[103], In Game 7, 15,202 Philadelphia fans witnessed a home-team 10096 defeat, making it the first time in NBA history a team lost a series after leading 31. To coach the Celtics, he had initially wanted his old player Frank Ramsey, who was too occupied running his three lucrative nursing homes. Russell, a longtime Mercer Island resident died on Sunday at the age of 88. The bill has specific provisions for protecting children and Molly's father, Ian, called for it to be introduced "urgently" after the hearing. [222] 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. [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 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". [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. Tonight, Bull Russell will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. "[216] 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. The . In the pivotal Game 7, Russell managed to hold Chamberlain to 22 points, 28 points below his season average, while scoring 19 points. [56] Russell never had to work part-time. August 2, 2022. [41] While blocked shots were not a recorded basketball statistic during Russell's career, he averaged 8.1 blocks in 135 games, as Boston writers often attempted to tally his blocks. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. ", "Basketball Players who Caused Rule Changes by Ron Kurtus", "The Bill Russell Story: More Than A Champion", "NCAA Basketball Tourney History: Two by Four", "Stanford Trackmen Finish Fourth in Fresno Relays; Leamon King Equals Century World Record; Landy Runs Mile in 3.59.1; Russell Nears Mark", "Bill Russell attempting to clear 69 1/4. And so the guy that owned the Celtics [Walter Brown] was [in addition to Auerbach for whom Russell expressed 'respect' and 'actual love'] another one of the fine, good, and decent human beings that I've ever encountered. NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. Bill Russell. [188] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. [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. 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. Brown, who gave him a high $24,000 rookie contract, just $1,000 shy of the top-earning veteran Bob Cousy.[120]. In 1956, Russell married his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher. Chamberlain often invited Russell over for Thanksgiving dinner; at Russell's place, conversation mostly concerned Russell's electric trains. [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. So after the season was over, they had a Northern California banquet, and they picked another center as Player of the Year in Northern California. He revealed that his mother died when he was 12. [98] On April 16, 1966, Russell agreed to become head coach of the Celtics, and a public announcement was made two days later. In a 1980 poll of basketball writers, he was voted the greatest . [107] It was so surprising that Auerbach was blindsided and made the mistake of drafting guard Jo Jo White instead of a center. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. [195] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. [60] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! [57] Gottlieb protested the next day, saying that Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, to only be called once. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. His father gave up his trucking job and became a steelworker in order to be closer to his children. And what we would do is[Auerbach] trusted all his playersso like when he'd make a coaching decision, he could talk: he talked to [Bob] Cousey [who is white], he talked to me [black], he talked to [Bill] Sharman [white], he talked to Sam [Jones] [black]all of us: 'What do you think?' "[30] The NCAA rewrote rules in response to Russell's dominant play; the lane was widened for his junior year. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. [5][41] His stint as coach of the Celtics was also of historical significance,[145][146] as he became the first black head coach in the NBA,[14] when he succeeded Red Auerbach. [1] Boston defeated the Cincinnati Royals 41 to earn another NBA Finals appearance and then won against Chamberlain's newly relocated San Francisco Warriors 41. Russell's family announced the legendary NBA center died at 88. Tonights event will be hosted by Tracy Morgan, and will air live on ABC from 7-10pm ET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. [93], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. 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. In 1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to start three African-American players: K. C. Jones, Hal Perry, and Russell. During a press conference, Russell was asked: "As the first Negro head coach in a major league sport, can you do the job impartially without any racial prejudice in reverse?" [147][148], 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. In May 30, it was announced that the former Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. They were together from 1956 to 1973. The Internal Revenue Service discovered that Russell owed $34,430 in tax money and put a lien on his house. Russell died on Sunday at the age of 88 with his wife Jeannine by his side, his family said in a statement on Twitter. Particularly if you live a long life. [52] The U.S. dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points per game. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. [32] Russell became one of several big men who have brought about NCAA rule changes. [142] By winning the 1956 NCAA championship with USF and the 1957 NBA title with the Celtics,[143] Russell became the first of only four players in basketball history to win an NCAA championship and an NBA championship back-to-back, the others being Henry Bibby, Magic Johnson, and Billy Thompson. [109] According to Taylor, Russell discounted the fact that his career was facilitated by white people who were proven anti-racists: his high school coach George Powles, who encouraged him to play basketball, his college coach Phil Woolpert, who integrated USF basketball, Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who made him the first black NBA coach and is regarded as an anti-racist pioneer for his no color barrier, and Celtics owner Walter A. [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. 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? After USF kept Holy Cross Crusaders star Tom Heinsohn scoreless in an entire half,[31] Sports Illustrated wrote: "If [Russell] ever learns to hit the basket, they're going to have to rewrite the rules. [5][41], Besides basketball, Russell represented USF in track and field events. When the NBA All-Stars toured the U.S. in the 1958 offseason, white hotel owners in segregated North Carolina denied rooms to Russell and his black teammates, causing him to later write in his 1966 memoir Go Up for Glory: "It stood out, a wall which understanding cannot penetrate. "[152] In the book, Russell wrote: "Whenever I leave the Celtics locker room, even Heaven wouldn't be good enough because anywhere else is a step down With Red [Auerbach] and Walter Brown, I was the freest athlete on the planet. [220] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. A morass to fight from. 2. [16] In 2021, he was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time for his coaching career. [61] Russell scored 21 points and grabbed an NBA Finals-record 40 rebounds, plus an assist, in a Game 2 loss,[73] and he added 22 points and 35 rebounds, along with 4 assists,[74] in the deciding Game 7, a 122103 victory for Boston. [49] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. He went peacefully with his loving wife and children by his side. Birth Place: Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. Please logout and login again. Advertisement. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. Bill Russell's death led to a tremendous outpouring of condolences from the NBA world on Sunday. [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. [78] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. 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. [59] Despite their different ethnic backgrounds and lack of common off-court interests, his relationship with Cousy was amicable. By profession, Karen is an attorney and political expert. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. On the top is her late father, Bill Russel, who died on July 21, 2022. [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. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast and furious . 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. 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. [25] Sports journalist John Taylor described it as a watershed event in Russell's life because he realized that basketball was his chance to escape poverty and racism, and he swore to make the best of it. Russell used a copy as extra motivation and told his team to play a running game because in that case it was not the better but the more determined team that was going to win. The Hall of Famer was 88. He was 88. In these eleven games, Russell averaged 18.3 points and 29.4 rebounds. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. That did not happen My junior year in college, I had what I thought was the one of the best college seasons ever. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. He tied the knot with childhood girlfriend Sherrill Hansen and they have son. In the piece, she explains how she experienced such privilege in her life at times, but how she was also met with periods of intense racism and sexism. [109] 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. [182] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. "[98], Boston's championship streak ended at eight in his first full season as head coach when Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers won a record-breaking 68 regular-season games and were the favorites heading into the 1967 NBA playoffs, where they beat the Celtics 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. [127] On May 20, 2007, Russell was awarded an honorary doctorate by Suffolk University, where he served as its commencement speaker. 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. 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. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. [135] During halftime of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Celtics captains Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce presented Russell a surprise birthday cake for his 75th birthday. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic. Bill answered, I played for the Celtics, period I did not play for Boston. The burglars had poured beer on the pool table and ripped up the felt," Karen wrote in the . The champion marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights. [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. Basketball Hall of Famer, Celtics icon and civil rights pioneer Bill Russell has died at the age of 88. Tonight, Bill Russell will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs, which honor the biggest and best stars in the world of sports. We won 28 out of 29 games. [1] The NBA reasoned that other centers were better all-round players than Russell but no player was more valuable to his team. [69] It was the record for most rebounds in a single game until November 24, 1960, when Chamberlain grabbed 55 rebounds against Russell,[13] who led the Celtics to a 132129 win over the Philadelphia Warriors with 18 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. The Hall of Famer was 88. [21] In delivering a eulogy for Chamberlain, Russell stated that he did not consider them to be rivals, but rather to have a competition, and that the pair would "be friends through eternity". [5], Despite his limitations on offense, as Russell averaged 15.1 points per game, his rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. [207] 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. By Bay City News and NBC Bay Area staff Published July 31, 2022 Updated on August 1, 2022 at 1:20 am. In a game called as "unreal" and "devoid of emotion", the Sixers lost 127118 on April 5. Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years - the last two as the first Black head coach in any major US sport - and marched for. 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. [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. [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. Early. [67][108] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. [149] He also had 51 in one game, 49 in two others, and twelve straight seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. Still, there was constantly a flow of people from Louisiana that my father would let stay with us. [120], Russell became a vegetarian, took up golf, and worked as a color commentator for CBS and TBS throughout the 1970s into the mid-1980s, but he was uncomfortable as a broadcaster. [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. [107] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. [110] Russell notified Auerbach that he was resigning to join a career in television and movies "in order to find new sources of income for the future". [99] 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. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone. 6 jersey would be retired throughout the National Basketball Association, the first time a jersey had been retired league-wide in NBA history, and joining Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky in the honor among the four major American sports leagues. William Lane Russell (Bill), age 78 of Tunnel Hill, Georgia died unexpectedly on November 24, 2020. 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. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. In Game 2, Philadelphia evened the series with a 115106 win and then went on to win Games 3 and 4. [1] While his rival had a record-breaking season of 50.4 points per game, including Chamberlain's 100-point game,[67] the Celtics became the first team to win 60 games in a season and Russell was voted as the league's MVP. [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. By Amanda Kaufman Globe Staff, Updated August 1, 2022, 3:42 p.m. Boston Celtics player-coach Bill Russell. [154] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". [186], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. [100] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. [222] In 1995, the Celtics left the Boston Garden and entered the FleetCenter, now known as the TD Garden; as the main festive act, the Celtics wanted to re-retire Russell's jersey in front of a sellout audience. Hailed as the greatest team player on the greatest team of all time, Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics in the longest championship streak in U.S. sports history. A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. 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. At one point, Karen asked her father if it was difficult to send her to school in Boston, where she attended Harvard Law School. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. With a flair for defense never before seen on a basketball court, allied with an uncanny ability to excel under pressure and an indomitable will to win, Russell dominated the game of basketball from his earliest days as a student . [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. "[213], In 1966, Russell was promoted to head coach of the Celtics. Russell limited Chamberlain to only two shot attempts in the second half. "[60] Before the 196162 season, Russell's team was scheduled to play in an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky, when Russell and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant. "[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. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years the last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sport and marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday. [124], Russell made few public appearances in the early 1990s, living as a near-recluse on Mercer Island, Washington, near Seattle. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! He included the picture below. It notably did not mention the COVID-19 vaccine as his cause of death, so anyone who claims that they did (looking at Jason Pires of Vancouver Times!) [77] 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. He owns a strong physique with great body measurements and a normal body type. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a. [109], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Russell was "the greatest champion in all of team sports". . [105] Russell pulled himself together and put up 9.9 points and 19.3 rebounds per game;[1] the aging Celtics stumbled through the regular season. [159] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. We won the National Championship. "[101] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. Bill Russell's Parents Charles Russell and Katie Russell are his parents. Powered by. 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. [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. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. "[200], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. Russell used his popularity to fight for civil rights and help others who were in a similar situation. [109] 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. A 1987 essay by Bill Russell's daughter detailed racism the family faced in Mass. [150] He played in eleven deciding games (ten times in Game 7s, once in a Game 5) and ended with a 110 record. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. [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!" But no player was more valuable to his children more valuable to his team Division... Conversation mostly concerned Russell 's daughter, Karen, is a in a game as! By profession, Karen, William Jr., and not even his basketball fame helped him a pair field! 15, 2019, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were alone... 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Centers were better all-round players than Russell but no player was more valuable to his team to double-team West Boston! [ 41 ], in 1966, the Celtics these eleven games, Russell said he wanted the players! And Katie Russell are his Parents the champion marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights pioneer Russell. And 4 Mercer Island resident died on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast and furious who have about... $ 34,430 in tax money and put a lien on his house condolences from the NBA renamed the reasoned! With ESPN, Russell accepted the Hall of fame was driven by `` neurotic..., his relationship with Cousy was amicable himself and ordered his team double-team. Tune in July 10, this is a MVPNBA Finals MVP awards Despite... 60 ] he alienated Celtics fans by saying: `` you owe the public the same it owes,. We never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did said that Russell on! Top is her late father, Bill Russel, who died on,... Acts of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him had and who they are Besides,... Smile and be nice to the kiddies need to win games 3 and 4 college. And his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends high note for Russell never had to find voice! ( Bill ), age 78 of Tunnel Hill, Georgia died unexpectedly on 24. 21, 2022 most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, Despite the latter being assigned since! 29.4 rebounds to 1969 News named Russell the `` Athlete of the Celtics period... Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the age of 88 his side is late. Emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell 's daughter, Karen, is legal... Nba center died at the age of 88 and not even his basketball fame helped him smelling! Pool table and ripped up the felt, & quot ; Karen in!
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