"[49], In the 195960 NBA season, the NBA witnessed the debut of 7ft 1in (2.16m) Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged a record 37.6 points per game in his rookie year. [55] Russell's first Celtics game came on December 22, 1956, against the St. Louis Hawks, led by star forward Bob Pettit, who would go on to hold several all-time scoring records. [16] In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time for his coaching career. She actually started by just enrolling herself in local pageants, only for it to turn into her placement as first runner-up in Miss Wahington 1967, the title of Miss Washington 1968, and finally, the title of Miss USA 1968. [41], In his career, Russell won five NBA MVP awards (1959, 196163, 1965),[5] which is tied with Michael Jordan for second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's six awards, and is at No. [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. This is a game of habits, and the player with the most consistent habits is the best. Russell's Celtics went 5737 in the regular season against Chamberlain's teams and 2920 in the playoffs, Chamberlain's losing seven of the eight series. [49], The Celtics lost Cousy to retirement after the 196263 NBA season, and they drafted John Havlicek and were powered by Russell, who averaged 16.8 points and 23.6 rebounds per game, won his fourth regular-season MVP award, and earned the NBA All-Star Game MVP honors at the 1963 NBA All-Star Game following his 19-point, 24-rebound performance for the Eastern Conference's All-Star team. Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game. [17] Shortly after his death in 2022, the NBA retired Russell's #6 jersey league-wide, making him the only player in NBA history to receive the honor. ", "Glory at the Basket, William Felton Russell", "The Ring Leader: Bill Russell helped the Celtics rule their sport like no team ever has", "Celtics Name Russell Coach, Making Him First Negro to Lead Major Team", "A Farewell Fiercest Rival: Bill Russell Recalls Wilt As His Friend For Eternity", "Bill Russell: Working with Red Auerbach", "More than 40 years later, Celtics great Bill Russell finally accepts his Hall of Fame ring", "Third Annual 'We Are Boston' Event Honors Outstanding Contributions to Boston's Diversity", "Bill Russell: 'Tell those NFL players, I'm with them', UPI College Basketball Player of the Year Award, Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year, NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player, 1955 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, 1956 NCAA Men's Basketball Consensus All-Americans, NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award, Wayland Baptist Women's Teams (19481982), NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, Lakers versus Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bill_Russell&oldid=1142551823, African-American male track and field athletes, African-American sports executives and administrators, All-American college men's basketball players, American sports executives and administrators, Basketball players at the 1956 Summer Olympics, Basketball players from Oakland, California, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees, National Basketball Association All-Stars, National Basketball Association broadcasters, National Basketball Association championship-winning head coaches, National Basketball Association players with retired numbers, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball, San Francisco Dons men's basketball players, San Francisco Dons men's track and field athletes, Track and field athletes from Oakland, California, United States men's national basketball team players, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 01:53. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The two men did not speak to each other for more than twenty years until Russell met with Chamberlain and personally apologized. When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. As part of the 1961 Celtics boycott, he and the other black teammates refused to play in the exhibition game and flew home, drawing a great deal of controversy and publicity. [189] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. Bill Russell, whose No. [49] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. [222] When Russell originally retired, he demanded that his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden. "[49] 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. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. [155] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. [190], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. (embedded photo)", "Rare Photos of Bill Russell (third photo in gallery", "Eight players who have won NCAA, NBA, and Olympic titles", "2003 draft eventually may be best in history", "Philadelphia Warriors vs Boston Celtics Box Score, January 1, 1957", "Russell of Celtics Violates N.B.A. [26], Russell soon became noted for his unusual style of defense. [104] He is one of four players (along with Cousy, George Mikan, and Bob Pettit) to have made all four NBA anniversary teams: the NBA 25th Anniversary Team (1970), the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980), the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996),[5] and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021). In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. Russell said he was "proud of my grandfather's heroic dignity against forces more powerful than him he would not allow himself to be oppressed or intimidated by anyone." In the pivotal Game 7, Russell managed to hold Chamberlain to 22 points, 28 points below his season average, while scoring 19 points. The 61-year-old is a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School.. She is a media person, lawyer, and Black-rights activist who has also contributed to publications like The New York Times Magazine. I owe so much to him it's impossible to express. [109] Journalists were often treated to the "Russell Glower", described as an "icily contemptuous stare accompanied by a long silence". Dorothy, according to a 1968 Associated Press article, was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. [209], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. I averaged over 20 points and over 20 rebounds, and I was the only guy in college blocking shots. 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. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "[49], The Celtics swept the Nationals in three games to earn the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in the 1957 NBA Finals,[62] where they met the St. Louis Hawks, led by Pettit and former Celtic Ed Macauley. She works as an attorney, corporate trainer, and political strategist, according to the Huffington Post. The couple tied the knot in 1956 before parting ways in 1973. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. It hence comes as no surprise Bill and Rose happily welcomed three kids into their lives over the next six years William Bill Russell Jr. (1957), Jacob Russell (1959), and Karen Russell (1962). Auerbach had informed his players to not endorse candidates or causes, as it would alienate fans; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. [98] His second choice was Cousy, who declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. Prior to Game 5, no NBA team had ever come back from a 31 deficit. 4 in ESPN's list of the top 74 NBA players of all time, the second best center behind Abdul-Jabbar and ahead of Chamberlain. "[101] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. His first wife was his University of San Francisco college . In the year 1977, Bill got the divorce from his wife and married, Miss USA named, Dorothy Anstett. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." The game was tied with two seconds left when Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the series. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. The psychology in defense is not blocking a shot or stealing a pass or getting the ball away. Rose and Bill started dating in their college days. According to Opoyi, Swisher died at the age of 78 on September 11, 2014. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934 and he died on July 21, 2022 aged 88. [160] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. These are Karen Kenyatta Russell, William Russell Jr., and Jacob Russell. During a conversation with students, a reporterunknown to Russellheard Russell describe Chamberlain as a malingerer and accused him of "copping out" of the game when it seemed that the Lakers would lose. [210] After that, the two were often seen together at various events and interviewed as friends. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". Lakers coach Bill van Breda Kolff kept him on the bench until the end of the game, saying later that he wanted to stay with the lineup responsible for the comeback. After the loss, he led his grandfather through the Celtics locker rooms and the two saw the white Celtic Havlicek taking a shower next to his black teammate Sam Jones and discussing the game. [212] He was often called Felton X, presumably in the tradition of the Nation of Islam's practice of replacing a European slave name with an X and purchased land in Liberia. [141], Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. Aside from that, the late Russell remained a big part of the . [152] In 2009, Russell's erstwhile Knicks opponent Bill Bradley wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]". Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. At first, the couple was very happy. 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. [49] Boston's chances of getting Russell seemed slim because they had finished second in the previous season and the worst teams had the highest draft picks, and the Celtics had slipped too low in the draft order to pick Russell. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[163] and No. [125], Russell made few public appearances in the early 1990s, living as a near-recluse on Mercer Island, Washington, near Seattle. [15], Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. Russell's impact even breached the walls of racism and segregation in that area; amazingly, some white children attended the sports learning camp. Dorothy Anstett Born: Kirkland, Washington, United States Date of birth: 1947-06-28 Spouse: Bill Russell https://t.co/T9E7sVcZUO pic.twitter.com/se6ka2URg3. [60], The Celtics finished the 195657 regular season with a 4428 record, the team's second-best record since beginning play in the 194647 BAA season, which guaranteed Russell his first NBA playoffs appearance,[61] where the Celtics met with the Syracuse Nationals, a team led by Dolph Schayes, through the Eastern Division Finals. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. Therefore, once the latter knew he was well on his way to stability upon getting drafted by Boston Celtics in 1956 and winning gold at the Summer Olympics mere months later, they decided to marry. Karen has a B.A. "[179], Russell was married to his college sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. A post shared by Bill Russell (@realbillrussell). Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. Read More: Bill Russells Wives: Where Are They Now? The relationship between the two was tenuous at best. [61] In Boston, both fans and journalists felt betrayed because Russell left the Celtics without a coach and a center, and he sold his retirement story for $10,000 to Sports Illustrated. Its thus unclear how she and Bill even came across one another after his divorce from Rose was finalized, yet the then-Washington residents did build a connection before getting married in 1977. Born on January 20, 1962, Karen is not just Bill Sr. and Roses youngest child but also their only daughter, meaning she was ostensibly always extremely close to both her parents. Constantly provoked by New York Knicks center Ray Felix during a game, he complained to coach Auerbach, who told him to take matters into his own hands. I knew youd encounter racism and sexism, and maybe, in some ways, thats a good thing. [56] Auerbach assigned him to shut down the Hawks' main scorer and Russell impressed the Boston crowd with his man-to-man defense and shot-blocking. In the last play, Sam Jones used a triple screen by Bailey Howell, Larry Siegfried, and Havlicek to hit a buzzer beater that equalized the series. [20] Since Russell's previous experiences with white authority figures were often negative, warm words from Powles reassured him. Although the salary was touted in the press as a record for an NBA coach, it is unclear whether Russell's continued $100,001 salary as a player was included in the calculation. Auerbach replied that Gottlieb's statements were "absolutely ridiculous" and said any controversy was "a question of sour grapes". [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. He is said to have made a conscious decision to put the team first and foremost, and not worry about individual achievements. [150] He also had 51 in one game, 49 in two others, and twelve straight seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. [192], During his career, Russell was one of the first big earners in NBA basketball. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. He was a standout in the high jump and according to Track & Field News was ranked the seventh-best high-jumper in the world in 1956, his graduation year, despite not competing in Olympic high-jump competition. Marilyn Nault Russell would end up as the step-mother of Bill's children from his previous marriage to Rose Swisher. Boston Celtics Legend Bill Russell Receives the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs Other spaces in the house include a media room and a recreation room. Arthur was a man of great courage. The truth is she had to pursue different opportunities to make money for herself since she wanted to attend university, which ultimately led her to the glamorous world of pageantry. [223] 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. [134][135], On February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award would be renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his honor as an 11-time NBA champion. We didnt have much, but there is something my father said: It is not what you give, but what you share, for the gift without the giver is bare. My fathers philosophy was, Always share what I have., Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. [49][63] In the second overtime, both teams were in serious foul trouble: Heinsohn had fouled out, and the Hawks were so depleted that they had only seven players left. The ex-wife of Bill Russell. Bill Russell was a father to two sons named Williams Jr. and Jacob. [21] Of Russell the college basketball player, Mikan said: "Let's face it, he's the best ever. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "FULL KYRIE IRVING and GORDON HAYWARD CELTICS Press Conference" youtube.com/watch?v=f7FoDj4-Nzw -~-~~-~~~-~~-~-, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times. They were together from 1956 to 1973. Last modified on Sun 4 Sep 2022 13.55 EDT. Photo: Ned Dishman [107], The Celtics were ahead by nine points with five minutes remaining; in addition, West was limping after a Game 5 thigh injury and Chamberlain had left the game with an injured leg. He replied: "Yes." As a dedicated human rights activist, Russell fought against . She ended up speaking with him for nine hours. Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and . As reported by Sportskeeda, William was employed by Cox Trucking. [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. The NCAA had previously prohibited goaltending in response to George Mikan (1945) and later banned the dunk shot due to Lew Alcindor (1967), although the latter rule was later repealed. Goldie became a mom for the first time after welcoming her eldest child, Oliver, with former husband Bill on September 7, 1976. 85.235.64.191 The first [NBA organization] to hire a black [head] coach was the Boston Celtics, and they've had at least five [black head-coaches] over the years. NBA Legend Bill Russell is interviewed by television personality John King prior to Bill Russell's acceptance of the Presidential Medal of Freedom award in Washington, DC. [216] He was quoted as saying: "From my very first year I thought of myself as playing for the Celtics, not for Boston. Avery Brundage, head of the International Olympic Committee, argued that Russell had already signed a professional sport contract and was no longer an amateur sportsman, but Russell prevailed. As a freshman at McClymonds High School in Oakland,[23][24] Russell was almost cut again;[25] as he saw Russell's raw athletic potential, coach George Powles encouraged him to work on his fundamentals. [107] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. [174][175][176] During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added, honoring Russell's commitment to working with children. In a game called as "unreal" and "devoid of emotion", the Sixers lost 127118 on April 5. The 61-year-old is a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. [208] The close relationship ended after Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, when Chamberlain injured his knee with six minutes left and was forced to leave the game. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. Thank you for . Bill Russell Social Media [170], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. The pair married in 1956 but divorced 17 years later. William Felton Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana, a small agricultural community where his parents were subjected to the constant indignities that were the lot of African Americans in the Deep South at the time. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. [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. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. She then chose to stay well away from the spotlight while still co-parenting their children, but alas, it all ended on September 11, 2014, as she passed away at the age of 78 owing to some natural health problems. Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. William Felton Russell Jr., Bill Russell's oldest son who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, died in 2016. Chamberlain often invited Russell over for Thanksgiving dinner; at Russell's place, conversation mostly concerned Russell's electric trains. Your IP: In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. My father is Bill Russell . The NBA has seen countless legendary players throughout its history, but there are a select few who have truly stood out as the greatest of all time. 1 in NBA history for defensive win shares at 133.6, with Tim Duncan in second at 106.3. Russell . [90][91] It was their sixth consecutive and seventh title in Russell's eight years with the team, a streak unreached in any U.S. professional sports league. Auerbach knew that the Rochester Royals, who owned the first draft pick, already had a strong rebounder in Maurice Stokes, were looking for an outside shooting guard, and were unwilling to pay Russell the $25,000 signing bonus he requested. He was voted the NBA Most Valuable Player but only named to the All-NBA Second Team, something that would occur repeatedly throughout his career, as players voted for the MVP award, something that would last until the 197980 NBA season, while the media has always voted for the All-NBA teams. [49], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. He actually enrolled at the School of Art Institute in Chicago for a Bachelor's in Design-Visual Communications upon graduating from California's Galileo . In 1977, four years after his divorce from Rose Swisher, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, who was Miss USA 1968. [50], Before his NBA rookie year, Russell was the captain of the 1956 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, which was held in November and December in Melbourne, Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere. Career-wise in rebounds, Russell ranks second to Chamberlain in regular season total (21,620) and average per game (22.5), and he led the NBA in average rebounds per game four times. but We will update you or notify you when we get any more information about his family. Goudsouzian stated that a segment of the file called Russell "an arrogant Negro who won't sign autographs for white children." His brother, Charlie, was a respected playwright. What was Bill Russell's life like while he was racking up 11 rings? [56] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket.