National tragedy struck on April 4, day of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. With eight of the ten starting players on Sixers and Celtics being black, both teams were in deep shock and there were calls to cancel the series. [32] Russell became one of several big men who have brought about NCAA rule changes. [1] The NBA reasoned that other centers were better all-round players than Russell but no player was more valuable to his team. [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. [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". She works as an attorney, corporate trainer, and political strategist, according to the Huffington Post. The couple grew emotionally distant and divorced. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. One of the greatest players in NBA history, Bill Russell, is currently in his 4th marriage. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. My wife and Russell's laugh. He is quoted by Fox Sports as saying that his father lived in Louisiana. He still holds the NBA record for rebounds in one half with 32 (vs. Philadelphia, November 16, 1957). [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. We didnt have much, but there is something my father said: It is not what you give, but what you share, for the gift without the giver is bare. My fathers philosophy was, Always share what I have., Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Please review our privacy policy here: https://heavy.com/privacy-policy/, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. [5] Russell is the all-time playoff leader in total (4,104) and average (24.9) rebounds per game, he grabbed 40 rebounds in three separate playoff games (twice in the NBA Finals), and he never failed to average at least 20 rebounds per game in any of his thirteen playoff campaigns. [56] 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. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. [13], Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. Because Russell ignored virtually any well-wisher who approached him home or away, including the vast majority of media, his autograph was among the most difficult to secure of any professional athlete of his time. He later recalled: "To play good defense it was told back then that you had to stay flatfooted at all times to react quickly. Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. [67] On November 7, 1959, Russell's Celtics hosted Chamberlain's Warriors and pundits called the matchup between the best offensive and defensive centers "The Big Collision" and "Battle of the Titans". [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. [106], Russell and the Celtics achieved upsets over the 76ers and the Knicks to earn a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. 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. However, it is reported that he lives with his wife Sara Marckx Russell in Washington State. 6 jersey", "Bill Russell statue to be unveiled Nov. 1", "City Hall Plaza statue honors Celtics' Bill Russell", "Basketball's Bill Russell joins the Bronze Age", "Russell Rule Diversity Hiring Commitment", "The University of San Francisco Honors the Memory of Marilyn Nault Russell", "Bill Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Bill Russell, legendary Celtics center and NBA coach, dead at 88", "Indomitable Russell Values One Accolade Above the Rest", "Police: NBA legend Bill Russell arrested with gun at airport", "Bill Russell, Basketball Great With Record 11 NBA Titles, Dies At 88", "Celtics legend, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell dies at 88", "What NBA salaries would these superstar players make today? In May 30, it was announced that the former Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. [76], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. [59] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. [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. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named William Russell Jr & Jacob Russell from the wedlock. [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. Mr. Russell has a large family and a large number of friends who are proud of him for his services to society. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. 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? "[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. He replied: "Yes." When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. [58], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. The Boston Celtics legend, who won 11 NBA championships as a player, including two as a player-coach, on his way to the Hall of Fame, has died at the age of 88, his family announced Sunday. The Lakers featured new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West, and were the favorites. is LYING to you. [167] In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of theleague's 75 greatest players of all-time. Bill Russell parents Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. [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. 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. [208] He was livid with Russell and saw him as a backstabber. [189], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. 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. [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. Would love your thoughts, please comment. As part of the 1961 Celtics boycott, he and the other black teammates refused to play in the exhibition game and flew home, drawing a great deal of controversy and publicity. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away "peacefully" Sunday, according to a family statement from. 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. [193][194] 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. 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. Russell held Chamberlain to a pair of field goals in the first three quarters of Game 3. She already does volunteer work as a tutor for underprivileged children in her hometown.. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. In addition to his career accomplishments, Russell was a prominent human rights activist in sports. Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. [109][219], Russell refused to attend the ceremony when his jersey No. [56] Russell never had to work part-time. [47], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. [107] It was so surprising that Auerbach was blindsided and made the mistake of drafting guard Jo Jo White instead of a center. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. [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 his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. After the loss, he led his grandfather through the Celtics locker rooms and the two saw the white Celtic Havlicek taking a shower next to his black teammate Sam Jones and discussing the game. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. 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. One makes himself look good at the expense of the other guys on the floor. According to Taylor, he often perceived insults even if others did not. Bill Russell American baseball player and coach. 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. [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. [204] At the time his additional role of coach was announced, Russell publicly stated he believed Red Auerbach's impact as a coach, regarding him as the greatest of all coaches, confined every or almost every relationship with each Celtic player to a strictly professional one. His nickname is Russell William Ellis. "[49], Duiring the 196869 NBA season, Russell was shocked by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, and weary from his increasingly stale marriage to his wife Rose; the couple later divorced. As Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry, the press speculated that Russell was worn down. @NBATV before Game 6 of 2013 #NBAFinals. 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. [18][168] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. It covered every area. "[5] After the Division Finals, the Celtics had an easier time in the NBA Finals,[95] winning 41 against the Los Angeles Lakers. [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. [210], Chamberlain outscored Russell 30 to 14.2 and outrebounded him 28.2 to 22.9 in the regular season, and he also outscored him 25.7 to 14.9 and outrebounded him 28 to 24.7 in the playoffs. Born on November 2, 1957, in Melrose, Massachusetts, William Felton Russell Jr. worked for Cox Trucking for several years. [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? 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. Bill Russell's legacy of lonely courage in the fight against hate Kevin Cullen Dan McGowan The Rhode Island Senate president's final words for Providence Mayor Elorza YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED We. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. Bill Russell (L) greets Jimmy Butler at the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. Bill Russell siblings The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. [49] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. Today, Karen is 57 years old. [100] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. [179] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[179] they divorced in 1980. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. [169], In 2013, Boston honored Russell by erecting a statue of him on City Hall Plaza. [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. The Hall of Famer was 88. Please logout and login again. On the top is her late father, Bill Russel, who died on July 21, 2022. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. Russell's Celtics went 5737 in the regular season against Chamberlain's teams and 2920 in the playoffs, Chamberlain's losing seven of the eight series. William Lane Russell (Bill), age 78 of Tunnel Hill, Georgia died unexpectedly on November 24, 2020. [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. 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. [182] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. [223], On September 26, 2017, Russell posted a photograph of himself to a previously unused Twitter account in which he was taking the knee in solidarity with the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell never had to find his voice as an activist. 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. Bill Russell, one of the greatest basketball players of all time who led the charge on and off the court, has died, his family announced Sunday. Russell had three children with his first wife; two sons and a daughter. 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. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". Bill Russell's daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty, winning eleven NBA championships during his . [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. 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