The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. [18], Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a. Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years . "[5][120] On November 3, 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live, in which he appeared in several sports-related sketches. He owns a strong physique with great body measurements and a normal body type. Sportskeeda's best Risk-Free bets from legal Sportsbooks. [220] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. 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. Bill Russell has been married to three different ladies during his 88 years of lifetime named Marilyn Nault (m. 1996-2009), Dorothy Anstett (m. 1977-1980), and Rose Swisher (m. 1956-1973). [67][108] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. [161] In 2022, he was ranked No. "Bill's wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you . BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. [49] He ranks No. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! He included the picture below. [70] Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a then-record tying 17-game win streak. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. [18][168] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". No cause of death was immediately available; Russell, who. Bill Russell. There are no Insights into his past relationship. [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. 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. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. And so the Celticsall we looked for was: 'Can he play?' Physical Appearance Bill Russell is a young-looking smart and handsome man with a charming and dashing personality. 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. [59] In the highly-competitive Game 7, Russell tried his best to slow down Pettit, as Heinsohn scored 37 points and kept the Celtics alive;[59] Russell contributed by completing the famous "Coleman Play", as he ran down Hawks forward Jack Coleman, who had received an outlet pass at midcourt, and blocked his shot despite the fact that Russell had been standing at his own baseline when the ball was thrown to Coleman. Bill Russell's Siblings His only sibling is Charlie L. Russell. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972,[113] Russell had worn the same number 6 at the USF and for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. . Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. [13], Russell played in the wake of black pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, and he was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. [84] President John F. Kennedy posed for a picture with Auerbach and the nine Celtics but not Russell, who overslept because he thought it was just a tour of the White House and did not know President Kennedy would be meeting them. [29] When DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, he eagerly accepted. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. Auerbach had informed his players to not endorse candidates or causes, as it would alienate fans; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. [49] 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? [1] Before the January 31, 1963, 18-point, 22-rebound performance in a 128125 win against the Cincinnati Royals at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland,[83] the Celtics were to tour the White House and Russell had a "Do not disturb" sign on his phone. Bill Russell siblings 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. Birth Place: "[65], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. [6][7][8][9] Standing at 6ft 10in (2.08m) tall, with a 7ft 4in (2.24m) arm span,[10][11] his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were major reasons for the Celtics' dominance during his career. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. [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. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics. [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. She works as an attorney, corporate trainer, and political strategist, according to the Huffington Post. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. [152] He could score with putbacks and made mid-air outlet passes to point guard Bob Cousy for easy fast-break points. [173][174][175] During the spring of 2015, two statues of children were added, honoring Russell's commitment to working with children. According to one figure closely involved in the. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. We won the National Championship. 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. 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. [26], Russell soon became noted for his unusual style of defense. Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in . [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. [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. 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. [56] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. [157][158] In 2007, he was voted the third best center of all-time by ESPN behind Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain. 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." [111], In 1971, Russell joined NBA on ABC to do commentary on the Game of the Week. [65] The teams split the first two games, but Russell went down with a foot injury in Game 3 and only returned for Game 6. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. [109] In response, Russell described Boston as a "flea market of racism". 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. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. Dorothy, according to a 1968 Associated Press article, was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. [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. Bill Russell's Parents Charles Russell and Katie Russell are his parents. A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. [68] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. 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. [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. Rose Swisher (1956-1973) - Bill began dating his college acquaintance Rose Swisher in 1956, his senior year in college. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. 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. 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? The 11-time NBA champion had been dealing with health issues in recent years, sources said. 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. [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. William Felton "Bill" Russell was an American professional basketball player. [189], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. Arthur was a man of great courage. [182] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. [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. From the humblest of beginnings, Russell went on to lead each and every one of his basketball teams to Championships two California State High School Championships, two back-to-back NCAA titles, a Gold . [19], During World War II, the Second Great Migration began, as large numbers of blacks were moving to the West to look for work there. In 1977, four years after his divorce from Rose Swisher, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, who was Miss USA 1968. 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