This is probably my favorite Bill Russell highlight that I can think of. 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. 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." Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. Russell brought an aspect to basketball that had rarely been explored before: defense. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. So how did he deal with it? You know, I thought he was one of the greatest defensive centers who ever played the game. All 5 of them, 1 at a time. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. Russel died on July 31, 2022. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. However, they divorced in 1973. Have something to tell us about this article? And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. 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. NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980). Being fearless in the real world even when dealing with matters of race in some of the nations darkest times on that topic was somehow even easier. Russell used this mindset while on the court and in And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. Russell is a resident of Mercer Island, Washington where he stays with his wife. Dorothy Catherine Anstett was born on June 28, 1947, and was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. He had such curiosity about human nature, about psychology, Branch said. On the road it was not uncommon for him to have to sleep in a different hotel from the one the rest of the club used. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. One of those that personally meant a lot to me was "Four Little Girls" about the 1963 Birmingham church bombings. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. She is reportedly a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. 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. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. He supported Muhammad Ali when the fighter refused to go to Vietnam. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. You know, I think people remember that sort of ugly era in Boston's history, which went on for quite some time, like the racial tension in Boston. Bill Russell attended the University of San-Francisco and played on the school team presumably due to his height advantage. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. It wasnt who I was.. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. .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;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. 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. The family moved from Louisiana to Oakland during World War II due to employment opportunities for the blacks in the west at the time. NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). He was voted league MVP five times. He last led the Sacramento Kings as president of basketball operations in the late 1980s. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. The oldest son of Bill Russell, William Felton Russell Jr, who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, unfortunately passed away in 2016. That was the way I conducted my life.. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. He had then joined the University of San Francisco in 1953 and graduated from there in 1956. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, What matters is you stood up for yourself. 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. Go back to Africa, you baboon. The series airs on Wednesday, February 8, and fans want to know more about his personal life. Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. After her marriage to Bill ended, Rose stayed out of the limelight and lived a relatively secluded life. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics And he lived in Reading, Mass. And there was no hesitation on my part because I grew up in the '60s. He had represented the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1956 to 1969 and was the central figure in the teams total domination of the league winning the NBA championship title 11 times (1957, 19591966, 1968, 1969). Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. 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. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. Russell's Have something to tell us about this article? Like, how did he deal with all of that? Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. And one of them slapped me as they went by. 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. [December 2003]. 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. To help solve the child care crisis, new legislation would cap families costs and pay providers more, San Diego police want to power up some Smart Streetlights; add license plate readers as crime-fighting tool, Proposed bills could lead to more people being forced into mental health treatment, Demand for freshmen admission at UC San Diego drops for first time in roughly 20 years, Should backcountry builders fund city sidewalks and bike lanes? Bill was born in Louisiana in 1934. While featuring in the high school team, he was dumped many times for his inability to comprehend game rules and scopes. Even after he became a s 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.. And now Netflix is out with a new documentary. He was married four times and had three children. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. He would return and defeat the Sixers in 1968, in a hotly contested Conference Final series, and easily defeat the Lakers in the Finals. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. On joining the Celtics during the mid-season, he made his professional debut against the St. Louis Hawks. You'll get covered with chocolate. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. The following season, Russell earned the NBA MVP award and helped the Celtics to another NBA final which they lost. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. He was also included in the All-NBA First Team thrice (1959, 1963, 1965), the All-NBA Second Team 8 times (1958, 19601962, 1964, 19661968), and the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 1969. He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. And so thats the kind of stuff I got from my mother.. MARTIN: Exactly. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Rose Swisher died aged 78 on September 11, 2014. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. During his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships - two as a player coach. But he was a very, you know, well-rounded human being who believed that it was not only a responsibility as a player, but the responsibility of an African American man. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. Jon Jones Reacts To Islam Makhachev Declaring Himself The Best Fighter In The World, Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To ESPN/UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Thirsting Over Him In Viral Video, Jon Jones First Shirtless Pic At Heavyweight Before UFC 285 Goes Viral, Ja Morants Lawyer, Agent Threaten Legal Recourse For Defamatory Report From The Washington Post, Another Glitch In The Matrix Has Occurred As A Bird Is Filmed Motionless In Mid-Air, Bengals Exec Sends Harsh Wake-Up Call To Teams Sniffing Around Tee Higgins. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. 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. Well, I was 9 years old, and I did what 9 year olds are supposed to. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Former Basketball coach, Former Professional Basketball Player. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. All rights reserved. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast He shares all three of his children with his first wife and college sweetheart, Rose Swisher, whom he divorced in 1973. He was also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in tight areas and big games. One imagines you could do any number of subjects at this stage of your career. He won the NCAA in his finals and even earned recognition as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. He could care less, you know, about being someone that the Boston fans would love. 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. If he was out dining and got approached by someone asking for his signature, Russells usual response was to instead ask the person to join him at the table to have a conversation about life. Celebrities, athletes and politicians are paying homage to NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who has died at the age of 88, his family announced Sunday. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. Legendary center who was a 5-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star selection. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. In 1964 they became the first team in the NBA to start an all-Black lineup. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. And so she says are these the guys?. 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. Updated. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha and Jacob. He was 88 years old. The victory got Russell his 10th NBA Championship title in 12 career years and the Sports Illustrateds Sportsman of the Year Award. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. In his 1st season, the Celtics failed to reach and win the NBA finals for the 1st time in 8 years. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. The Celtics who were supposedly way past their prime were led by Bill Russell to their eleventh championship, they were only the third team to repeat a championship, the first were the Minneapolis Lakers, and the second were the Boston Celtics. But above all else, Russell was basketballs ultimate winner. He was a man who grew up in Monroe, La., moved to Oakland with his family when he was a young, young man in his pre-teens. Due to the demise of his mother, Bills father decided to work in a steel factory in order to provide emotional support for his children. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. 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.. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. Bill was only nine years old at the time. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side, his family wrote. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. Bill hasnt shared how he met his last wife, but he adored her. The world has many of them. Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. You know, what - is there something in particular you're hoping people will draw from this film? 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. He had made great strides within the game of basketball, but the restless, conscientious Russell felt that there were bigger battles to fight. The couple divorced in 1973. All rights reserved. Russell led the US national team in aspects of points, recording an average14.1 points per game. After his death he was interred in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle WA. Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. They are the only children Bill had. Anstett competed in theMiss Washingtonpageant in 1967, finishing in second place. He went to high school in Oakland. 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. She has done a lot of activist work, and her articles can be found in the New York Times Magazine, HuffPost, and many other publications. She married BillRussell in 1977. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Accuracy and availability may vary. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. WebFamily Life. Bill Russell who was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks as its first-round second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft earned a draft trade and was acquired by the Boston Celtics but soon after participated in the Olympics which delayed his participation with the Celtics. Without Chamberlain and an injured Jerry West, it was not enough to defeat the Celtics, who won by only two points.Russell later said Chamberlain was week, and should have demanded to go back into the game. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. Thanks, mom. He defined the teams philosophy and its strategy. POLLARD: Yeah, because I think most people see him just as a great sports figure, a legend on the basketball court, and really didn't really dig into how complex his life was off the court. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. Now the incident is under review. And on Sunday, the world lost an absolute legend. Bill Russell hated autographs. Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, file), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Trump cowboy found not guilty of campaign finance charge, Obama praises woman behind Fired up chant as she retires, India urges G-20 ministers to look beyond East-West crisis, Sheriff: Florida man fatally shot teenage daughter, 3 others, N. Korea wants more control over farming amid food shortage, NYC bike path killer doesnt testify in death penalty phase, San Diego lawyer sentenced to prison for stealing $5K worth of life insurance premium payments, Driver extricated from overturned car after crashing off I-5 in La Jolla, RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California board, 25 years to life in prison for nanny who fatally injured 4-week-old baby in her care, Imperial Beach school placed on lockdown after unsubstantiated threat of gun on campus. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. And I think maybe it's because we are so used to seeing African Americans as dominant in basketball. The relationship was broken apart in controversy because of Anstetts color. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. Updates? Born on Feb. 12, 1934, William Felton Russell spent his earliest years in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west during World War II, ultimately landing in Oakland, California. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? Also at the end of the game Wilt Chamberlain was taken out of the game by unpopular coach Butch van Breda Kolff. All-NBA Second Team (1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968). 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. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named 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. 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. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. His team to many victories in major tournaments our writers and team members to and! The University of San Francisco in 1953 and graduated from there in 1956 in second.... The greatest defensive centers who ever played the game by unpopular coach Butch Breda... Got from my mother.. MARTIN: Exactly 2: there was a full house in Auditorium. Less, you know, about being someone that the Boston Celtics he! 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