[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. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. 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). Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. [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. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. He most likely would have led the league in blocked shots many times, but the NBA had not yet started keeping track of the statistic. 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. [99] His second choice was Cousy, who declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. But by his senior year, his game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot. [5][41] His stint as coach of the Celtics was also of historical significance,[147][148] as he became the first black head coach in the NBA,[14] when he succeeded Red Auerbach. "[208] To teammates and friends, Russell was open and amicable; he was extremely distrusting and cold towards anyone else. 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 [119] Russell also served as general manager of the SuperSonics during his coaching tenure,[120] and held the same position with the Kings during the 198889 season. [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. "[215], In 1966, Russell was promoted to head coach of the Celtics. 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. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Russell was "the greatest champion in all of team sports". It's all over! [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. Bill Russell The NBA Finals MVP Award was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in his honour in 2009. "[205] Russell was also known for his natural authority. [87] The Celtics reached the 1963 NBA Finals,[88] where they again defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, this time in six games. [169] In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of theleague's 75 greatest players of all-time. And so the Celticsall we looked for was: 'Can he play?' [110][221], Russell refused to attend the ceremony when his jersey No. WebBill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. [59], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. WebBill Russell as seen in an Instagram Post in July 2019 (Bill Russell / Instagram) Bill Russell Facts. [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. [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. He is depicted in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing the 11 championships he helped the Celtics win. [161] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. [110], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. Bill Russell: Early Life and Education. In 2010 Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the countrys highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama. [85] President John F. Kennedy posed for a picture with Auerbach and the nine Celtics but not Russell, who overslept because he thought it was just a tour of the White House and did not know President Kennedy would be meeting them. [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. "[27] In an autobiographical account, Russell said that while on a California High School All-Stars tour, he became obsessed with studying and memorizing other players' moves, e.g., footwork such as which foot they moved first on which play, as preparation for defending against them, which included practicing in front of a mirror at night. He reasoned that if Saperstein was too smart to speak with him, then he was too smart to play for Saperstein. 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. [139][140] Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011. They were together from 1956 to 1973. 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 the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. [188], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. He is said to have made a conscious decision to put the team first and foremost, and not worry about individual achievements. Bill Russell And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. [111] 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". Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. [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 married former Miss USA, Dorothy Anstett, a white woman, in 1977. [171], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. [108], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes. 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. Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game. 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, Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. His father gave up his trucking job and became a steelworker in order to be closer to his children. 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. [94], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. [152] He played in eleven deciding games (ten times in Game 7s, once in a Game 5) and ended with a 110 record. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. "[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. Bill Russell died at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, on July 31, 2022. In the last play, Sam Jones used a triple screen by Bailey Howell, Larry Siegfried, and Havlicek to hit a buzzer beater that equalized the series. [5][97], In the 196566 NBA season, Russell contributed 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. 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. .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. [5] Russell was known as one of the most clutch players in the NBA. [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 NCAA had previously prohibited goaltending in response to George Mikan (1945) and later banned the dunk shot due to Lew Alcindor (1967), although the latter rule was later repealed. [193], During his career, Russell was one of the first big earners in NBA basketball. [21] In delivering a eulogy for Chamberlain, Russell stated that he did not consider them to be rivals, but rather to have a competition, and that the pair would "be friends through eternity". During his three-year varsity career, in which he led the team to consecutive NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. It would be to our advantage if we paid him off for five years to get away from us in the rest of this series. Bill Russell "[208] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. [207], Russell was known for his distinctive high-pitched laugh, of which Auerbach quipped: "There are only two things that could make me quit coaching. During Russell's college career, the conference was known as the California Basketball Association. The Celtics played against the Philadelphia Warriors in November 1959. [72][73] In the 1960 NBA Finals, the Celtics outlasted the Hawks 43 in the series and won their third championship in four years. [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. [185][186] He was a resident of Mercer Island, Washington, for over four decades. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for that season. Bill Russell Children: Meet Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr Celebs, sports stars and fans are mourning the loss of NBA legend, Bill Russell. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". I averaged over 20 points and over 20 rebounds, and I was the only guy in college blocking shots. [89] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. [118] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. Bill Russell "[202], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. They had three children and divorced in 1973. A cause of death wasnt given, nor did a family statement say where he died. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. [57] In previous years, the Celtics had been a high-scoring team but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out tight games. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. 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. [151] He also had 51 in one game, 49 in two others, and twelve straight seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. 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. Russell's 51 rebounds in a single game is the second-highest performance ever, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 55. August 1, 2022 NBA reacts to The couple grew emotionally distant and divorced. [50], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. Bill Russell, one of the greatest Boston Celtics and NBA players ever, died, his family said Sunday. In a game called as "unreal" and "devoid of emotion", the Sixers lost 127118 on April 5. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. 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. [168] On June 15, 2017, Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. Russell limited Chamberlain to only two shot attempts in the second half. [79] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. Hewas married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. [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). [38] He became known for his strong defense and shot-blocking skills, once denying 13 shots in a game. In these eleven games, Russell averaged 18.3 points and 29.4 rebounds. 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. In 1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to start three African-American players: K. C. Jones, Hal Perry, and Russell. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led [132] On June 18, 2007, Russell was inducted as a member of the founding class of the FIBA Hall of Fame. Russell said he was "proud of my grandfather's heroic dignity against forces more powerful than him he would not allow himself to be oppressed or intimidated by anyone." [159][160] In 2007, he was voted the third best center of all-time by ESPN behind Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. [5], Despite his limitations on offense, as Russell averaged 15.1 points per game, his rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. [101] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. [78] 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. 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. 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. Bill Russell's Wives Now: Where Are They Today? 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. [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). How many kids did Bill Russell have? Exploring the lives And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. Bill Russell Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life Bill Russellwas born to Charles and Katie Russell on February 12, 2022, inWest Monroe, Louisiana. [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. [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. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." [38] Russell led the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game for the competition. Prior to Game 5, no NBA team had ever come back from a 31 deficit. [206] At the time his additional role of coach was announced, Russell publicly stated he believed Red Auerbach's impact as a coach confined every or almost every relationship with each Celtic player to a strictly professional one. He was married four times and had three children. The fans could do or think whatever they wanted. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. He was selected by the Boston Celtics during the 1956 NBA Draft because of his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess. 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. According to Taylor, he often perceived insults even if others did not. [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. [128] On November 17, the two-time NCAA champion Russell was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Bill Russell 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. Bill Russells Kids Now: Where Are They Today? Update [50] Boston's chances of getting Russell seemed slim because they had finished second in the previous season and the worst teams had the highest draft picks, and the Celtics had slipped too low in the draft order to pick Russell. He played 48 games with an average of 14.7 points per game and 19.6 rebounds per game. 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. 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. The Internal Revenue Service discovered that Russell owed $34,430 in tax money and put a lien on his house. 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. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a [224] 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. [8][38] His awards and achievements include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons,[53] two of which were won as player-coach,[143] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. [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). As Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry, the press speculated that Russell was worn down. [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. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha and Jacob. [5] The Russell draft-day trade was later called one of the most important trades in the history of North American sports. [50][64] In the second overtime, both teams were in serious foul trouble: Heinsohn had fouled out, and the Hawks were so depleted that they had only seven players left. He ended his playing career at the age of 35. [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 grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. And so the guy that owned the Celtics [Walter Brown] was [in addition to Auerbach for whom Russell expressed 'respect' and 'actual love'] another one of the fine, good, and decent human beings that I've ever encountered. 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. [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. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. 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 Bill Russell was born on 12 February 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. [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". He was 88. "[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. [57] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. "[66], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. [210] He was livid with Russell and saw him as a backstabber. [78], In the 1962 NBA Finals, the Celtics met the Los Angeles Lakers of forward Elgin Baylor and guard Jerry West. Bill Russell Age, Net Worth, Wife, Family and Biography I was first team All American. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! He passed away peacefully with his wife next to him. Bill Russell was a once-in-a-generation activist athlete who made all around him better. "[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 relationship between the two was tenuous at best. Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. Bill Russell I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. 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. Best Known For: Hailed as the greatest winner in sports, Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons. [20] Russell stated that his father became his childhood hero, later followed up by Minneapolis Lakers superstar George Mikan, whom he met when he was in high school. [6][7][8][9] Standing at 6ft 10in (2.08m) tall, with a 7ft 4in (2.24m) arm span,[10][11] his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were major reasons for the Celtics' dominance during his career. [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.