In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. "Here is a Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life," Pollard said. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. What Russell did was close the circuit, creating turnovers that allowed Boston to get back on offense even faster, as well as patrol the paint with an intensity that single-handedly compensated for the Celtics imbalance. Even after he became a s Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). Who was Bill Russells wife? (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND"). Russell did not create the first basketball dynasty, but to date, through Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Bill Russell has one more championship than any other basketball player.Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. Bill Russells Mom Changed His Life Forever By Making Him Fight 5 Guys In The Projects To Learn A Lesson. Russell immediately made an impact by improving the Celtics defence with his shot-blocking talent. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. Russell asked for a gun permit. He missed out on the NBAs Rookie of the Year award, ostensibly because teammate Tom Heinsohn had played the entire season whereas Russell had missed time as a result of his participation in the Melbourne 1956 Olympic Games (where he helped the U.S. mens basketball team win a gold medal). His talent did not immediately shine through. After her marriage to Bill ended, Rose stayed out of the limelight and lived a relatively secluded life. And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. MARTIN: Exactly. 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. And I'm just going to play a short clip about that. Before he won 11 NBA championships and five MVP awards before he won two national championships in However, Russell was one of the huge earners in the NBA and didnt have to work part-time so as to maintain his standard of living as it was the case with other NBA players at the time. Russell used this mindset while on the court and in NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 Then came the proving ground of Boston. Go back to Africa, you baboon. - IMDb Mini Biography By: NBA Boston Celtics, player/head coach (1966-1969). Until Michael Jordan he was almost unanimously acclaimed as the greatest player of all time, and some still think he is. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. Over the years, Russells approach became the teams overall philosophy as athletic players who saw defense as a means to key the fast break were introduced into the roster. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. This year, alongside Gail Goodrich and Happy Hairston, and a very deep bench, which included future Laker's Coach Pat Riley the Lakers looked to beat the Celtics for the first time in the Finals. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). So did Russell. Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965). Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, POLLARD: Yeah, I hope that they walk away understanding that he was not only a great basketball player, but he was also a great man and a complicated man. In college, the 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) Russell blossomed, providing a defensive presence that helped lead USF to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1955 and 1956. 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. Russell was only eight years old when the family moved to Oakland and one of the first things his mother ensured he had was a library card. Holds NBA Finals single-game record for most free throws attempted in one half (15, April 11, 1961) vs. St. Louis; most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960 vs. St. Louis and April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles); most rebounds by a rookie (32, April 13, 1967 vs. St. Louis); and most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles). The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. WebBill Russell February 12, 1934 Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. Your login session has expired. Somebody had broken in and defecated on the family bed and made - you know, wrote things on the wall and on his garage door. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. He had led the university team, the San Francisco Dons, to successive NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) championships in 1955 and 1956, a dream run that had included an astonishing streak of 55 wins in a row. 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. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. She has done a lot of activist work, and her articles can be found in the New York Times Magazine, HuffPost, and many other publications. Due to the demise of his mother, Bills father decided to work in a steel factory in order to provide emotional support for his children. Russel died on July 31, 2022. Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family to Oakland, California, where the job prospects were better. After taking the first two at home the Lakers returned to the Boston Garden to lose the next two. Russell was married three times. They are the only children Bill had. He most likely would have led the league in blocked shots many times, but the NBA had not yet started keeping track of the statistic. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. No one in the history of North American team sports won at a higher level than Bill Russell did as a member of the Boston Celtics, capturing 11 championships in his 13 seasons with the team. He could care less, you know, about being someone that the Boston fans would love. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. Hes still second on the NBAs all-time rebounding list, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, and will probably be in that spot forever since nobody has come remotely close to him in the last 50 years. 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 It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. You know, what - is there something in particular you're hoping people will draw from this film? Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics [December 2003]. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. 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 Celtics won a title in his rookie year, and he became the leagues first African American superstar, though not its first Black player (who was Earl Lloyd in 1956). Still yet Russell was without a doubt one of the finest players of his day. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. Russell knew that he had won, but he wanted to win over Chamberlain, and did not. But we learned that, you know, he had a very interesting life and complicated life off the court. In 1964 they became the first team in the NBA to start an all-Black lineup. This is probably my favorite Bill Russell highlight that I can think of. He led the Boston Celtics to an astounding 11 Championships from 1957 to If you have three hours and want to check out Russells story, you can watch this video right below. Bill Russell Wife, Children. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. He was 88 years old. He last led the Sacramento Kings as president of basketball operations in the late 1980s. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. Sadly, Russell passed away in August 2022 at the age of 88. He was drafted second overall, by the St. Louis Hawks, but was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley, in a deal spearheaded by Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics. She is still alive today. This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the front of their jerseys to honor the great mans legacy. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. Russell, while no behemoth, was tall enough to make his high school team on height alone. Associated With. It was a breakthrough that would change not only his life but, in the long term, basketball itself. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. Throughout his 13-year career, he enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics. After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. His home was accosted on a few occasions, and he heard he would not get MVP because he was black from a reporter. Russell, outspoken and relentlessly intelligent when it came to matters of race, was not just the NBAs first Black superstar; as the Celtics quickly came to dominate the NBA, he also became an activist on par with Muhammad Ali. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. 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, He was 88 years old. She represented the USA atMiss Universe 1968in July, where she placed fourth runner-up. However, he still performed well as a player the following season and led the team to yet another NBA championship title. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. After his initial retirement from basketball as a player-coach, Russell worked as a commentator from 1970-73 then returned to basketball to coach the Seattle Supersonics. 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. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human 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. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Featured Image by Bill Russell / Instagram. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. She is reportedly a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. In 2009, the NBA changed the name of the finals MVP from NBA finals MVP award to Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. Corrections? Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. However, they divorced in 1973. As a kid, Russell spent hours in the library each day reading books about artistic techniques, studying paintings and understanding the importance of each individual brush stroke to the greater picture. 6 jersey across the entire league. Bill Russell, one of the greatest Boston Celtics and NBA players ever, died, his family said Sunday. Russell's On the road it was not uncommon for him to have to sleep in a different hotel from the one the rest of the club used. Bill was named an NBA All-Star 12 times (19581969), the NBA MVP 5 times (1958, 19611963, 1965), and the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1963. Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. Copyright 2023 NPR. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, 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. 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. WebWilliam "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905 August 9, 1992) was an American music historian and modernist composer. WebFamily Life. Who was Bill Russells wife? Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. Bill Russell has been married on 4 different occasions but had never kept a marriage for up to 2 decades, the longest being 17 years (19561973) to a lady called Born on Feb. 12, 1934, William Felton Russell spent his earliest years in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west during World War II, ultimately landing in Oakland, California. 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. In 13 seasons, Russell won 11 NBA championships (1957, 195966, and 196869). .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;}}Remembering Just Fontaine and His World Cup Record, The Man Behind the First All-Black Basketball Team, 8 Times Brothers Have Faced Off in a Championship, Every Black Quarterback to Play in the Super Bowl, Soccer Star Christian Atsu Survived an Earthquake. They are Jacob Russell,William Russell Jr.,and Karen Russell. He was married four times and had three children. But he was a very, you know, well-rounded human being who believed that it was not only a responsibility as a player, but the responsibility of an African American man. Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. You know, he didn't love the Boston fans. I was sitting on the steps. Yeah. Being fearless in the real world even when dealing with matters of race in some of the nations darkest times on that topic was somehow even easier. Accuracy and availability may vary. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro. And there was no hesitation on my part because I grew up in the '60s. Thats what I did, Russell said in 2009. WebBill Russells age is 88. POLLARD: Yeah, during the Boston bussing issue. Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. Dorothy Catherine Anstett was born on June 28, 1947, and was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. Like, we certainly know, when it comes to Jackie Robinson, you know, the abuse that was directed at him. Jeannine is a former professional golfer and was often seen on Bills social media: In other news, Best Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury memes after undefeated Brit beats YouTuber. All Rights Reserved. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. It's no conversation. Stand up for yourself. 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. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. And she said What!. Updates? He was born in rural Louisiana. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). This is just one of these examples. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from purchases made on Amazon via our links. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. He went to high school in Oakland. Russell went to the police, who surmised that raccoons must be the culprits. When we first moved to the projects, my mother was getting everything together. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. Russell now had the daunting task of taking a bottom seed to defeat some of the best teams of all time, including a newly revamped Philadelphia after the Chamberlain trade, who they beat, and the New York Knickerbockers, led by Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy, and Walt Frazier, who they beat in 6, and set the match for the Los Angeles Lakers, which now had Chamberlain.Chamberlain, as well as Jerry West and Elgin Baylor always fell short to the Celtics. In 2005, Russell recorded bankruptcy after investing an estimated amount of $250,000 to finance a rubber plantation project in Liberia. He had made great strides within the game of basketball, but the restless, conscientious Russell felt that there were bigger battles to fight. The victory got Russell his 10th NBA Championship title in 12 career years and the Sports Illustrateds Sportsman of the Year Award. His marriage with Rose produced 3 children of which one, Karen Russell is a renowned television pundit and lawyer. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Bill Russell: Legend.". Have a good day. She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. Bill shares all of his three children with his first wife. Bill Russell: Legend is a new two-part Netflix documentary that covers the Boston greats triumphs on the court, and activism off of it. 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. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. POLLARD: I don't think he was as vocal. 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). Russell would not stand for racism in sports, which was ironic, given Bostons historical notoriety in that department. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. . 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. But they didn't love him. Bill Russell had a delayed emergence. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side, his family wrote. This is why you don't see just one author for this article. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. And he wasn't as aggressive as Jim Brown could be, you know, when he was at his height as an actor and as an activist. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. WebBill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. But I think this documentary will reset the clock on that and understand Bill from the other perspective, besides being a phenomenal basketball legend. MARTIN: One of the things that I think people today don't realize is how much he had to put up with as a player. In 1979, Russell teamed up with professional writers to publish the Second Wind book and also featured in a 1986 movie named The fix as Judge Ferguson. Why do you think that is? 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. Ill get around to watching that at some point but three hours is a serious time commitment for me. 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. He didn't love Boston. You'll get covered with chocolate. POLLARD: Yeah, because I think most people see him just as a great sports figure, a legend on the basketball court, and really didn't really dig into how complex his life was off the court. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. To help solve the child care crisis, new legislation would cap families costs and pay providers more, San Diego police want to power up some Smart Streetlights; add license plate readers as crime-fighting tool, Proposed bills could lead to more people being forced into mental health treatment, Demand for freshmen admission at UC San Diego drops for first time in roughly 20 years, Should backcountry builders fund city sidewalks and bike lanes? 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. Rebounds ( 4,104, 24.9 rpg ) in 165 games holds career playoff for... 1968In July, where she placed fourth runner-up that the Boston bussing issue the Year after he! People most of his three children: Jacob, William Jr., and.. 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