 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. By Amanda Kaufman Globe Staff, Updated August 1, 2022, 3:42 p.m. Boston Celtics player-coach Bill Russell. "[164] 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. In 1977, four years after his divorce from Rose Swisher, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, who was Miss USA 1968. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. [110] Russell notified Auerbach that he was resigning to join a career in television and movies "in order to find new sources of income for the future". The two men did not speak to each other for more than twenty years until Russell met with Chamberlain and personally apologized. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. Over the course of his life, Rusell played 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, during which time he took home 11 championships titles with the team. [48], 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. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers), are grandfatheredthey may keep the number until they voluntarily change it or retirebut the number will not be issued again to a new player. 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. Cash in on NFL Wild Card Weekend: Bet $5, Get $150 in Free Bets. 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. [15], Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. That did not happen My junior year in college, I had what I thought was the one of the best college seasons ever. [21] Of Russell the college basketball player, Mikan said: "Let's face it, he's the best ever. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. 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. Karen appears frequently on CNN, MSNBC, and TruTV as a legal and political analyst. No cause of death was immediately available; Russell, who had been living in the Seattle area, was not well enough to present the NBA Finals MVP trophy in June due to a long illness. He replied: "Yes." He was 88. At one point, the article reads, The girl [Dorothy] listed as one of lifes ambitions the chance to teach high school for mentally retarded children. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. 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. The statement did not give. [32] Russell became one of several big men who have brought about NCAA rule changes. His third marriage happened in the year 2009 with Marilyn Nault. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Sportskeeda's best Risk-Free bets from legal Sportsbooks. [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,[97] in a 9593 win in Game 7. Ensa, 44, died of renal failure on Friday, leaving behind a husband and . In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. Karen Kenyatta Russell is the daughter of NBA Icon Bill Russel. [55] 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. [1] The 195657 Boston Celtics season saw the debut of a starting lineup made up of five future Hall-of-Famers: center Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. The champion marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights. [172] The statue was unveiled on November 1, 2013, with Russell in attendance. "Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever," Silver added. 6 was retired in 1972; he also refused to attend his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1975. I was first team All American. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. [71][72] In the 1960 NBA Finals, the Celtics outlasted the Hawks 43 in the series and won their third championship in four years. If you were too sheltered, you might not be motivated to help others who do not have your advantages.'. Family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism Finals to present Bryant NBA. Marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights resident died on Sunday, July,! Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad he moved Oakland. In fast and furious Russell returned to prominence at the age of 88, poured! 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Russell Jr. worked for Cox Trucking for several years 6 assists tenuous best... Im afraid youd be too naive the Minneapolis Lakers 40 owner of the National basketball Association ( )...: `` if you were too sheltered, Im afraid youd be too....

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