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. [125], Russell made few public appearances in the early 1990s, living as a near-recluse on Mercer Island, Washington, near Seattle. [196] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. While attending college at the . - WILLIAM FELTON RUSSELL, WILLIAM FRANCIS McSWEENY . He actually enrolled at the School of Art Institute in Chicago for a Bachelors in Design-Visual Communications upon graduating from Californias Galileo Academy of Science & Technology, just to then kickstart his career. and understanding. He led the San Francisco Dons to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956,[4] and he captained the gold-medal winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics. At first, the couple was very happy. 1 in NBA history for defensive win shares at 133.6, with Tim Duncan in second at 106.3. [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. As the son of one of Hollywood's most beloved . There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. Bill Russell had all his children with Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, when he married from 1956 to 1973. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone.[225]. Cooper, the Boston Celtics will never embarrass you.' [155] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". 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. Aside from that, the late Russell remained a big part of the . He was 88. 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. The Lakers featured new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West, and were the favorites. His first wife was his University of San Francisco college . Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! [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. [47], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. 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. [128] On May 20, 2007, Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate by Suffolk University, where he served as its commencement speaker. She graduated as an English Major from the University of Washington. . 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. Pin. Of the book, Bill Bradley wrote for The New York Times Book Review that "Bill Russell is a private, complex man, but on the subject of his love of Red Auerbach and his Celtic teammates, he's loud and clear. The former practicing attorney is hence the epitome of an empowered woman through and through. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. [64], The Celtics won 49 games and made the first berth in the 1958 NBA playoffs, where they met in the 1958 NBA Finals with their familiar rivals, the St. Louis Hawks. She has done a lot of activist work, and her articles can be found in the New York Times Magazine, HuffPost, and many other publications. I was first team All American. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. The Bill Russell Legacy Foundation, established by the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, funded the project. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. [5][41], Besides basketball, Russell represented USF in track and field events. To our children . Rules on Defense, Coach of Warriors Says", "The 'Coleman Play' introduced and defined Bill Russell's never-say-die leadership to Boston", "12 times NBA awards were pretty ridiculous", "Syracuse Nationals at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 5, 1960", "Boston Celtics at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, November 24, 1960", "1960 NBA Finals Game 2: St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, March 29, 1960", "1960 NBA Finals Game 7: St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 9, 1960", "Celtics Give Sharman Championship Sendoff", "Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 16, 1962", "Boston Celtics Players to have recorded a triple-double", "1962 NBA Finals Game 7: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 18, 1962", "Cincinnati Royals vs Boston Celtics Box Score, January 31, 1963", "Kennedy Greets Celtics, but Bill Russell Sleeps", "New York Knicks at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 10, 1963", "1963 NBA Finals Game 3: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 17, 1963", "On this day: Pandemic pause anniversary; Russell's 49 boards; Potapenko trade", "Detroit Pistons vs Boston Celtics Box Score, March 11, 1965", "1968 Sportsman of the Year: Bill Russell, Boston Celtics coach-player", "Bill Russell Reported Favoring Movie Career", "Celtics legend Bill Russell receives second induction into Basketball Hall of Fame, as coach this time", "Successful, short-lived coaching days get Bill Russell into Hall again", "Bill Russell, NBA great and former Sonics coach, dies at 88", "Bill Russell Leaves Lasting Impact on Kings", "Watch Saturday Night Live Episode: November 3 Bill Russell", "Culture Now Is a Great Time to Read Bill Russell's Memoir", "Best Betting Scenes: Bill Russell Goes Rogue on 'Miami Vice', "Russell Redux: A Private Man Bursts Back Into the Public Eye", "Shaq heeds Russell's call for peace; Lakers hold on for win", "Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame to induct founding class", "Sports legend Bill Russell receives an honorary degree at the 2007 Suffolk University commencement", "Honorary degrees awarded at Commencement's Morning Exercises", "Dartmouth grads hear 'nose dive' warning", "Naismith and FIBA Hall of Fame: Full list of inductees enshrined at Springfield and Madrid", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement Sports", "The Finals MVP to Receive Bill Russell MVP Award", "All-Star Top 10, from Shaq's moves to boos for Spurs", "Kobe shows maturity of last seven years in leading Lakers to title", "Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients (Photos)", "Inside the Iconic Obama Basketball Games at the White House", "25 players that won a NCAA and NBA championship", "Jordan, Jabbar, Russell and Magic won NCAA and NBA titles, but it's become a rare feat", "Quick quiz: Only four players have been", "How Bill Russell's coaching career opened doors for NBA's Black head coaches", "Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others", "NBA Legend Bill Russell Became First Black Coach In Pro Sports 46 Years Ago Today", "Biggest moments for NBA's 15 Greatest Coaches", "Top 10 NBA Players With The Most Finals And Regular Season MVPs Combined", "Ranking Every NBA All-Defensive First Team in History from Worst to First", "NBA 75: Bill Russell, 1960s Athlete of the Decade (TSN Archives)", "ESPN's 'SportsCentury' Goes Back-Back-Back", "Top N. American athletes of the century", "Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever", "Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time: Nos. In 1966, Bill Russell agreed to be the head coach of the Boston Celtics. "[217] 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. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. She is a media person, lawyer, and Black-rights activist who has also contributed to publications likeThe New York Times Magazine. Bill Russell was a father to two sons named Williams Jr. and Jacob. Thus, playing in this team has also added up to the overall . Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. [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. 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. Bill . [216] He was quoted as saying: "From my very first year I thought of myself as playing for the Celtics, not for Boston. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. [56], Russell was an elite help defender who allowed the Celtics to play the "Hey, Bill" defense: whenever a Celtic requested additional defensive help, he would shout "Hey, Bill!" In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 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. One of the greatest players in NBA history, Bill Russell, is currently in his 4th marriage. In his 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell, who has died aged 88, won . In May 30, it was announced that the former Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. 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 . [88] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. In overtime, Frank Ramsey, the fourth forward, fouled out trying to guard Baylor, so Russell was robbed of his usual four-men wing rotation; he and little-used fifth forward Gene Guarilia successfully pressured Baylor into missed shots. [93], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. [117] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. [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. 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. [1] The Celtics broke a league record by winning 52 games and Russell's strong performance once again helped lead the Celtics through the 1959 NBA playoffs, as they returned to the NBA Finals. Bill and Jeannine did not have any kids together. [5] He was also known as a fine passer and pick-and-roll setter, featured a decent left-handed hook shot, and finished strong on alley oops. DeJulio was unimpressed by Russell's meager scoring and "atrocious fundamentals",[29] but he sensed that the young Russell had an extraordinary instinct for the game, especially in the clutch. [19], During World War II, the Second Great Migration began, as large numbers of blacks were moving to the West to look for work there. [136] He was named as a 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. [115] He attended his 2021 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. [66] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. 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. Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. . 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. "[207] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics. When I started to jump to make defensive plays and to block shots, I was initially corrected, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. Russell agreed to the project so long as it promoted and raised money for mentorship programs. Bill Russell Wife, Girlfriend. "[5] The Sixers outpaced the Celtics when they shredded the famed Boston defense by scoring 140 points in the clinching Game 5 win. The truth is Bill followed in his familys footsteps in terms of his choice to lead a quiet life, but he reportedly never shied away from admitting their identity or sharing the same generous nature. 6 to be retired across NBA following legend's death last month", "Chat Transcript: Celtics Legend Bill Russell", "Russell 'So good, he scares you' Mikan", "Bill Russell Named Boston Celtic Coach; Basketball Star To Draw $125,001 Salary a Record for a Pro Coach or Manager He'll Take over Next Season", "Who's Better At Hoops: Bill Russell Or Frank Robinson? In addition to his career accomplishments, Russell was a prominent human rights activist in sports. 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. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. 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. [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. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. [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. In a game called as "unreal" and "devoid of emotion", the Sixers lost 127118 on April 5. in the hope that they will grow up as we could not . What was Bill Russell's life like while he was racking up 11 rings? The couple tied the knot in 1956 before parting ways in 1973. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. [174][175][176] During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added, honoring Russell's commitment to working with children. Who is Bill Russell's First Wife? They hence spent the ensuing nine years having fun as well as traveling with one another, that is, until she sadly passed away from losing her battle with cancer at the age of 59 on January 21, 2009. [209], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. [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. The statement draws attention to his . Russell's No. 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. [180] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[180] they divorced in 1980. 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. Karen Russell is a legal and political expert as well as a blogger. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha and Jacob. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. [28], Russell was ignored by college recruiters and received not one offer until recruiter Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco (USF) watched him play in a high school game. Karen is the founder of Next Gen: #Blacklivesmatter and is a . Her birthday is January 20, 1962. [170], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. NBA legend Bill Russell, who won 11 NBA titles with the Boston Celtics, dies at 88. Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing,[109] was not there; he ended his career and cut all ties to the Celtics. And so the Celticsall we looked for was: 'Can he play?' [187], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in a major American sports league, died July 31. [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. "[213] 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.
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