Bill Russell would lead the Boston Celtics to 9 straight NBA titles, many times over vaunted rivals the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, She attended theUniversity of Washingtonwhere she majored in English but later found fame as a beauty queen and pageant titleholder. He helped the team to the play-offs and his shot-blocking abilities were efficient in the NBA final against the St. Louis Hawks which the Celtics narrowly won. Astrological Sign: Aquarius, Death Year: 2022, Death date: July 31, 2022, Article Title: Bill Russell Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/bill-russell, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: August 11, 2022, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. He was born in rural Louisiana. Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. 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. Bill Russell Wiki/Biography. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. They are the only children Bill had. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). In the 1958/59 season, the Celtics won the NBA championship with Russell making the most defensive impact in the team. Who are Bill Russell's children? The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. Now the incident is under review. The following season, Russell earned the NBA MVP award and helped the Celtics to another NBA final which they lost. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Russell would not stand for racism in sports, which was ironic, given Bostons historical notoriety in that department. He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. Shedding light on his life achievements outside basketball, the statement read: But for all the winning, Bills understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. Copyright 2008-2023 BroBible. In 2009, the NBA changed the name of the finals MVP from NBA finals MVP award to Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. He covers an array of topics including NFL, Pop Culture, Fishing News, and the Outdoors. I had seen Bill Russell play. He would not let his defeat in 1967 keep him down. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. However, Russell was one of the huge earners in the NBA and didnt have to work part-time so as to maintain his standard of living as it was the case with other NBA players at the time. In the 1961/62 season, Bill Russell recorded his career highest score by an average of 18.9 points and 23.6 rebounds per game; he also scored 30 points and 40 rebounds in the finals helping the Celtics to defeat a rugged Lakers side. But he was a very, you know, well-rounded human being who believed that it was not only a responsibility as a player, but the responsibility of an African American man. WebFamily Life. He had such curiosity about human nature, about psychology, Branch said. Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). When Russell was 10, his father, Charlie, fed up with trying to navigate a racially charged South, moved his family across the country to Oakland, California, where he found work at a shipyard. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with director Sam Pollard about his new documentary Bill Russell: Legend, which is now streaming on Netflix. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. Never turned the trash cans over again.. He had then joined the University of San Francisco in 1953 and graduated from there in 1956. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. Bill Russell was born in 1934 in Louisiana and when he was eight years old his family moved west to Oakland, California during WWII looking for a new life. So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Bill shares all of his three children with his first wife. He had made great strides within the game of basketball, but the restless, conscientious Russell felt that there were bigger battles to fight. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. Still yet Russell was without a doubt one of the finest players of his day. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. One imagines you could do any number of subjects at this stage of your career. Bill Russell viewed basketball as a science, and played the game with an analytical view as well as with an emotional intensity.Russell played the game psychologically as well, defending his various opponents so well that many times he made those he defended feel like they could not score a basket. His on-court achievements did not give him a platform; instead, they granted him a strange kind of amnestythe very greatness that should have forced others to listen somehow overshadowed any trouble he might have wanted to stir up. This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west, settling in Oakland, California. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. By the end of his career, however, Russell himself had come to see the turmoil of the 1960s as far more important than the silly little game he played for a living. During his days playing in the NBA, brands were not accustomed to signing sponsorship and endorsement deals with players. 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. And he lived in Reading, Mass. Like, we certainly know, when it comes to Jackie Robinson, you know, the abuse that was directed at him. Thats the lesson. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. But I think this documentary will reset the clock on that and understand Bill from the other perspective, besides being a phenomenal basketball legend. Why do you think that is? All rights reserved. From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippis first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evans assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. All Rights Reserved. NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. He was part of the March on Washington. Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness, and thoughtful change, it reads further. NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). Stand up for yourself. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. But they didn't love him. It was a breakthrough that would change not only his life but, in the long term, basketball itself. POLLARD: Yeah, I hope that they walk away understanding that he was not only a great basketball player, but he was also a great man and a complicated man. Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. He had represented the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1956 to 1969 and was the central figure in the teams total domination of the league winning the NBA championship title 11 times (1957, 19591966, 1968, 1969). At the international level, he had captained the United States to the Gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. And he learned basketball when he went to Oakland. Russell led the US national team in aspects of points, recording an average14.1 points per game. He stood for what he believed, stood with who he believed in. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. Or expensive cars with souped-up sound systems so he could blare the music of Laura Nyro, Janis Ian, or Crosby, Stills and Nash some of his favorites. On the day of Bill Russells private funeral, NBA announces its greatest honor: the permanent retirement of No. And so she says are these the guys?. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. In 2013, Boston erected a significant statue of their legend, Bill Russell right outside the Boston City Hall Plaza. And one of them slapped me as they went by. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). His early childhood was shaped by poor health, as the sickly Russell battled several different illnesses. In 1966 Wilt Chamberlain was traded from the Golden State warriors to his new hometown Philadelphia 76ers. The basketball legacy is beyond well-known: 11 championships in 13 years with the Boston Celtics, first Black coach in the NBA, first Black coach to win an NBA title, Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, Olympic champion, NCAA champion, member of the leagues 75th anniversary team, and the namesake of the NBA Finals MVP award which, had it existed when he played, he would have won at least a half-dozen times. For the first time in the Bill Russell- Wilt Chamberlain rivalry Chamberlain could not say he did not have the team to beat the Celtics, although many contend that the Celtics were evenly match if not inferior in talent to their many rivals. He missed out on the NBAs Rookie of the Year award, ostensibly because teammate Tom Heinsohn had played the entire season whereas Russell had missed time as a result of his participation in the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games (where he helped the U.S. mens basketball team win a gold medal). His talent did not immediately shine through. WHO IS KAREEM ABDUL JABBARS EX WIFE? Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. Russell was only eight years old when the family moved to Oakland and one of the first things his mother ensured he had was a library card. Only Russell remained of the fabled Boston Celtics, except for the emerging superstar John Havlichek, and aging star Sam Jones. And, you know, for me as a filmmaker, that gave me an opportunity to dig into Bill Russell's life, which was much more complicated than most people know, and that he was not only a great player on the court, but he was a very important human and civil rights activist off the court, too. He received as much as $100,001 annually, plus an extra $25,000 as a player-coach. So the Celtics traded centre Ed Macauley and the rights to guard-forward Cliff Hagan, who had yet to play in the NBA owing to his military service, to the St. Louis Hawks shortly after the Hawks used the second overall pick of the draft to select Russell. MARTIN: So before we let you go, what's important to you? Russells impact was immediate. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. Well, I was 9 years old, and I did what 9 year olds are supposed to. Tributes to the late Bill Russell poured in after the basketball legends death on Sunday, with former president Barack Obama expressing his admiration and condolences on social media. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. Later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington. Russell who began his professional career in the NBA in 1956 and ended it in 1969 with a total of eleven NBA championships won, is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. The relationship was broken apart in controversy because of Anstetts color. Same thing happened during the seasons second road trip. And thats what you must always do. They were together from 1956 to 1973. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. Updates? Rose Swisher died aged 78 on September 11, 2014. Featured Image by Bill Russell / Instagram. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Russell would lead these teams over some other among the greatest of all time, including Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Hal Greer, and his most famous rival Wilt Chamberlain.While Russell was rewriting Boston sports history he faced immense racism from the most devout Celtics fan. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha Like, how did he deal with all of that? You know, what - is there something in particular you're hoping people will draw from this film? But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. The two who were previous friends were now very distant. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. He went to high school in Oakland. It's no conversation. MARTIN: Do you kind of get the feeling that, in a way, his story was hiding in plain sight? She was born on January 20, 1962. When word of this got back to Bill Russell, he told his teammates something to the affect of "We're going to have to do something about that." At the end of the season Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, taking Chamberlain to the other arch-rival of the Boston Celtics. But by his senior year, his game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot. The former Boston Celtics legend is an 11-time NBA champion and widely regarded as one of the best players to ever play the game. He was voted league MVP five times. Dorothy Catherine Anstett was born on June 28, 1947, and was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970). He is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. Although the whole club and their supporters felt betrayed with Russells professional basketball demise, the Celtics board retired his #6 kit number 3 years after his retirement. When Auerbach retired after the Celtics won the 196566 NBA title, Russell succeeded him as coach. . Bill Russell died at the age of 88 on July 31, 2022, in Mercer Island, Washington, United States. Named Russell William Wagner at birth, when he decided to become a classical music composer, he dropped his last nameas it already "was taken" by Richard Wagner. William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. 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. Russell's And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Over the years, Russells approach became the teams overall philosophy as athletic players who saw defense as a means to key the fast break were introduced into the roster. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics | The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. You know, he didn't love the Boston fans. Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. Bill Russell turns 88-years-old this February and has lived such an incredible life in the world of sports its almost hard to really wrap the brain around. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. After taking the first two at home the Lakers returned to the Boston Garden to lose the next two. This site uses cookies to serve you better. The couple divorced in 1973. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. Bill Russell Death Reason Talking about his cause of death so he was very in for a long time and age was the factor also, however, everyone started paying him a tribute on the social media platform and started sending his family sympathy and condolence messages. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. | Born: February 12, 1934Played all 13 seasons with CelticsFive-time NBA MVPEleven-time NBA championNo. Named to NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary teamsTwelve-time NBA All-StarNamed Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1968Induced into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1975Member of gold-medal winning US Olympic team in 1956 Russell brought an aspect to basketball that had rarely been explored before: defense. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. WebBill Russell February 12, 1934 Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. The premise was that it had to be difficult for Russell to live in such a place, to play for fans in such a city. He posted a picture with her on January 25, 2021, as the couple renewed their wedding vows. Bills wife at the time of his death was Jeannine Russell, previously known as Jeannine Fiorito and Jeannine Maddux. He stood side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s, the height of the civil rights movement. 15 Episodes of Seinfeld That Teach Everything You Need To Know About Life, Read more sports articles on BroBible right here, 5-time NBA MVP Bill Russell shared a story from his childhood that he says changed his life forever, It took place right when he and his mother moved to the projects and he was attacked by a stranger, his mother then took charge of the situation. He didn't love Boston. He was drafted second overall, by the St. Louis Hawks, but was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley, in a deal spearheaded by Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. He was in the audience when King delivered the I Have A Dream speech in Washington in 1963. Publicity Listings At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. On joining the Celtics during the mid-season, he made his professional debut against the St. Louis Hawks. Bill Russell who was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks as its first-round second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft earned a draft trade and was acquired by the Boston Celtics but soon after participated in the Olympics which delayed his participation with the Celtics. Bill Russell: Legend is a new two-part Netflix documentary that covers the Boston greats triumphs on the court, and activism off of it. He supported Muhammad Ali when the fighter refused to go to Vietnam. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. Bill had attended the McClymonds High School, a public school in Oakland, California. According to CBS Sports, he was a track star at his university. Have something to tell us about this article? Due to malnutrition as a child, Russell was a lightweight player but built an exclusive manner of play as a centre to help the defence. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. It was a treasure for me to be around Bill and see how he viewed the world in all of its dimensions.. Before his arrival, the Celtics had been a shot-happy, nearly out-of-control team, led by passing wizard Bob Cousy. After her marriage to Bill ended, Rose stayed out of the limelight and lived a relatively secluded life. His family fell into poverty and they moved into housing projects and thats where this story picks up. I mean, he just did what he had to do, and he wasn't as vocal as Ali, as we all know. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. As at 2020, Bill Russell is married to Jeannine Russell and the couple appears frequently together on his Instagram. moviemuskie@yahoo.com, Other Works Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. He would return and defeat the Sixers in 1968, in a hotly contested Conference Final series, and easily defeat the Lakers in the Finals. And finally today, we know it's all about football today, it being Super Bowl Sunday and all, but we're going to talk basketball for a minute to hear about one of the icons of that sport - Bill Russell. Being fearless on the basketball court was easy. In 1979, Russell teamed up with professional writers to publish the Second Wind book and also featured in a 1986 movie named The fix as Judge Ferguson. This year, alongside Gail Goodrich and Happy Hairston, and a very deep bench, which included future Laker's Coach Pat Riley the Lakers looked to beat the Celtics for the first time in the Finals. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Bill Russell has been married on 4 different occasions but had never kept a marriage for up to 2 decades, the longest being 17 years (19561973) to a lady called Yet in a sport that traditionally celebrates scoring and offensive heroics, Russell was an anomaly: a dominant player for whom making shots was truly secondary. Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. WebBill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, and in 2011 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. During his college years, Bill competed in many sports besides basketball, including the high jump. So did Russell. He was married four times and had three children. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. I mean, he had a lot of issues. Who was Bill Russells wife? The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. While featuring in the high school team, he was dumped many times for his inability to comprehend game rules and scopes. Why do you think it is that that part of his life doesn't seem to have gotten the same kind of attention as other athlete activists like the ones that you named, like Jim Brown, like people who - or even, gosh, even Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who's thankfully still with us. INSIDE THE LAKERS LEGENDS RELATIONSHIPS, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LEBRON JAMES DAD ANTHONY MCCLELLAND, FANS ASK WHATS WRONG WITH ANTHONY DAVIS? AFTER REACTION TO LEBRON BREAKING RECORD, Best Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury memes after undefeated Brit beats YouTuber, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Universally recognized as one of the most accomplished athletes in professional sports history, NBA legend Bill Russell died Sunday. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. She is reportedly a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. And he wasn't as aggressive as Jim Brown could be, you know, when he was at his height as an actor and as an activist. MARTIN: Whew. 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. So it was, like, an easy yes for me to say, I'd love to direct this film about Bill Russell. People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. MARTIN: One of the things that I think people today don't realize is how much he had to put up with as a player. Russell asked for a gun permit. Selected by the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks as a territorial draft choice in 1954. And so thats the kind of stuff I got from my mother.. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He opted for speed and marking from blind spots rather than man-marking; with this style, he could move to advance positions to help the attack and also run back to assist the defence. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. He suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a black in the southern state of Louisiana, United States. He was married four times and had three children. She is still alive today. POLLARD: Well, I was approached by Ross Greenberg, who used to be the president of HBO Sports, about two years ago to get involved with the film as a director. WebBill Russell Legend on DVD - Both Episodes The life and career of Hall of Fame NBA player Bill Russell is celebrated in the documentary Bill Russel: Legend. On the court, Russell was a force to be reckoned with a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. His new documentary Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, is a and... Interview with Bill Russell died Sunday previous friends were now very distant after her marriage to Bill ended Rose... To signing sponsorship and endorsement deals with players been his biggest advocate and him. 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