The fans could do or think whatever they wanted. [19], During World War II, the Second Great Migration began, as large numbers of Black people were moving to the West to look for work there. He later commented that he would have participated in the high jump if he had been snubbed by the basketball team. He led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 consecutive victories, and a 26-point, 27-rebound, 20-block performance in one game. [153] 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]". [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. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. Asked by Russell what was wrong, his grandfather replied how proud he was of him, being coach of an organization in which blacks and whites coexisted in harmony. [116], As a consequence of his endured racist abuse, Russell was extremely sensitive to all racial prejudice. [50] After the Celtics' 10889 victory, Schayes, who made Johnny Kerr come off the bench because he struggled against Russell in the regular season, quipped: "How much does that guy make a year? In 2014, after the unveiling of his statue at City Hall in Boston, Russell spoke a bit about his parents and what his life was like 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. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. He was very happy to receive this scholarship as it provided him an opportunity to escape the life of poverty and racism. [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. [20] Russell was closer to his mother Katie than to his father,[20] and he received a major emotional blow when she suddenly died when he was 12 years old. [19], His father was said to be a "stern, hard man" who initially worked in a paper factory as a janitor, which was a typical "Negro Job"low-paid and not intellectually challenging, as sports journalist John Taylor commented. "[218] 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. [4] Decades later, Russell explained that his experiences hardened him against abuse of all kinds,[35] saying: "I never permitted myself to be a victim. 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. (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. [52] During that same draft, Boston also drafted guard K. C. Jones, Russell's former USF teammate, and managed to draft three future Basketball Hall of Famers: Russell, Jones, and Heinsohn. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. Following Chamberlain's death in October 1999, Russell returned to prominence at the turn of the millennium. [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. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. NBA Legend Bill Russell Biography, Age, Height, Family, Wife So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. Jones. [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. Throughout his career, Bill Russell won 11 NBA championship rings. Bill Russell, the greatest defensive player of all time, has a special place in the NBAs Hall of Fame. This unlikely superstar came into the NBA as a center for the Boston Celtics and played for the team for his entire 13 years of career. When he attempted to leave and find a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in his face and thre [137] He was named as a 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. [66] Many observers thought that Boston could have won had Russell not been injured, but Auerbach commented: "You can always look for excuses We just got beat. [130] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[131] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. 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. 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? [89] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. [189] Russell was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, having been initiated into its Gamma Alpha chapter while a student at University of San Francisco. [28], Russell was ignored by college recruiters and received not one offer until recruiter Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco (USF) watched him play in a high school game. In the pivotal Game 7, Russell managed to hold Chamberlain to 22 points, 28 points below his season average, while scoring 19 points. He also served a three-season (19661969) stint as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black coach in the NBA and the first to win a championship. [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. [108], 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. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. [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. In the 1960 NBA playoffs, Russell's Celtics met Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals. 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. He was just the second player to have ever made 51 rebounds in a single game and the first NBA player to average more than 20 rebounds per game for an entire season. [97], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. [20] Russell stated that his father became his childhood hero, later followed up by Minneapolis Lakers superstar George Mikan, whom he met when he was in high school. Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. [207], Russell was known for his distinctive high-pitched laugh, of which Auerbach quipped: "There are only two things that could make me quit coaching. [108] West then hit one basket after the other and cut the lead to one, and Chamberlain asked to return to the game. [59], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. He worked hard and used the benefits of a growth spurt to become a decent basketball player. When the reporter asked how, Russell responded: "Because the most important factor is respect. [188], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. I owe so much to him it's impossible to express. [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. He lost his mother when he was just 12 years old. Russell was equally notable for his rebounding abilities, and he led the NBA in rebounds four times, had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds,[12] and remains second all time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. His time as a non-player coach was lackluster; he led the struggling SuperSonics into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but Russell's defensive, team-oriented Celtics mindset did not mesh well with the team, and he left in 1977 with a 162166 record. Before his rookie year, he was made the captain of the U.S. national basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics. [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. 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. [60] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. [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. [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. The two men did not speak to each other for more than twenty years until Russell met with Chamberlain and personally apologized. [49] He was active in the Black Power movement and was among the African-American athletes and the one political leader who came together at the 1967 Cleveland Summit to support Muhammad Ali and his decision to refuse to be drafted. [211] After that, the two were often seen together at various events and interviewed as friends. [18], Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. In these eleven games, Russell averaged 18.3 points and 29.4 rebounds. [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. [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. His talent did not immediately shine through. Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Anstett (m. 19771980), Marilyn Nault (m. 19962009), Rose Swisher (m. 19561973). He scored 15.0 ppg and 24.7 rebounds per game during the 1963-64 season. The Celtics played against the Philadelphia Warriors in November 1959. [95] In Game 5, Russell contributed with 12 points, 28 rebounds, and 7 assists, plus 10 blocks and 6 steals; blocks and steals became officially recorded statistics in the 197374 NBA season. Suddenly, his grandfather broke down crying. The game was primarily considered a match between Russell and the Warriors center, Wilt Chamberlain, as both of the playerswere amazing centers. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. When Chamberlain died in 1999, Chamberlain's nephew said that Russell was the second person he was told to call. .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. [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. [126], Russell made few public appearances in the early 1990s, living as a near-recluse on Mercer Island, Washington, near Seattle. "[122] In December 2008, the We Are Boston Leadership Award was presented to Russell. When he attempted to leave and find a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in his face and threatened to kill him if he did not stay and wait his turn. "[66], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. Early Life & Biography. [57], 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!" [62] 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. The game featured Shane Battier, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Obama's friends from high school. [86] 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. [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. "[202], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. A cause of death wasnt given, nor did a family statement say where he died. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. [50] On offense, Russell's output was limited and his NBA career personal averages show him to be an average scorer (15.1 points career average), a poor free-throw shooter (56.1%), and average overall shooter from the field (44%, not exceptional for a center). Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. This basketball great was declared as the "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980. https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/william-felton-bill-russell-859.php. The Lakers featured new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West, and were the favorites. [156] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. [169] In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of theleague's 75 greatest players of all-time. A the time of his death, he was NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. The talented player had grown up in a neighbourhood notorious for its rampant racism. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. "[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. 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. [57] 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. Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Bill Russell had an impressive record not just as a basketball player, but more importantly, as a civil rights activist. He was one of five, along with James Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Dean Smith, and John Wooden, selected to represent the inaugural class. [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. Full Article. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.), 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 won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with [48], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. He was growing older and slow and by the 1967-68 season, his figures were slowly declining. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. The Internal Revenue Service discovered that Russell owed $34,430 in tax money and put a lien on his house. [132] On June 18, 2007, Russell was inducted as a member of the founding class of the FIBA Hall of Fame. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of [69] Both men awed onlookers with "nakedly awesome athleticism",[69] and while Chamberlain outscored Russell 30 to 22, the Celtics won 115106, and the match was called a "new beginning of basketball". 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. Bill Russell Family Tree : Parents, Wife, Children, Biography He was played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics.
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