William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. Accuracy and availability may vary. Outside the classroom, Russell began playing basketball. He was at the '67 summit in Cleveland with Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali. Watch out, Pettit. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. They were together from 1956 to 1973. 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. Russell was lightly recruited by colleges, but Hal DeJulio, a former player at the nearby University of San Francisco (USF), had seen him play and had an inkling as to his potential, so he recommended Russell to his old school. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. Bill Russell hated autographs. Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness, and thoughtful change, it reads further. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. Get top headlines from the Union-Tribune in your inbox weekday mornings, including top news, local, sports, business, entertainment and opinion. Take away all the on-court accomplishments, and Russell still lived a life. And I'm just going to play a short clip about that. He last led the Sacramento Kings as president of basketball operations in the late 1980s. NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980). I had seen Bill Russell play. Corrections? 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. He dealt with Boston bussing issues. Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Name: Bill Russell, Birth Year: 1934, Birth date: February 12, 1934, Birth State: Louisiana, Birth City: Monroe, Birth Country: United States. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. In the 1961/62 season, Bill Russell recorded his career highest score by an average of 18.9 points and 23.6 rebounds per game; he also scored 30 points and 40 rebounds in the finals helping the Celtics to defeat a rugged Lakers side. Over the next several decades he periodically came back to the game as a coach or as an executive, but his teams failed to win with the kind of regularity he enjoyed as a player. 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. But the Celtics kept winning, and he remained the engine that made them go. If you have three hours and want to check out Russells story, you can watch this video right below. In his second season with the Celtics, Russell bought a house in Reading. Bill Russell, a towering figure in the NBA and in American sports history, died at 88 on Sunday, his family announced. Or expensive cars with souped-up sound systems so he could blare the music of Laura Nyro, Janis Ian, or Crosby, Stills and Nash some of his favorites. Thanks, mom. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics During his three-year varsity career, in which he led the team to consecutive NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. For the first time in the Bill Russell- Wilt Chamberlain rivalry Chamberlain could not say he did not have the team to beat the Celtics, although many contend that the Celtics were evenly match if not inferior in talent to their many rivals. 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. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. Bill was born in Louisiana in 1934. He married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA, in 1968, but divorced in 1980. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). At this point in his life, Russell noticed that basketball could change the problems of poverty and racism and then added more seriousness and passion to his play. Universally recognized as one of the most accomplished athletes in professional sports history, NBA legend Bill Russell died Sunday. I mean, we all know that when he became a Celtic, he became the lynchpin that began this dynasty of the Boston Celtics. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. Macauley was part of a solid offensive unit with Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, but the team had a missing piece to the puzzle.As America would soon find out Bill Russell would be that missing piece. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. WebFamily Life. Russells impact was immediate. He later received a scholarship from the University of San Francisco. SAM POLLARD: If it weren't for Bill Russell winning all them championships, would anybody be talking about the Boston Celtics? In the 1958/59 season, the Celtics won the NBA championship with Russell making the most defensive impact in the team. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. He suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a black in the southern state of Louisiana, United States. Granted, it was in part because no one could deal with the moody Russell except Russell himself, but it still made him the first African American coach in NBA history, as well as the first to win a title when Boston took the 196768 championship. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. POLLARD: Yeah, during the Boston bussing issue. I didnt know what she was going to do. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. Updated. So the Celtics traded centre Ed Macauley and the rights to guard-forward Cliff Hagan, who had yet to play in the NBA owing to his military service, to the St. Louis Hawks shortly after the Hawks used the second overall pick of the draft to select Russell. His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. The relationship was broken apart in controversy because of Anstetts color. But as her wife was white they got divorced in 1980. NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 Then came the proving ground of Boston. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. MARTIN: So before we let you go, what's important to you? MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. He was in the audience when King delivered the I Have A Dream speech in Washington in 1963. [December 2003]. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. Case in point: The apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. WebBill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. NBA Sacramento Kings, player/head coach (1987-1988). She was born on January 20, 1962. He opted for speed and marking from blind spots rather than man-marking; with this style, he could move to advance positions to help the attack and also run back to assist the defence. One of those that personally meant a lot to me was "Four Little Girls" about the 1963 Birmingham church bombings. His autobiography, Second Wind: The Memoirs of an Opinionated Man (cowritten with Taylor Branch), was published in 1979. 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. And there was no hesitation on my part because I grew up in the '60s. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. He went to high school in Oakland. He helped the team to the play-offs and his shot-blocking abilities were efficient in the NBA final against the St. Louis Hawks which the Celtics narrowly won. Named Russell William Wagner at birth, when he decided to become a classical music composer, he dropped his last nameas it already "was taken" by Richard Wagner. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. While studying at the McClymonds High School, he was introduced to basketball as he participated in the school team. MARTIN: Exactly. However, they separated three years later in 1980. Russell's While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. MARTIN: I have to tell you, you've done so many things - produced and directed and edited award-winning feature films and documentaries. William Felton Russell was born on the 12th February 1934 to Mr Charles Russell and Mrs Kutie Russell. I say yes maam. Saw no point to them. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. 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. He could care less, you know, about being someone that the Boston fans would love. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. However, he still performed well as a player the following season and led the team to yet another NBA championship title. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Russell was the first player to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and a collegiate championship. Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. | Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. POLLARD: I don't think he was as vocal. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Although the whole club and their supporters felt betrayed with Russells professional basketball demise, the Celtics board retired his #6 kit number 3 years after his retirement. Selected by the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks as a territorial draft choice in 1954. He was represented by Russell Spielman, Manager and Booking Agent, GSE Worldwide, Melville, Long Island, New York, United States. The Philadelphia 76ers did beat the Boston Celtics in 1967, but in 1966 and 1968 the Celtics, not quite to the level of the Sixers.But in 1968 it was truly Russell that beat the Sixers, as he was not the heart and soul on the court, but was now it's head coach, which he became in 1967 after legend Red Auerbach retired. Be the first one to comment on this story. He didnt shut up and dribble. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). Omissions? 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. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. | Born: February 12, 1934Played all 13 seasons with CelticsFive-time NBA MVPEleven-time NBA championNo. Named to NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary teamsTwelve-time NBA All-StarNamed Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1968Induced into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1975Member of gold-medal winning US Olympic team in 1956 So it was, like, an easy yes for me to say, I'd love to direct this film about Bill Russell. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, and in 2011 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. At the end of the season Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, taking Chamberlain to the other arch-rival of the Boston Celtics. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! In 1956 Red Auerbachthe Celtics head coach and general managertargeted Russell in the NBA draft, seeing the solution to his teams shortcomings. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast You know, what - is there something in particular you're hoping people will draw from this film? The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. The comedy centered on a family in Harlem and addressed both the political and generational conflicts of the time. He covers an array of topics including NFL, Pop Culture, Fishing News, and the Outdoors. Bill had attended the McClymonds High School, a public school in Oakland, California. MARTIN: Which, again, it just seems interesting that we don't necessarily put him in the same breath as those other kind of prominent athlete activists, you know, like Muhammad Ali. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. And on Sunday, the world lost an absolute legend. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. He defined the teams philosophy and its strategy. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. In 1964 they became the first team in the NBA to start an all-Black lineup. Before he won 11 NBA championships and five MVP awards before he won two national championships in The ball went up, and Bob Pettit of the Hawks and I jumped for it. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. I mean, he just did what he had to do, and he wasn't as vocal as Ali, as we all know. The autograph-seekers almost always declined. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. 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. It was a breakthrough that would change not only his life but, in the long term, basketball itself. Boston Celtics fans say Bill Russell was so much more than a basketball star. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with the Boston Celtics, and he became the first African American coach of a modern major professional sports team in the United States when he was named the player-coach of the Celtics in 1966. The family moved from Louisiana to Oakland during World War II due to employment opportunities for the blacks in the west at the time. His home was accosted on a few occasions, and he heard he would not get MVP because he was black from a reporter. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. They were together from 1956 to 1973. 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. In his 1st season, the Celtics failed to reach and win the NBA finals for the 1st time in 8 years. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. He was 88. Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. That was the way I conducted my life.. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. Your login session has expired. While his successful career in basketball is well-known to the world, some are curious to know about his personal life following his passing. The basketball legacy is beyond well-known: 11 championships in 13 years with the Boston Celtics, first Black coach in the NBA, first Black coach to win an NBA title, Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, Olympic champion, NCAA champion, member of the leagues 75th anniversary team, and the namesake of the NBA Finals MVP award which, had it existed when he played, he would have won at least a half-dozen times. Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. And finally today, we know it's all about football today, it being Super Bowl Sunday and all, but we're going to talk basketball for a minute to hear about one of the icons of that sport - Bill Russell. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. 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. I was sitting on the steps. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. Bill hasnt shared how he met his last wife, but he adored her. 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 Mom Changed His Life Forever By Making Him Fight 5 Guys In The Projects To Learn A Lesson. 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. He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. 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