The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Like, we certainly know, when it comes to Jackie Robinson, you know, the abuse that was directed at him. But by his senior year, his game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. So how did he deal with it? I mean, he had a lot of issues. While Charlie found good work, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became quite sick with the flu and died. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. He didn't love Boston. Boston Celtics fans say Bill Russell was so much more than a basketball star. Due to his height, the NCAA changed some rules that could foster the progress of Bill Russell and other NBA prospects with tall frames. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. He was married four times and had three children. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Bill Russell, Birth Year: 1934, Birth date: February 12, 1934, Birth State: Louisiana, Birth City: Monroe, Birth Country: United States. He is an American by nationality and has a belief in the Catholic Christian religion. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. And now Netflix is out with a new documentary. 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. Now the incident is under review. In his second season with the Celtics, Russell bought a house in Reading. Who are Bill Russell's children? 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." 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. It's no conversation. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. During his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships - two as a player coach. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. In 1966 Wilt Chamberlain was traded from the Golden State warriors to his new hometown Philadelphia 76ers. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. 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. This intensity not only paid off in the Olympics, and in college, but it would have an immediate impact in the NBA. You know, I want you to understand, like a lot of these films about (inaudible) the complexity of the human being, we're playing up on a screen. Russell's Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. 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. The Celtics won a title in his rookie year, and he became the leagues first African American superstar, though not its first Black player (who was Earl Lloyd in 1956). NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 Then came the proving ground of Boston. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. 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}}. MARTIN: So before we let you go, what's important to you? In the 1962/63 season, Russell was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and won the honour again the following year after winning the NBA championship again. He has been a very consistent player who has been struggling a However, they separated three years later in 1980. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! They were together from 1956 to 1973. He was represented by Russell Spielman, Manager and Booking Agent, GSE Worldwide, Melville, Long Island, New York, United States. For good measure, he might have had 12, had an ankle injury not sidelined him early in the 1958 NBA finals. Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. And he became a major star at USF, went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Australia and then got drafted by the Celtics in '57. President Barack Obama at about 6-foot-2, a taller-than-average individual had to stretch a bit when draping the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Russells neck in 2011, even after Russell crouched down to accommodate the moment. WebAbout Bill Russell Composer William "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905 August 9, 1992) was an American music historian and modernist composer. He was born and brought up in a super-rich-class Catholic Christian family from West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. In 1969 most of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired. Granted, it was in part because no one could deal with the moody Russell except Russell himself, but it still made him the first African American coach in NBA history, as well as the first to win a title when Boston took the 196768 championship. Yet, he led the Celtics to the NBA championships in a victory over the Lakers and immediately announced his retirement from basketball as a coach and player. Russell, outspoken and relentlessly intelligent when it came to matters of race, was not just the NBAs first Black superstar; as the Celtics quickly came to dominate the NBA, he also became an activist on par with Muhammad Ali. And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. 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. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: No. He could care less, you know, about being someone that I say yes maam. He was married four times and had three children. 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. 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. Bill Russell, one of the greatest Boston Celtics and NBA players ever, died, his family said Sunday. He won five MVP awards, tied for second-most with Michael Jordan, one behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbars league record. It would be a disservice an insult, really to look at Russell as only a basketball player, even as one of the greatest ever. Supervisors explore ways to offset vehicle traffic from new rural housing, Column: Padres offense inspires bright forecasts as Petco Parks worst clouds have lifted, Opinion: Converting Californias empty office buildings to apartments and condos is a great idea. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 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. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. 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Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. Although his father was described on several occasions by many who knew him as an authoritative and firm personality, he worked hard as a cleaner and impacted into Bills life, helping him in his rise to stardom. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. During his career, Russell supported the American civil rights movement, spoke out against the Vietnam War, and did much that, had it come from any lesser athlete, would have been cause for immediate controversy. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with director Sam Pollard about his new documentary Bill Russell: Legend, which is now streaming on Netflix. What Russell did was close the circuit, creating turnovers that allowed Boston to get back on offense even faster, as well as patrol the paint with an intensity that single-handedly compensated for the Celtics imbalance. Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin has been found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register a political group and provide financial disclosures at a trial in southern New Mexico, Former President Barack Obama is marking the retirement of the South Carolina woman credited with popularizing the chant Fired up, ready to go!, Top diplomats from the worlds major industrialized and developing nations have opened what are expected to be contentious talks dominated by Russias war in Ukraine and Chinas moves to boost its global influence, Authorities say a central Florida man has been arrested after fatally shooting his teenage daughter and three other people, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen state control over agriculture and make all available efforts to increase grain production, as the country faces a worsening food shortage, The man convicted of killing eight people in a terrorist attack on a Manhattan bike path declined to testify in the death penalty phase of his trial, just as he had before the jury returned guilty verdicts, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |, FILE - Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell stands court side during a tribute in his honor in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston, Nov. 1, 2013. 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. 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 is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. Bill Russel biography facts, childhood, net worth and personal life present a complete rundown of the profile, career and life from childhood to date, of the 12-time All-Star and 5-time NBA MVP. In 1987, Russell began coaching the Sacramento Kings but was fired due to lack of performances following a loss in the opening fixture of the 1988/89 season. In 2010 Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the countrys highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. The cemetery is also the final resting place of martial arts action star Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee. Russells Celtics ruled the roost at a time when the minuscule number of teams (the NBA consisted of eight or nine franchises for the majority of his career) made for a greatly condensed talent pool, and a combination of integration and improved scouting brought on an unprecedented rush of new stars. Case in point: The apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958. He defined the teams philosophy and its strategy. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. You did what youre supposed to do. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. She is still alive today. The Philadelphia 76ers did beat the Boston Celtics in 1967, but in 1966 and 1968 the Celtics, not quite to the level of the Sixers.But in 1968 it was truly Russell that beat the Sixers, as he was not the heart and soul on the court, but was now it's head coach, which he became in 1967 after legend Red Auerbach retired. 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. He was also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in tight areas and big games. Both Macauley and Hagan would eventually land in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, an indication of how highly Auerbach valued Russell. His family fell into poverty and they moved into housing projects and thats where this story picks up. I had seen Bill Russell play. He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky. 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. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. Later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. Bill Russell Wiki/Biography. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. In college, the 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) Russell blossomed, providing a defensive presence that helped lead USF to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1955 and 1956. Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of National Basketball Association (NBA), William Felton Bill Russell is a retired professional basketball player who was the centerpiece of the Bostons Celtics dynasty for a period of 13 years. He was very famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. 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. Hall of Fame basketball center Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA titles before starting his pro career with the Boston Celtics in 1956. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? As at 2020, Bill Russell is married to Jeannine Russell and the couple appears frequently together on his Instagram. 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. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. He was a Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). 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. Rose and Bill were college sweethearts and were together for much of Bills NBA But without Bill Russell there is no doubt the Boston Celtics would not be the rock-solid professional sports team they have become in their legendary run of championships. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Bill Russell: Legend.". He supported Muhammad Ali when the fighter refused to go to Vietnam. Holds NBA Finals single-game record for most free throws attempted in one half (15, April 11, 1961) vs. St. Louis; most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960 vs. St. Louis and April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles); most rebounds by a rookie (32, April 13, 1967 vs. St. Louis); and most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles). Who was Bill Russells wife? NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965). With Russell anchoring the middle of the floor, the Celtics finished with the NBA's best record in 1957, and went on to win the title over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series. However, they divorced in 1973. Bill Russells Mom Changed His Life Forever By Making Him Fight 5 Guys In The Projects To Learn A Lesson. Your login session has expired. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the front of their jerseys to honor the great mans legacy. In 1996 Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault. Go back to Africa, you baboon. But as her wife was white they got divorced in 1980. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). Full Article. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.), American basketball player who was the first outstanding defensive centre in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one of the sports greatest icons. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with "Here is a Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life," Pollard said. Have something to tell us about this article? If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Bill Russell Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, please dont hesitate to contact us. She went on to win theMiss Washington USA1968 crown title. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. She was born on January 20, 1962. Updates? At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. This site uses cookies to serve you better. WebBill Russells age is 88. Russell brought an aspect to basketball that had rarely been explored before: defense. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family to Oakland, California, where the job prospects were better. And thats what you must always do. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. 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. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. He left for a road trip and his garbage cans got turned over. His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. Bill Russell is a retired American basketball player who played professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics. That was the way I conducted my life.. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. The Celtics then lost to Los Angeles in the Forum in Game 5, and the Celtics returned to the Boston Garden in game 6 and won that contest. 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. I knew about the rivalry between him and Wilt Chamberlain. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. In his 1st season, the Celtics failed to reach and win the NBA finals for the 1st time in 8 years. Rose and Bill were college sweethearts and were together for much of Bills NBA success. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. Russell asked for a gun permit. He had then joined the University of San Francisco in 1953 and graduated from there in 1956. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. MARTIN: Exactly. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. And he learned basketball when he went to Oakland. 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. Why do you think that is? We go back to our place and Im crying. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. On the day of Bill Russells private funeral, NBA announces its greatest honor: the permanent retirement of No. It was a breakthrough that would change not only his life but, in the long term, basketball itself. And I hope that one day, in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the man.. He was part of the March on Washington. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. A the time of his death, he was It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Corrections? 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 Who was Bill Russells wife? - IMDb Mini Biography By: 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. Russell used this mindset while on the court and in So I think he wasn't just - he wasn't as vocal and he didn't have as much exposure as they did. He brought a defensive style of play and led his side to the playoffs, the first in their franchise history. Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. Although Bill Russell played less than 50 games, due to the fact he has won a gold medal for basketball in the Olympics, in his first NBA season he definitely made his presence felt. She married BillRussell in 1977. WebBill Russell February 12, 1934 Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. In 1956 Red Auerbachthe Celtics head coach and general managertargeted Russell in the NBA draft, seeing the solution to his teams shortcomings. He was assaulted by a group of guys that ran by. 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. As a child, he witnessed how his parents were victims of racial abuse, and the family eventually moved into government housing projects to escape the daily torrent of bigotry. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. And she said What!. This story was shared by Bill Russell and he discusses the first day of moving into new projects. Russell was married to his college girlfriend Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973, they had three children but then grew apart and divorced in 1977. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Russell was lightly recruited by colleges, but Hal DeJulio, a former player at the nearby University of San Francisco (USF), had seen him play and had an inkling as to his potential, so he recommended Russell to his old school. She represented the USA atMiss Universe 1968in July, where she placed fourth runner-up. This is just one of these examples. Official Sites. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, and made possible the success of so many who would follow, Obama said that day. However, it is reported that he lives with his wife Sara Marckx Russell in Washington State. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. Bill Russell was an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American sportspersons of all time. So it was, like, an easy yes for me to say, I'd love to direct this film about Bill Russell. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics In the History of professional sports there has never been an athlete who has more accolades or championships, in other words Bill Russell was not only a champion, but he was perhaps the definition of a champion.
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