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. Many people thought that Russell was more important even though he had only played half the season. Well, Karen Kenyatta had four important members in her family. KEY POINTS. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. August 1, 2022 9:47 AM Bill Russell discusses his views on race and being a barrier breaker in the 1960s. She graduated as an English Major from the University of Washington. [58], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. [38] He became known for his strong defense and shot-blocking skills, once denying 13 shots in a game. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. He was born on October 21, 1948 in Monroe, Louisiana as William Felton Russell. "[206] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. Bill Russell was born to Charles and Katie Russell on February 12, 2022, in West Monroe, Louisiana. 2. [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. [102] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. Bill Russell with his coach, Red Auerbach, in December 1964 after scoring his 10,000th career point in a game in Boston Garden. When their family uprooted to Oakland, California, they lived in the projects. 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. [38] Russell led the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game for the competition. She is a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. 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 retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. 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. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Early years Family. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". 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. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. They were together from 1956 to 1973. I wanted you to have the best possible education and to be able to make the best contacts. I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. You are less. [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. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. [56] In previous years, the Celtics had been a high-scoring team but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out tight games. Bill Russell has three children. [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. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. . He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game. [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. @NBA: The great Bill Russell joins the fellas, live on . [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. [49] 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). The burglars had poured beer on the pool table and ripped up the felt," Karen wrote in the . 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. The Celtics made good use of the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers had exhausted the St. Louis Hawks in a long seven-game Western Conference Finals,[75] and Boston won the 1961 NBA Finals in five games. If you were too sheltered, Im afraid youd be too naive. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. [56] Auerbach assigned him to shut down the Hawks' main scorer and Russell impressed the Boston crowd with his man-to-man defense and shot-blocking. 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. [57] Gottlieb protested the next day, saying that Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, to only be called once. 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. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. Bill Russell's legacy of lonely courage in the fight against hate Kevin Cullen Dan McGowan The Rhode Island Senate president's final words for Providence Mayor Elorza YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED We. Constantly provoked by New York Knicks center Ray Felix during a game, he complained to coach Auerbach, who told him to take matters into his own hands. [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. [107] It was so surprising that Auerbach was blindsided and made the mistake of drafting guard Jo Jo White instead of a center. He revealed that his mother died when he was 12. He was 88. She works as an attorney, corporate trainer, and political strategist, according to the Huffington Post. 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 Hall of Famer was 88. In addition, Auerbach had already used his NBA territorial pick to acquire talented forward Tom Heinsohn. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. [220] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. They are: Karen Rusell, William Russell Jr., and Jacob Russell. [1] The NBA reasoned that other centers were better all-round players than Russell but no player was more valuable to his team. A morass to fight from. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. He is depicted in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing the 11 championships he helped the Celtics win. "[200], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. Bill Russell siblings [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". [70] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. [167] In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of theleague's 75 greatest players of all-time. [19], His father was described as 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. "Our house was in a shambles, and 'N***A' was spray-painted on the walls. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. [142][155] Russell is universally seen as one of the best NBA players ever,[5] and he was declared "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980. I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. [195] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. [140], Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. [19] While there, they fell into poverty and Russell spent his childhood living in a series of public housing projects. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. The Celtics won, earning their first NBA championship. [144] He also won two state championships in high school. When Chamberlain died in 1999, Chamberlain's nephew said that Russell was the second person he was told to call. [68] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. [71][72] In the 1960 NBA Finals, the Celtics outlasted the Hawks 43 in the series and won their third championship in four years. 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. [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. [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,[141] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. 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. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. "[178], 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. [101] Russell acknowledged the first real loss of his career, as he had been injured when the Celtics lost the 1958 NBA Finals, by visiting Chamberlain in the locker room, shaking his hand, and saying: "Great. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. [100] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. He reasoned that if Saperstein was too smart to speak with him, then he was too smart to play for Saperstein. By Bay City News and NBC Bay Area staff Published July 31, 2022 Updated on August 1, 2022 at 1:20 am. When he became player-coach in 1966, Russell bluntly said to his teammates that "he intended to cut all personal ties to other players" and seamlessly made the transition from their peer to their superior. [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. [193][194] For his promotion to coach, the Celtics paid Russell an annual salary of $25,000 which was in addition to his salary as a player. He was convinced that the U.S. was a corrupt nation and that he was wasting his time playing something as superficial as basketball. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. It's all over! [107], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes. Born on November 2, 1957, in Melrose, Massachusetts, William Felton Russell Jr. worked for Cox Trucking for several years. [119] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years . [1] Before the January 31, 1963, 18-point, 22-rebound performance in a 128125 win against the Cincinnati Royals at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland,[83] the Celtics were to tour the White House and Russell had a "Do not disturb" sign on his phone. 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. 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. [109] The same fate awaited his Boston restaurant Slade's, after which he had to default on a $90,000 government loan to purchase the outlet. [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. BOSTON - Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, his family announced. [21], Under head coach Gerald Tucker, Russell helped the U.S. national basketball team win the gold medal in Melbourne, defeating the Soviet Union national basketball team 8955 in the final game with an 80 undefeated run. He went peacefully with his loving wife and children by his side. [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. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. [208], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. A 1987 essay by Bill Russell's daughter detailed racism the family faced in Mass. [156] Russell ranked No. 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. Charlie was an actor known for his play, Five on the black hand side. "[65], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. His family posted the news on social media, saying his wife, Jeannine, was by his side. 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. [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. [49], 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. [14][190] The news was announced in a Twitter post by his family. In addition to Macauley, who was the Celtics' premier player at the time, he wanted Cliff Hagan, who had been serving in the military for three years and had not yet played for the Celtics. He was 88. Here's what we know about his kids and family. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. Rusell states, It was one bedroom, so my brother and I both had rollaway beds. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- 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. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". 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. Russell used his popularity to fight for civil rights and help others who were in a similar situation. "[212] Describing the Celtics organization, as distinguished from Boston sports fans in the 1950s and 1960s, as very progressive racially, Russell recalled in 2010 a list of the organization's accomplishments on racial progress both in terms of objective milestones and his own subjective experience as a member of the organization. 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 [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. [209] After that, the two were often seen together at various events and interviewed as friends. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. [207] 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. The couple got divorced in 1973. [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. [26], Russell soon became noted for his unusual style of defense. [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. 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. http://t.co/rFfk4qnCEb, KarenKenyattaRussell (@Karen_Russell) June 19, 2013. [222] He thanked Chamberlain for taking him to the limit and "making [him] a better player", and the crowd for "allowing [him] to be a part of their lives. [29] When DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, he eagerly accepted. [78] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. I was the MVP at the Final Four. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. I knew youd encounter racism and sexism, and maybe, in some ways, thats a good thing. (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. #ESPYsABC #ArthurAsheAward @NBA @espn @celtics @BleacherReport @SLAMonline @BostonGlobe @ESPYS pic.twitter.com/AybfEZOzAb, TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) May 30, 2019, SWEET . Cooper, the Boston Celtics will never embarrass you.' Born in Dallas on November 8, 1935, William Russell "Bill" Goff was a lifelong Texan. "Bill's wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you . [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. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. He later recalled: "To play good defense it was told back then that you had to stay flatfooted at all times to react quickly. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. [171] The art is by Ann Hirsch of Somerville, Massachusetts, in collaboration with Pressley Associates Landscape Architects of Boston. [20], At USF, Russell became the new starting center for coach Phil Woolpert of the San Francisco Dons. No one in the history of North American team sports won at a higher level than Bill Russell did as a member of the Boston Celtics, capturing 11 championships in his 13 seasons with the team. We won 28 out of 29 games. [182] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. I owe so much to him it's impossible to express. [84] 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. The most prolific winner in NBA history, Russell was the centerpiece of. However, it is reported that he lives with his wife Sara Marckx Russell in Washington State. [133][134], On February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award would be renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his honor as an 11-time NBA champion. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. Early. 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. After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. Because Russell ignored virtually any well-wisher who approached him home or away, including the vast majority of media, his autograph was among the most difficult to secure of any professional athlete of his time. [185] His older brother was the noted playwright Charlie L. [19] When he later became a standout college player at USF, Russell recalled how he and his few fellow black teammates were jeered by white students. 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. The Bill Russell Legacy Foundation, established by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, funded the project. [169], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. 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. [111], In 1971, Russell joined NBA on ABC to do commentary on the Game of the Week. "[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. [60] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. 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 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. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. [180] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[181] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. In its announcement, the WCC stated: "The 'Russell Rule' requires each member institution to include a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the pool of final candidates for every athletic director, senior administrator, head coach and full-time assistant coach position in the athletic department. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". If I looked at it objectively, detached myself, it would be a deficiency. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. "[49], 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. [204] At the time his additional role of coach was announced, Russell publicly stated he believed Red Auerbach's impact as a coach, regarding him as the greatest of all coaches, confined every or almost every relationship with each Celtic player to a strictly professional one. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! He included the picture below. [The sound of Russell throwing up] is a welcome sound, too, because it means he's keyed up for the game, and around the locker room we grin and say, 'Man, we're going to be all right tonight. Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. [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. During Russell's college career, the conference was known as the California Basketball Association. We won the National Championship. They were together from 1956 to 1973. William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. [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. [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. [13], Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism.