Although Russell was a good runner and jumper and had large hands,[20] he did not understand the game and was cut from the team at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. [97], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. Jones. [111] 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. Johnny Havlicek stole the ball! Bill Russell died at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, on July 31, 2022. [53] The U.S. dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points per game. 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. While Charlie found good work, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became quite sick with the flu and died. [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. Hewas married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. He wrote these words after recounting how grandfather Jake Russell had stood up to the Ku Klux Klan and other whites who attempted to thwart his efforts to build a schoolhouse for black children; his grandfather was the first person in Russell's patrilineal line born free in North America and was himself illiterate. Russell's [57] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. He still holds the NBA record for rebounds in one half with 32 (vs. Philadelphia, November 16, 1957). [110] He was so tense before every game that he regularly vomited in the locker room; early in his career, it happened so frequently that his fellow Celtics were more worried when it did not happen than when it did. This attitude contributed to his bad rapport with fans and journalists. [85] President John F. Kennedy posed for a picture with Auerbach and the nine Celtics but not Russell, who overslept because he thought it was just a tour of the White House and did not know President Kennedy would be meeting them. "[208] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. [154] He could score with putbacks and made mid-air outlet passes to point guard Bob Cousy for easy fast-break points. [163] In 2022, he was ranked No. "[102] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. After the next provocation, Russell pounded Felix to the point of unconsciousness, paid a modest $25 fine, and rarely was the target of cheap fouls thereafter. The couple actually tied the knot on December 9, 1956, with Bill soon making it clear he owed a vast majority of his ambition, compassion, drive, and success to his .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}10 Things You Might Not Know About Jimmy Butler, Celebrities & Notables Running the Boston Marathon, 7 Facts About Gymnast and TikTok Star Olivia Dunne, Nat Sweetwater Cliftons First NBA Season, 8 Negro League Legends Featured in a New MLB Game, Get to Know NCAA Tournament Star Caitlin Clark. [50] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. [101] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. After Chamberlain outscored Russell by 81 points in the series, but the Celtics walked off with a 42 series win. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. "[202], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. [106] He was 15 pounds overweight, skipped mandatory NBA coach meetings, and was generally lacking energy; after a New York Knicks game, he complained of intense pain and was diagnosed with acute exhaustion. [195][196] For his promotion to coach, the Celtics paid Russell an annual salary of $25,000 which was in addition to his salary as a player. [100] Russell became the first black head coach in NBA history,[5] and he commented to journalists: "I wasn't offered the job because I am a Negro, I was offered it because Red figured I could do it. August 1, 2022 NBA reacts to Born to William Bill Russell and his college sweetheart Rose Swisher a year into their marriage (December 9, 1956) on November 2, 1957, William Bill Felton [156] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". "[22], During his early years, Russell struggled to develop his skills as a basketball player. Basketball provided him a means of rising above this negativity and he grew up to prove his mettle. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. He later commented that he would have participated in the high jump if he had been snubbed by the basketball team. [5] Auerbach's thoughts were unorthodox, as in that period centers and forwards were defined by their offensive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary. With the added defensive presence of Russell, the Celtics had laid the foundation for a dynasty, as the team utilized a strong defensive approach to the game, forcing opposing teams to commit many turnovers, which led to many easy points on fast breaks. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. 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They had three children: daughter Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. "[50], Duiring the 196869 NBA season, Russell was shocked by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, and weary from his increasingly stale marriage to his wife Rose; the couple later divorced. Bill Russell averaged 16.9 points and 23.9 rebounds per game in the 1960-61 season leading his team to 57-22 record. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. In Game 2, Philadelphia evened the series with a 115106 win and then went on to win Games 3 and 4. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". "[30] The NCAA rewrote rules in response to Russell's dominant play; the lane was widened for his junior year. [116], As a consequence of his endured racist abuse, Russell was extremely sensitive to all racial prejudice. The Celtics won Game 4 in an upset, but the Hawks prevailed in Games 5 and 6, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6. [110] Russell was also notorious for his refusal to give autographs or acknowledge the Celtics fans, and was called "the most selfish, surly and uncooperative athlete" by one pundit. 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. [58] Gottlieb protested the next day, saying that Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, to only be called once. [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. 6 jersey", "Bill Russell Statue Unveiled At Boston City Hall", "Bill Russell statue to be unveiled Nov. 1", "City Hall Plaza statue honors Celtics' Bill Russell", "Basketball's Bill Russell joins the Bronze Age", "Russell Rule Diversity Hiring Commitment", "The University of San Francisco Honors the Memory of Marilyn Nault Russell", "Bill Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Bill Russell, legendary Celtics center and NBA coach, dead at 88", "Indomitable Russell Values One Accolade Above the Rest", "Police: NBA legend Bill Russell arrested with gun at airport", "Bill Russell, Basketball Great With Record 11 NBA Titles, Dies At 88", "Celtics legend, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell dies at 88", "What NBA salaries would these superstar players make today? He was famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. 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. It would be to our advantage if we paid him off for five years to get away from us in the rest of this series. [224] He thanked Chamberlain for taking him to the limit and "making [him] a better player", and the crowd for "allowing [him] to be a part of their lives. [79] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. He won five regular season MVP awards and was selected three times to the all-NBA First Teams. Bill Russell was a once-in-a-generation activist athlete who made all around him better. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away Sunday, July 31, according to The two men did not speak to each other for more than twenty years until Russell met with Chamberlain and personally apologized. Well, that let me know that if I were to accept these as the final judges of my career I would die a bitter old man." [94], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. [198], In 1966, The New York Times wrote that "Russell's main characteristics are pride, intelligence, an active and appreciative sense of humor, a preoccupation with dignity, a capacity for consideration once his friendship or sympathy has been aroused, and an unwillingness to compromise whatever truths he has accepted. 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? He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. [78] In the Eastern Division championships of the 1962 NBA playoffs, the Celtics met the Philadelphia Warriors led by Chamberlain, who averaged 50 points per game that season, and Russell did his best to slow him down. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. [206] At the time his additional role of coach was announced, Russell publicly stated he believed Red Auerbach's impact as a coach confined every or almost every relationship with each Celtic player to a strictly professional one. He thrived at the USF under Coach Phil Woolpert who helped him develop his unique technique of defense. "[5][122] On November 3, 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live, in which he appeared in several sports-related sketches. When Russell was eight years old, his family moved to Oakland, California. He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. "[50] That playoff series ended in a dramatic Game 7, when the Sixers were trailing 110109 five seconds before the end, but Russell turned over the ball. Boston then beat the Los Angeles Lakers 42 in the 1968 NBA Finals, giving Russell his tenth title in twelve years. [1] The 195657 Boston Celtics season saw the debut of a starting lineup made up of five future Hall-of-Famers: center Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. [50][90], In the 196364 NBA season, the Celtics posted a league-best 5822 record in the regular season. Russell was married three times. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. [191] He was issued a citation and released, and the Transportation Security Administration indicated it would levy a civil penalty, which would be between $3,000 and $7,500. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. The Celtics played against the Philadelphia Warriors in November 1959. That same year, in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics orchestrated a deal with the St. Louis Hawks and traded for the draft rights to the young center. American basketball player and coach (19342022), 19561958: Rookie champion and early years, 19581966: Eight straight NBA championships, 19661969: Player-coach champion and final years, Racist abuse, controversy, and relationship with Boston fans. He won 11 NBA championships as a player with the Boston Celtics in 13 seasons. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. "[166] In 2000, his longtime teammate Tom Heinsohn described both Russell's stature and his uneasy relationship with Boston more earthily, saying: "Look, all I know is the guy came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a bleeping tunnel after Ted Williams. He was also much respected for his ability to inspire and motivate his team members to improve their playing techniques and give their best. He later said: "The most successful television is done in eight-second thoughts, and the things I know about basketball, motivation, and people go deeper than that. I was the MVP at the Final Four. [71] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. [223] When Russell originally retired, he demanded that his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden. He Says He Is His Fathers Son. [158], On August 11, 2022, it was announced that Russell's No. In his thirteen years, he averaged a relatively low 13.4 field goals attempted (normally, top scorers average 20 and more),[1] illustrating that he was never the focal point of the Celtics offense, who instead focused on his elite defense. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. [103] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. In his first NBA playoff game against the Syracuse Nationals in 1957, he finished with 16 points and 31 rebounds along with 7 blocks. He went to McClymonds High School, where he started playing basketball. [5][50], In the 196061 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.9 points and 23.9 rebounds per game,[1] leading his team to a regular season mark of 5722. I was first team All American. He passed away peacefully with his wife next to him. 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 [107], Russell and the Celtics achieved upsets over the 76ers and the Knicks to earn a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. children: Jacob Russell, Karen Russell, William Russell Jr. Grouping of People: Black Baseball Players, U.S. State: Louisiana, African-American From Louisiana, awards: 1955 - NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player 1955-1956 - 2 NCAA champion 1963 - NBA All-Star Game MVP, 19571959 - 5 NBA rebounding champion 19641965 - 5 NBA rebounding champion 1958 - 5 NBA Most Valuable Player 1965 - 5 NBA Most Valuable Player 19611963 - 5 NBA Most Valuable Player 1957 - 11 NBA champion 19591966 - 11 NBA champion 19681969 - 11 NBA champion. 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. And so the Celticsall we looked for was: 'Can he play?' "[36], Racism shaped his lifelong paradigm as a team player, about which Russell said: "At that time it was never acceptable that a black player was the best. He helped the team win a Gold medal. [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. Bill Russell, a towering figure in the NBA and in American sports history, died at 88 on Sunday, his family announced. [127] 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. [149][150], In his first NBA full season (195758), Russell became the first player in NBA history to average more than 20 rebounds per game for an entire season, a feat he accomplished ten times in his thirteen seasons.
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