[34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. July 31, 2022 1:50 PM PT. "[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. Auerbach knew that the Rochester Royals, who owned the first draft pick, already had a strong rebounder in Maurice Stokes, were looking for an outside shooting guard, and were unwilling to pay Russell the $25,000 signing bonus he requested. [107] West then hit one basket after the other and cut the lead to one, and Chamberlain asked to return to the game. Russell was married three times prior to Jeannine. 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. [49], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal . (Video: Reuters) In his prime, the goateed . After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. William Jr was born on November 2, 1957,. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston . As indicated, Bill Russell's children are Jacob Russell, Karen Russell, and William Russell Jr. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. 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. [109], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- 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. He led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 consecutive victories, and an unofficial double triple-double with 26 points, 27 rebounds, 20 blocks, 3 steals, and an assist. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy. What was Bill Russell's life like while he was racking up 11 rings? [164], Of Russell, former NBA player and head coach Don Nelson said: "There are two types of superstars. He took issue with a few things Brand said, and . [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. Twenty million England fans go wild across the country as Lionesses WIN nerve-shredding Euro final against Germany. Brown contacted Rochester owner Les Harrison and received an assurance that the Royals could not afford Russell, and they would draft Sihugo Green. In 1987, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times titled, Growing Up With Privilege and Prejudice.. He was born on November 2, 1957, and spent several years working for Cox Trucking. 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. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Bill Russell and Rose with their son, William Felton Jr, in 1958, Former Boston Celtics basketball star Bill Russell alongside his daughter, Karen Kenyatta Russell, England win Women's Euro 2022 LIVE REACTION: Party at Trafalgar Square as thousands celebrate, Queen sends praise, Proud captain Williamson vows to lap up England's Euros triumph and calls on fans to go to WSL games, We should be cheering on female footie stars in the same way we support the men, Women's football will never be the same again thanks to Lionesses' extraordinary victory, Adam Peaty stunned at Commonwealth Games as Brit hero loses 100m race for first time EVER and misses medal, England's Lionesses roar with pride as they celebrate their history-making Euro 2022 triumph. "[153] 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. Bill Russell was born to Charles and Katie Russell on February 12, 2022, in West Monroe, Louisiana. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. Bill Russell Speaks at Ceremony for New Statue, For the unveiling of the new statue in Boston City Hall Plaza, Bill Russell speaks about his career as both an athlete and activist, as well as the importance of mentoring and friendship. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. Russell had three children from his first marriage William . [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. 6 jersey", "Bill Russell Statue Unveiled At Boston City Hall", "Bill Russell statue to be unveiled Nov. 1", "City Hall Plaza statue honors Celtics' Bill Russell", "Basketball's Bill Russell joins the Bronze Age", "Russell Rule Diversity Hiring Commitment", "The University of San Francisco Honors the Memory of Marilyn Nault Russell", "Bill Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Bill Russell, legendary Celtics center and NBA coach, dead at 88", "Indomitable Russell Values One Accolade Above the Rest", "Police: NBA legend Bill Russell arrested with gun at airport", "Bill Russell, Basketball Great With Record 11 NBA Titles, Dies At 88", "Celtics legend, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell dies at 88", "What NBA salaries would these superstar players make today? They had three children: daughter Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. "[109][207] When his white Celtics teammate Frank Ramsey asked whether he hated him, Russell stated that he had been misquoted but few believed it. 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. [107], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes. Take away all the on-court accomplishments, and Russell still lived a life. . Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. At 85 years old, he is still active going to watch basketball games with his wife Jeannine Russell, as he shows in his Instagram account. The Bill Russell Legacy Foundation, established by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, funded the project. [219] 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". His wife name is Jeannine Russell. 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. [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. Thus, playing in this team has also added up to the overall . NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. Bill Russell only had children with his first wife Rose; they are Karen, Jacob, and William Russell Jr. Karen Russell. "[179], Russell was married to his college sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. In the year 1977, Bill got the divorce from his wife and married, Miss USA named, Dorothy Anstett. [106], 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. [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. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". [8][38] His awards and achievements include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons,[52] two of which were won as player-coach,[142] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. [110] 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. 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. [59] Despite their different ethnic backgrounds and lack of common off-court interests, his relationship with Cousy was amicable. [177], On August 2, 2020, the West Coast Conference (WCC), which has been home to Russell's alma mater of USF since the league's formation in 1952,[178][a] became the first NCAA Division I conference to adopt a conference-wide diversity hiring commitment, announcing the Russell Rule, named after Russell and based on the National Football League's Rooney Rule. 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. [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. In Game 2, Philadelphia evened the series with a 115106 win and then went on to win Games 3 and 4. 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. Bill Russell is an 11-time NBA champion, and 12-time All-Star and is perhaps the game's greatest champion. NBA great Bill Russell, who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years, died . 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. [174][175][176] During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added, honoring Russell's commitment to working with children. Bill Russell, one of the most important and accomplished athletes in history, died on Sunday at the age of 88 with his wife Jeannine by his side, his family announced. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. I wanted you to have the best possible education and to be able to make the best contacts. In 2010 Russell received . Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. [5][41], Besides basketball, Russell represented USF in track and field events. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." [128] On May 20, 2007, Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate by Suffolk University, where he served as its commencement speaker. I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. [126] Russell's Rules was published in 2001, and he convinced Miami Heat superstar center Shaquille O'Neal to bury the hatchet with fellow NBA superstar and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant and end the ShaqKobe feud in January 2006. http://t.co/rFfk4qnCEb, KarenKenyattaRussell (@Karen_Russell) June 19, 2013. The Internal Revenue Service discovered that Russell owed $34,430 in tax money and put a lien on his house. [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. A post shared by Bill Russell (@realbillrussell). Auerbach replied that Gottlieb's statements were "absolutely ridiculous" and said any controversy was "a question of sour grapes". @celtics . [112] His No. Bill marched with Martin Luther King Jr. when he delivered his "I Have a Dream . [224], 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. She and Bill tied the knot on December 9, 1956, and reportedly met in college. [14][191] The news was announced in a Twitter post by his family. Bill Russells Wives: Where Are They Now. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. Chamberlain often invited Russell over for Thanksgiving dinner; at Russell's place, conversation mostly concerned Russell's electric trains. They were college darlings. Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. Date of Death. They were all born to him during his marriage to his first wife, Rose Swisher. Therefore, on January 25, 2016, the 58-year-old passed away peacefully in his sleep in the comfort of the Mountain West place hed learned to call home alongside some of his closest loved ones. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. [88] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. 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. They had three children: daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr. and Jacob. [96], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. 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. [5] This took place during his last season (1969) and was the first season the NBA All-Defensive Teams were selected. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. Well, that let me know that if I were to accept these as the final judges of my career I would die a bitter old man." She never stopped talking to me. Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. [143] By winning the 1956 NCAA championship with USF and the 1957 NBA title with the Celtics,[144] 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. 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. I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. @NBATV before Game 6 of 2013 #NBAFinals. The two men did not speak to each other for more than twenty years until Russell met with Chamberlain and personally apologized. Unfortunately, everything changed in late 2015 as Bill was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer that had already spread to his liver, especially as it was too advanced to even consider surgery. Bill Russell (left), star of the Boston Celtics, is congratulated by coach Arnold "Red" Auerbach after scoring his 10,000th point in the NBA game against the Baltimore Bullets in Boston Garden on . [79] 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. Jones. 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. Johnny Havlicek stole the ball! Karen Russell was born on January 20th, 1962 . From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. [59] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. "[207] To teammates and friends, Russell was open and amicable; he was extremely distrusting and cold towards anyone else. [138][139] Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011. After all, every step he took was to ensure social change for the betterment of not just his family, his community, the game of basketball, and the entire sporting industry but also people in general. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic. [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. Although the middle child of Bill Sr. and Rose Swisher (born on July 6, 1959), Jacob is arguably the simplest member of the prominent Russell family in almost every sense of the term. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. 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. Bill Russell Personal life, Spouse & Trivia. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. Prior to Game 5, no NBA team had ever come back from a 31 deficit. 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. "[204] Russell was also known for his natural authority. Dorothy was reportedly a University of Washington English major at the time of her Miss USA win, and she genuinely intended on evolving into a teacher once everything was settled for good. Rest in Peace, Bill. 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. in the hope that they will grow up as we could not . Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. Bill Russell poses with his Championship rings in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1996. 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. [21][42] That year, Russell won high jump titles at the Central California Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet, the Pacific AAU meet, and the West Coast Relays (WCR). [192], During his career, Russell was one of the first big earners in NBA basketball. [196] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. Born on January 20, 1962, Karen is not just Bill Sr. and Roses youngest child but also their only daughter, meaning she was ostensibly always extremely close to both her parents. [183] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. (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. 9 December 1956. "[60] Before the 196162 season, Russell's team was scheduled to play in an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky, when Russell and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant. [77], In the 1962 NBA Finals, the Celtics met the Los Angeles Lakers of forward Elgin Baylor and guard Jerry West. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. [60] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! As if this isnt enough, her written pieces have been featured in the New York Times, the Seattle Times, and the Huffington Post, amongst many other publications, and she has a TEDx talk on Mentoring. As for Jeannines current standing, the former competitive professional golfer with several accolades in the Canadian Womens Tour seemingly still resides in Washington, where shes trying to deal with her grief in private. [154] 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). [152] 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]". "[98], 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. [150] He also had 51 in one game, 49 in two others, and twelve straight seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. [116], After retiring as a player, Russell had stints as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (19731977) and Sacramento Kings (19871988). At first, the couple was very happy. [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. [85] 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. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Although nearly 16 years younger than Bill Russell, Kansas native Marilyn Nault tied the knot with the basketball legend on . He was in the . Your IP: They were happily wed until 1973. Bill Russell (L) greets Jimmy Butler at the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. . William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. Shed do the same thing after games at home. He starred in college playing center at the University of San Francisco, leading the team to . The children from Bill's marriage to Rose include Karen Russell, William Russel Jr., and Jacob 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. [50] 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. He worked hard and used the benefits of a growth spurt to become a decent basketball player. Bill Russell Lifestyle 2021 Wife, Children, Family, Career, Net worth, Car & House-Bill Russell Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of . [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. [19], His father was said to be a "stern, hard man" who initially worked in a paper factory as a janitor, which was a typical "Negro Job"low-paid and not intellectually challenging, as sports journalist John Taylor commented. Arthur was a man of great courage. Advertisement. American basketball player and coach (19342022), 19561958: Rookie champion and early years, 19581966: Eight straight NBA championships, 19661969: Player-coach champion and final years, Racist abuse, controversy, and relationship with Boston fans. He was 88. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. ", "Glory at the Basket, William Felton Russell", "The Ring Leader: Bill Russell helped the Celtics rule their sport like no team ever has", "Celtics Name Russell Coach, Making Him First Negro to Lead Major Team", "A Farewell Fiercest Rival: Bill Russell Recalls Wilt As His Friend For Eternity", "Bill Russell: Working with Red Auerbach", "More than 40 years later, Celtics great Bill Russell finally accepts his Hall of Fame ring", "Third Annual 'We Are Boston' Event Honors Outstanding Contributions to Boston's Diversity", "Bill Russell: 'Tell those NFL players, I'm with them', UPI College Basketball Player of the Year Award, Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player, 1955 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1956 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, Wayland Baptist Women's Teams (19481982), NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Russell&oldid=1142551823, African-American male track and field athletes, African-American sports executives and administrators, All-American college men's basketball players, American sports executives and administrators, Basketball players at the 1956 Summer Olympics, Basketball players from Oakland, California, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association broadcasters, National Basketball Association championship-winning head coaches, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, San Francisco Dons men's basketball players, San Francisco Dons men's track and field athletes, Track and field athletes from Oakland, California, United States men's national basketball team players, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 01:53. He wrote these words after recounting how grandfather Jake Russell had stood up to the Ku Klux Klan and other whites who attempted to thwart his efforts to build a schoolhouse for black children; his grandfather was the first person in Russell's patrilineal line born free in North America and was himself illiterate. 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." Thats because it features not just first-hand accounts of some of the most renowned basketball experts but also archival footage to really explore every aspect of the titular athletes actual being. [66] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill 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.



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