In the 1960 NBA playoffs, Russell's Celtics met Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals. "[109] This supported the opinion of many white fans that Russell, who was by then the highest-paid Celtic, was egotistical, paranoid, and hypocritical. [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. She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. [5][49], 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. [98] On April 16, 1966, Russell agreed to become head coach of the Celtics, and a public announcement was made two days later. When Chamberlain died in 1999, Chamberlain's nephew said that Russell was the second person he was told to call. [105] 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 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. On Sunday, July 31, Russell's family shared the news in a statement via Twitter, sharing . [189], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. She used to admire her father, a national basketball player. [218] The FBI maintained a file on Russell and described him in their file as "an arrogant Negro who won't sign autographs for white children". FILE - Boston Celtics legendary player Bill Russell is greeted at his seat before Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers . [19] When he later became a standout college player at USF, Russell recalled how he and his few fellow black teammates were jeered by white students. [139] Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday at the White House tennis court. "[99][214] As a result of repeated racial bigotry, Russell refused to respond to fan acclaim or friendship from his neighbors, thinking it was insincere and hypocritical. He also served a three-season (196669) stint as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black coach in the NBA and the first to win a championship. ", "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. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. In 1977, four years after his divorce from Rose Swisher, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, who was Miss USA 1968. [5] Russell's team again beat Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers 41 in the Eastern Division Finals, proceeding to win the NBA Finals in a tight showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Russell scoring 25 points and grabbing 32 rebounds, plus giving out an assist,[97] in a 9593 win in Game 7. [56] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. Bill Russell. Bill Russell, the cornerstone of the Boston Celtics dynasty that won eight straight titles and 11 overall during his career, died Sunday. He later recalled: "To play good defense it was told back then that you had to stay flatfooted at all times to react quickly. [18], Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. [49] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. In protest, the whole team decided to camp out in a closed college dorm, which was later called an important bonding experience for the group. [180] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[181] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. 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. He won more championships than any other NBA player and made the Boston Celtics one of the most successful franchises in the league's history. [153] He was selected three times to the All-NBA First Teams (1959, 1963, 1965) and eight Second Teams (1958, 196062, 1964, 196668), and was a 12-time NBA All-Star (19581969). Bill Russell's Siblings His only sibling is Charlie L. Russell. In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. Boston Celtics fans say Bill Russell was so much more than a basketball star. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. His nickname is Russell William Ellis. The couple got divorced in 1973. When I started to jump to make defensive plays and to block shots, I was initially corrected, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. 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. [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. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. Bill Russell's death led to a tremendous outpouring of condolences from the NBA world on Sunday. Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. I was the MVP at the Final Four. When he became player-coach in 1966, Russell bluntly said to his teammates that "he intended to cut all personal ties to other players" and seamlessly made the transition from their peer to their superior. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. 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 didn't. As a child, he witnessed how his parents were victims of racial abuse, and the family eventually moved into government housing projects to escape the daily torrent of bigotry. [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. After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. Karen Kenyatta Russell is the daughter of NBA Icon Bill Russel. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. One of his highest jumps occurred at the WCR, where he achieved a mark of .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6feet 9+14inches (2.06m);[43] at the meet, Russell tied Charlie Dumas, who would later in the year win gold in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia for the United States and become the first person to high-jump 7 feet (2.13m). [5] Russell was known as one of the most clutch players in the NBA. [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. 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. It's all over! "[178], Russell was married to his college sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. [20] When World War II broke out, the elder Russell became a truck driver. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. [109] In response, Russell described Boston as a "flea market of racism". The already hostile atmosphere between Russell and Boston hit its apex when vandals broke into his house in Reading, Massachusetts, covered the walls with racist graffiti, damaged his trophies, and defecated in the beds. Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. [30], Combining the stature and shot-blocking skills of a center with the foot speed of a guard, Russell became the centerpiece of a USF team that soon became a force in college basketball. We won the National Championship. [93], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. "[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. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. This was in contrast to other Celtics who had to work during the offseason to maintain their standard of living; Tom Heinsohn sold insurance, Gene Guarilia was a professional guitar player, Cousy ran a basketball camp, and Red Auerbach invested in plastics and a Chinese restaurant. He lost his mother when he was just 12 years old. [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. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! He included the picture below. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. [70] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. The Celtics rallied back, winning Game 5 122104 and Game 6 114106, powered by a spirited Havlicek and helped by a terrible Sixers shooting slump. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959 and lives in Renton, Washington with his 44-year-old wife Sara Marckx Russell. He's so good, he scares you. [49] After the game, Russell went over to the distraught West, who had scored 42 points and was named the only NBA Finals MVP in history from the losing team, clasped his hand and tried to soothe him. 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. He was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996,[5] one of only four players to receive all three honors, and selected into the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. @NBA: The great Bill Russell joins the fellas, live on . Would love your thoughts, please comment. Together, the longtime couple are also grandparents to seven children, including Kate's kids, Ryder Robinson, Bingham Hawn Bellamy, and Rani Rose Hudson Fujikawa; Oliver's kids, Bodhi Hawn Hudson,. [169], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. 2. Tonight, Bull Russell will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. While Saperstein spoke to Woolpert in a meeting, Globetrotters assistant coach Harry Hanna tried to entertain Russell with jokes, but he was livid after this snub and declined the offer. 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 growing up. [125] 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. Russell also ignored Heinsohn's request for an autograph on behalf of his cousin and openly said to Heinsohn that he deserved half of his $300 Rookie of the Year check. [182] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy. [76], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers), are grandfatheredthey may keep the number until they voluntarily change it or retirebut the number will not be issued again to a new player. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. [39][40] During his college career, Russell was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1955, averaging 20.7 points per game and 20.3 rebounds per game. Bill Russell with his coach, Red Auerbach, in December 1964 after scoring his 10,000th career point in a game in Boston Garden. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. His daughter is Karen Russell, who is a television pundit and lawyer, and his sons are William Jr. and Jacob. This attitude contributed to his bad rapport with fans and journalists. [107] The teams split the next two games and it all came down to Game 7 in Los Angeles, where Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke angered and motivated the Celtics by putting "proceedings of Lakers victory ceremony" on the game leaflets. [5] In addition, Russell holds the NBA Finals single-game record for most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960, vs. St. Louis, and April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), and most consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds (15 from April 9, 1960 April 16, 1963). "The definitive bio-doc on NBA Legend Bill Russell, the greatest champion in the history of American sports, and a true Civil Rights icon. Later, hoping to better the family's . [104] After losing for the fifth straight time against Russell and the Celtics, Hall-of-Fame Lakers guard Jerry West stated: "If I had a choice of any basketball player in the league, my No. 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. 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. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. [201] Later in Russell's career, John Havlicek said of his teammate and coach that he threw up less often than early in his career, only doing so "when it's an important game or an important challenge for himsomeone like Chamberlain, or someone coming up that everyone's touting. Auerbach replied that Gottlieb's statements were "absolutely ridiculous" and said any controversy was "a question of sour grapes". 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