However, he still performed well as a player the following season and led the team to yet another NBA championship title. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.died July 31, 2022), 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. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our cookie and, Bill Russell Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Richa Ghosh Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Achraf Hakimi Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Kylie McDevitt Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Dosie (PURPLE KISS) Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Ireh (PURPLE KISS) Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Angela Rye Height, Weight, Age, Facts, Biography, Adam McArthur (YouTuber) Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led the, At the fag end of his playing career with the, As of September 2020, he was tied with hockey legend Henri Richard for the record ofmost championship titles won (11) by an athlete in any major North American team sports league (including, As of September 2020, he was 1 of just 7 players in history to have completed the treble of winning an. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. This article was created by a combination of a few writers and editors from Sporty Tell. I didnt know what she was going to do. Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. He covers an array of topics including NFL, Pop Culture, Fishing News, and the Outdoors. This site uses cookies to serve you better. He posted a picture with her on January 25, 2021, as the couple renewed their wedding vows. And now Netflix is out with a new documentary. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. 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. And I think maybe it's because we are so used to seeing African Americans as dominant in basketball. 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. Case in point: The apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958. But we learned that, you know, he had a very interesting life and complicated life off the court. Russell used his popularity to fight for civil rights and help others who were in a similar situation. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968). 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. In 2011, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition for his services to basketball and his contribution to the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. 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. 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. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, It was, however, a milestone made possible by Russells performance and larger significance. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. According to CBS Sports, he was a track star at his university. He has been a very consistent player who has been struggling a It's titled, appropriately enough, "Bill Russell: Legend.". Bill Russell, one of the greatest Boston Celtics and NBA players ever, died, his family said Sunday. 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. 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. Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. 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. It would be a disservice an insult, really to look at Russell as only a basketball player, even as one of the greatest ever. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named He is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. 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. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957. She went on to win theMiss Washington USA1968 crown title. The comedy centered on a family in Harlem and addressed both the political and generational conflicts of the time. He suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a black in the southern state of Louisiana, United States. Accuracy and availability may vary. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Russell, Academy of Achievement - Biography of Bill Russell, Bill Russell - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), The great Bill Russell remembered at NBA All-Star weekend. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. However, they divorced in 1973. 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. 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. He was in the audience when King delivered the I Have A Dream speech in Washington in 1963. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. If you have three hours and want to check out Russells story, you can watch this video right below. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. But the Celtics kept winning, and he remained the engine that made them go. POLLARD: Well, first of all, he was a very angry guy about that. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha So why did you want to do this film and why now? 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. Only Russell remained of the fabled Boston Celtics, except for the emerging superstar John Havlichek, and aging star Sam Jones. You know, I thought he was one of the greatest defensive centers who ever played the game. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. And these 5 guys ran by. 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. 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. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.died July 31, 2022), American basketball player who was the 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. Also at the end of the game Wilt Chamberlain was taken out of the game by unpopular coach Butch van Breda Kolff. 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.. When we first moved to the projects, my mother was getting everything together. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. After his retirement, he served as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (197377) and the Sacramento Kings (198788), served as a commentator on television broadcasts of NBA games, and continued to remain active in social causes. 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.. His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. 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. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. There, his father initially worked as a truck driver and Bill Russell lost his mother at the age of 12. 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. Updates? 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. He had such curiosity about human nature, about psychology, Branch said. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Russells impact was immediate. It wasnt who I was.. Even after he became a s The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. 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}}. He was a A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. Celtics's all-time leading rebounder (21,620, 22.5 rpg) in 963 games; second best in history. In 2013, Boston erected a significant statue of their legend, Bill Russell right outside the Boston City Hall Plaza. NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970). He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. Who was Bill Russells wife? Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. Who are Bill Russell's children? Saw no point to them. His mind was bigger than basketball, author Taylor Branch, who spent about a year living with Russell near Seattle in the 1970s while working with him on a book, said Sunday. 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. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. MARTIN: I have to tell you, you've done so many things - produced and directed and edited award-winning feature films and documentaries. He won the NCAA in his finals and even earned recognition as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro. His marriage with Rose produced 3 children of which one, Karen Russell is a renowned television pundit and lawyer. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. 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. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. 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. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. The documentary features the last interview with Russell before his passing, as well as archived interviews throughout his life. In his 1st season, the Celtics failed to reach and win the NBA finals for the 1st time in 8 years. Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. POLLARD: I don't think he was as vocal. Moreover, the Celtics needed to move up in the draft order to pick him; with Russell coming off two straight NCAA titles, some team was bound to take the plunge. The cemetery is also the final resting place of martial arts action star Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. Russell, while no behemoth, was tall enough to make his high school team on height alone. Bill Russell attended the University of San-Francisco and played on the school team presumably due to his height advantage. Bill Russell Wiki/Biography. And on Sunday, the world lost an absolute legend. 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. 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. Hes still second on the NBAs all-time rebounding list, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, and will probably be in that spot forever since nobody has come remotely close to him in the last 50 years. MARTIN: Which, again, it just seems interesting that we don't necessarily put him in the same breath as those other kind of prominent athlete activists, you know, like Muhammad Ali. 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. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. Omissions? Thanks, mom. 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. She is still alive today. Although possessing a perfect basketball height and huge hands to aid his efficiency, Bill Russell initially had struggles in understanding the game. . Updated. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. We don't remember a lot of the abuse that he had to put up with earlier in his career. West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States. His Please logout and login again. 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. The Celtics legend had four wives in his life, and married former Miss USA Dorothy Anstett four years after separating from Rose Swisher. She says dont cry. 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. 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. She attended theUniversity of Washingtonwhere she majored in English but later found fame as a beauty queen and pageant titleholder. Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). The ball went up, and Bob Pettit of the Hawks and I jumped for it. Russell did not create the first basketball dynasty, but to date, through Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Bill Russell has one more championship than any other basketball player.Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. Similar situation a courageous battle with cancer wives in his final years his life, and Karen 11-time NBA and! Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content season, Russell struggled to find playing on! Following the 1969 season, the Celtics failed to reach and win.. Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us announced his demise through a statement on,. On height alone he suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as shot-blocker. 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