Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game. Bill Russell is a 74 years old American baseball player and coach from Monroe, Louisiana. [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. [116], After retiring as a player, Russell had stints as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (19731977) and Sacramento Kings (19871988). [120] Perennially wary of what he long perceived as a racist city, Russell decided to make amends and gave his approval. In Game 2, Philadelphia evened the series with a 115106 win and then went on to win Games 3 and 4. is LYING to you. "[5] The Sixers outpaced the Celtics when they shredded the famed Boston defense by scoring 140 points in the clinching Game 5 win. [5][41], Besides basketball, Russell represented USF in track and field events. Russell articulated these views with a measure of self-criticism, saying: "I consider this a deficiency in myselfmaybe. Auerbach had informed his players to not endorse candidates or causes, as it would alienate fans; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. 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. 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. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. [56] Russell never had to work part-time. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Be the first one to comment on this story. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. [109] In response, Russell described Boston as a "flea market of racism". But as her wife was white they got divorced in 1980. [56] 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. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. 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. Russell limited Chamberlain to only two shot attempts in the second half. Bill Russell got married to his girlfriend, Rose Swisher in the year 1956. [5][49], 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. He's so good, he scares you. [142] By winning the 1956 NCAA championship with USF and the 1957 NBA title with the Celtics,[143] 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. [18], Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. 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. Karen Kenyatta Russell is the daughter of NBA Icon Bill Russel. "Bill's wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you . [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. [47], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. FILE - Boston Celtics legendary player Bill Russell is greeted at his seat before Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers . Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named William Russell Jr & Jacob Russell from the wedlock. [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. His nickname is Russell William Ellis. 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. He was 88. From the humblest of beginnings, Russell went on to lead each and every one of his basketball teams to Championships two California State High School Championships, two back-to-back NCAA titles, a Gold . 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. American baseball player and coach. 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. [2] Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. Their 4834 record was the team's worst since the 195556 NBA season and they entered the 1969 NBA playoffs as the fourth-seeded team in the East. [52] The U.S. dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points per game. Early years Family. Russell's family announced the legendary NBA center died at 88. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. If you were too sheltered, Im afraid youd be too naive. Her later father, Bill . NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. Both of them had three children together. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! He included the picture below. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- 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. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[162] and No. [49] He ranks No. Following Chamberlain's death in October 1999, Russell returned to prominence at the turn of the millennium. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. [60] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! The couple got divorced in 1973. This was the first time in seven years that he failed to average at least 23 rebounds a game. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. [5] In addition, Russell holds the NBA Finals single-game record for most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960, vs. St. Louis, and April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), and most consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds (15 from April 9, 1960 April 16, 1963). Bill Russell, who earned 11 NBA championship rings during his career, died on Sunday with his wife Jeannine by his side . [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. 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. Ensa, 44, died of renal failure on Friday, leaving behind a husband and . [187] Russell was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, having been initiated into its Gamma Alpha chapter while a student at University of San Francisco. [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". [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. As Russell takes to the stage to accept the award, some fans may grow curious about his family and children. [196], In 1966, The New York Times wrote that "Russell's main characteristics are pride, intelligence, an active and appreciative sense of humor, a preoccupation with dignity, a capacity for consideration once his friendship or sympathy has been aroused, and an unwillingness to compromise whatever truths he has accepted. "[22], During his early years, Russell struggled to develop his skills as a basketball player. [26], Russell soon became noted for his unusual style of defense. I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. 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. He is quoted by Fox Sports as saying that his father lived in Louisiana. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. [65] 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. The NBA family just learned this afternoon that Bill Russell, the 11-time champion and Hall of Fame icon of the Boston Celtics, who used that fame to further the civil rights cause in the. 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. [18][168] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. [198][199] Russell's motto became: "If you disrespect that line, you disrespect me. [102] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. [188] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. 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. Particularly if you live a long life. Bill marched with Martin Luther King Jr. when he delivered his "I Have a Dream . The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Still, there was constantly a flow of people from Louisiana that my father would let stay with us. Bill Russell with his coach, Red Auerbach, in December 1964 after scoring his 10,000th career point in a game in Boston Garden. [4] In his USF years, Russell took advantage of his relative lack of bulk to develop a unique defensive style: instead of purely guarding the opposing center, he used his quickness and speed to play help defense against opposing forwards and aggressively challenge their shots. "[152] 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. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. [50], 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. "[216] 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. By profession, Karen is an attorney and political expert. 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. He has three children named Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr., and Karen Russell. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast and furious . In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. ___ ", "Basketball Players who Caused Rule Changes by Ron Kurtus", "The Bill Russell Story: More Than A Champion", "NCAA Basketball Tourney History: Two by Four", "Stanford Trackmen Finish Fourth in Fresno Relays; Leamon King Equals Century World Record; Landy Runs Mile in 3.59.1; Russell Nears Mark", "Bill Russell attempting to clear 69 1/4. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. [98] On April 16, 1966, Russell agreed to become head coach of the Celtics, and a public announcement was made two days later. Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in . 4 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time, the second best center behind Abdul-Jabbar and ahead of Chamberlain. When the Sixers' Hall-of-Fame guard Hal Greer inbounded, Havlicek stole the ball, causing Celtics commentator Johnny Most to scream: "Havlicek stole the ball! Karen has served as the Development Director for the Robert F Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights and has also contributed to publications like The New York Times. He cherished fond memories of his childhood in the Park Cities, graduating from Highland Park High School in 1953. [115] 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 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. 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. As a freshman at McClymonds High School in Oakland,[23][24] Russell was almost cut again;[25] as he saw Russell's raw athletic potential, coach George Powles encouraged him to work on his fundamentals. Physical Appearance Bill Russell is a young-looking smart and handsome man with a charming and dashing personality. When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. 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 growing up. He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. Mr. Russell has a large family and a large number of friends who are proud of him for his services to society. Russell died on Sunday at the age of 88 with his wife Jeannine by his side, his family said in a statement on Twitter. [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. [163], Of Russell, former NBA player and head coach Don Nelson said: "There are two types of superstars. [159] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. [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. A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. August 1, 2022 9:47 AM Bill Russell discusses his views on race and being a barrier breaker in the 1960s. [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. [59] Despite their different ethnic backgrounds and lack of common off-court interests, his relationship with Cousy was amicable. [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,[92] along with 27 points and 6 assists. The Lakers featured new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West, and were the favorites. [50], The St. Louis Hawks, who owned the second pick, drafted Russell but were vying for Celtics center Ed Macauley, a six-time NBA All-Star who had roots in St. Louis. [5] Russell is the all-time playoff leader in total (4,104) and average (24.9) rebounds per game, he grabbed 40 rebounds in three separate playoff games (twice in the NBA Finals), and he never failed to average at least 20 rebounds per game in any of his thirteen playoff campaigns. Russell scored 15.0 points per game and grabbed a career-high 24.7 rebounds per game, leading the NBA in rebounds for the first time since Chamberlain entered the league. He had invested $250,000 in a rubber plantation in Liberia, where he had wanted to spend his retirement, but it went bankrupt. [70] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. [49][63] 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. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing,[109] was not there; he ended his career and cut all ties to the Celtics. [98] Third choice Tom Heinsohn also said no because he did not think he could handle the often surly Russell,[98] whom he proposed as a player-coach. 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. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Prior to Game 5, no NBA team had ever come back from a 31 deficit. . In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. [179] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[179] they divorced in 1980. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. I was first team All American. Boston Celtics fans say Bill Russell was so much more than a basketball star. In these eleven games, Russell averaged 18.3 points and 29.4 rebounds. He was born on October 21, 1948 in Monroe, Louisiana as William Felton Russell. [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. In Game 4, the Celtics were trailing by one point with seven seconds left and the Lakers had the ball until Baylor stepped out of bounds. [118] Russell then served as general manager of the Kings during the 198889 season. 2. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. @NBA: The great Bill Russell joins the fellas, live on . He didn't. [160] In 2020, he was ranked No. [51] During that same draft, Boston also drafted guard K. C. Jones, Russell's former USF teammate, and managed to draft three future Basketball Hall of Famers: Russell, Jones, and Heinsohn. [49][89], In the 196364 NBA season, the Celtics posted a league-best 5822 record in the regular season. [208], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. This attitude contributed to his bad rapport with fans and journalists. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. She used to admire her father, a national basketball player. [56] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. He revealed that his mother died when he was 12. [186], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. "Our house was in a shambles, and 'N***A' was spray-painted on the walls. Russell won 11 NBA championships, five league MVPs and also became the first Black head coach. [140], Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and. 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. [76], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. [61] Russell scored 21 points and grabbed an NBA Finals-record 40 rebounds, plus an assist, in a Game 2 loss,[73] and he added 22 points and 35 rebounds, along with 4 assists,[74] in the deciding Game 7, a 122103 victory for Boston. [66] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. [4][8] While at USF, he and Jones helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop. [44] Like fellow world-class high-jumpers of that era, Russell did not use the Fosbury Flop high-jump technique with which all high jump world records after 1978 have been set. "[165] During the NBA All-Star Weekend on February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals MVP award would be named after Russell. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. "[49] That playoff series ended in a dramatic Game 7, when the Sixers were trailing 110109 five seconds before the end, but Russell turned over the ball. So after the season was over, they had a Northern California banquet, and they picked another center as Player of the Year in Northern California. "[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. I like most blacks because I am black." The Boston Celtics legend, who won 11 NBA championships as a player, including two as a player-coach, on his way to the Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 88, his family announced Sunday. [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. [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. [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. Tonight, Bull Russell will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs. Auerbach replied that Gottlieb's statements were "absolutely ridiculous" and said any controversy was "a question of sour grapes". 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. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. 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. [86] The Celtics reached the 1963 NBA Finals,[87] where they again defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, this time in six games. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". 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. 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