[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. [94] In Game 5, Russell contributed with 12 points, 28 rebounds, and 7 assists, plus 10 blocks and 6 steals; blocks and steals became officially recorded statistics in the 197374 NBA season. Bill Russell Personal life, Spouse & Trivia. The 88-year-old basketball icon passed away on July 31, 2022. [171] Each plinth features a key word and related quote to illustrate Russell's multiple accomplishments. My father is Bill Russell . [20], At USF, Russell became the new starting center for coach Phil Woolpert of the San Francisco Dons. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy. Although the middle child of Bill Sr. and Rose Swisher (born on July 6, 1959), Jacob is arguably the simplest member of the prominent Russell family in almost every sense of the term. equal . These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. "[201], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. [8][38] His awards and achievements include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons,[52] two of which were won as player-coach,[142] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. Getty Images/Getty Images. [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. [216] He was quoted as saying: "From my very first year I thought of myself as playing for the Celtics, not for Boston. [49] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. Bill Russell Children: Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr., Karen Russell [98] His second choice was Cousy, who declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. This was the first time in seven years that he failed to average at least 23 rebounds a game. July 31, 2022 1:50 PM PT. He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. [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. [50] He had the option to skip the tournament and play a full season for the Celtics, but he was determined to play in the Olympics. Russell, a legend on the court and in the civil rights movement, has been an integral part of MENTOR since its inception more than 30 years ago and has remained steadfastly committed as a champion of the mentoring movement. This attitude contributed to his bad rapport with fans and journalists. [223] In 1995, the Celtics left the Boston Garden and entered the FleetCenter, now known as the TD Garden; as the main festive act, the Celtics wanted to re-retire Russell's jersey in front of a sellout audience. On February 8, 2023, she shared an Instagram post to her page, @karenkenyattarussell, in which she discussed the Netflix documentary about her father called Bill Russell: Legend. Flowers at the feet of Bill Russell's statue at Boston City Hall Plaza, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Boston. The fans could do or think whatever they wanted. William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. [140] Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday at the White House tennis court. Russell's impact even breached the walls of racism and segregation in that area; amazingly, some white children attended the sports learning camp. Coming to the particulars of Karens profession, she frequently appears on networks such as MSNBC and CNN as a legal-political analyst, plus she often provides commentary on basketball-related matters on ESPN. Russell articulated these views with a measure of self-criticism, saying: "I consider this a deficiency in myselfmaybe. August 2, 2022. He shares all three of his children with his first wife and college sweetheart, Rose Swisher, whom he divorced in 1973. [1] Boston defeated the Cincinnati Royals 41 to earn another NBA Finals appearance and then won against Chamberlain's newly relocated San Francisco Warriors 41. [4] In his USF years, Russell took advantage of his relative lack of bulk to develop a unique defensive style: instead of purely guarding the opposing center, he used his quickness and speed to play help defense against opposing forwards and aggressively challenge their shots. His 1956 rookie contract was worth $24,000 (equivalent to $239,207 in 2021), only fractionally smaller than the $25,000 of top earner and teammate Bob Cousy. Karen Russell. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. The couple has 3 children whose name is Karen Russell, William Jr, and Jacob. The 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday. 6 was retired in 1972; he also refused to attend his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1975. Who is Sarina Wiegman's husband Marten Glotzbach and do couple have children? Bill Russell Wives: The 4 Women The Legendary Player Married [48], In the draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach set his sights on Russell, thinking his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess were the missing pieces the Celtics needed. [154] 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). [115] He attended his 2021 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. Bill Russell (1934-2022), Boston Celtics legend - Legacy.com Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. She had actually relocated to Seattle, Washington (his base home) following her high school graduation and was working as a jewelry salesperson when they began building a life together. The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics. In 1956, Russell married his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher. At one point, Karen asked her father if it was difficult to send her to school in Boston, where she attended Harvard Law School. He wrote these words after recounting how grandfather Jake Russell had stood up to the Ku Klux Klan and other whites who attempted to thwart his efforts to build a schoolhouse for black children; his grandfather was the first person in Russell's patrilineal line born free in North America and was himself illiterate. Still, there was constantly a flow of people from Louisiana that my father would let stay with us. . American basketball player and coach (19342022), 19561958: Rookie champion and early years, 19581966: Eight straight NBA championships, 19661969: Player-coach champion and final years, Racist abuse, controversy, and relationship with Boston fans. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. Two sculptures of children were added two years later, in the spring of 2015, to recognize Bill Russell's devotion to working with children. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. He is one of just two NBA players (the other being prominent rival Wilt Chamberlain) to have grabbed more than 50 rebounds in a game. [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. Who is Bill Russell's wife? | The US Sun [136] He was named as a 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. [2] Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. [41], In his career, Russell won five NBA MVP awards (1959, 196163, 1965),[5] which is tied with Michael Jordan for second all-time behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's six awards, and is at No. @NBA: The great Bill Russell joins the fellas, live on . He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. The teams split the first six games. Bill Russell was the father of four children from three different women. "[109][207] When his white Celtics teammate Frank Ramsey asked whether he hated him, Russell stated that he had been misquoted but few believed it. She then chose to stay well away from the spotlight while still co-parenting their children, but alas, it all ended on September 11, 2014, as she passed away at the age of 78 owing to some natural health problems. "[204] Russell was also known for his natural authority. Alex Wong/Getty Images. [50], Before his NBA rookie year, Russell was the captain of the 1956 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, which was held in November and December in Melbourne, Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. 1 in NBA history for defensive win shares at 133.6, with Tim Duncan in second at 106.3. Bill Russell Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio-Wiki [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. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. Bill Russell Wife, Girlfriend. Asked by Russell what was wrong, his grandfather replied how proud he was of him, being coach of an organization in which blacks and whites coexisted in harmony. but We will update you or notify you when we get any more information about his family. "[5] The Sixers outpaced the Celtics when they shredded the famed Boston defense by scoring 140 points in the clinching Game 5 win. A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. [109] Russell was also notorious for his refusal to give autographs or acknowledge the Celtics fans, and was called "the most selfish, surly and uncooperative athlete" by one pundit. [25] Sports journalist John Taylor described it as a watershed event in Russell's life because he realized that basketball was his chance to escape poverty and racism, and he swore to make the best of it. '"[218] In retirement, Russell described the Boston press as corrupt and racist; in response, Boston sports journalist Larry Claflin claimed that Russell himself was the real racist. NBA legend Bill Russell dies at 88 | NBA.com [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. Russell died "peacefully" with . So Hirsch went to Seattle to have lunch with Russell and his daughter, attorney Karen Russell. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, San Francisco Dons men's basketball 195455 NCAA champions, San Francisco Dons men's basketball 195556 NCAA champions, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks, List of National Basketball Association single-game rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association rookie single-season rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-season rebounding leaders, List of NBA players with most championships, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders, "Bill Russell, Henri Richard Famous Elevens Gallery", "195356 NCAA Championship Seasons: The Bill Russell Years", "Bill Russell's Trailblazing Legacy Is Secure (Even If Stats Can't Measure It)", "Bill Russell Is A Champion By Defintion [sic]", "Where does Bill Russell rank among best centers in NBA history? Karen has a B.A. He was in the . Bill Russell family: Know about his wife Jeannine and children [105] Russell pulled himself together and put up 9.9 points and 19.3 rebounds per game;[1] the aging Celtics stumbled through the regular season. He led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 consecutive victories, and an unofficial double triple-double with 26 points, 27 rebounds, 20 blocks, 3 steals, and an assist. Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. Bill Russell, the ultimate NBA champion, one of basketball's greatest players, a consummate teammate and a . 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. I was first team All American. To our children . The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. I really missed her pep talks then. I knew only that Rose accepted and cared about me, apart from the basketball, which was a great breakthrough for me. he added in his 1979 memoir Second Wind.. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." In the year 1977, Bill got the divorce from his wife and married, Miss USA named, Dorothy Anstett. ( Source : twitter ) The NBA icon and Olympian Bill Russell has passed away as of July 31, bringing down a part of basketball with him. [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. Lakers coach Bill van Breda Kolff kept him on the bench until the end of the game, saying later that he wanted to stay with the lineup responsible for the comeback. Bill Russell was one of the greatest players in NBA history who was known for his outstanding defense. [79] Game 7 was tied one second before the end of regular time, when Lakers guard Rod Hundley faked a shot and passed out to Frank Selvy, who missed an open eight-foot last-second shot that would have won Los Angeles the title. [44] Like fellow world-class high-jumpers of that era, Russell used the straddle technique, rather than the Fosbury Flop with which all high jump world records after 1978 have been set. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. They had three children: daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr. and Jacob. NBA great Bill Russell, who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years, died . As the teams split the first six games, the tension was so high that in Game 3 Celtics coach Auerbach punched his colleague Ben Kerner and received a $300 fine. 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." Photo: Ned Dishman Updated. [29] When DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, he eagerly accepted. [49] He ranks No. Bill Russell, who has died at the age of 88, was more than just a basketball superstar and world-class athlete. Many people thought that Russell was more important even though he had only played half the season. "[65], In the 195859 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game. [57] Gottlieb protested the next day, saying that Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, to only be called once. Karen is Bill's most well known child, and the only daughter from his union with Rose. Well, that let me know that if I were to accept these as the final judges of my career I would die a bitter old man." [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. 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. [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. [93], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. [60] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! [221] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. Bill Russell's daughter Karen Russell a legal and political analyst was born Karen Kenyatta Russell on January 20, 1962, graduated from Harvard Law School and Georgetown University; she has contributed to the Huffington . In the 1960 NBA playoffs, Russell's Celtics met Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals. 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. She then chose to stay well away from the spotlight while still co-parenting their children, but alas, it all ended on September 11, 2014, as she passed away at the age of 78 owing to some natural health problems. According to Sportskeeda, he resides in Washington State with his wife, Sara Marckx Russell. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born on January 20, 1962. '"[203], In a retrospective interview, Russell described the state of mind he felt he needed to enter in order to be able to play basketball: "I had to almost be in a rage. . [5][96], In the 196566 NBA season, Russell contributed 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. [4] Decades later, Russell explained that his experiences hardened him against abuse of all kinds,[35] saying: "I never permitted myself to be a victim. [76], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. "[27] In an autobiographical account, Russell said that while on a California High School All-Stars tour, he became obsessed with studying and memorizing other players' moves, e.g., footwork such as which foot they moved first on which play, as preparation for defending against them, which included practicing in front of a mirror at night. "[217] Referring to a time when the Celtics did not frequently sell out the Boston Garden, while the generally mediocre and all-white NHL Boston Bruins did, Russell recalled: "We [the Celtics] did a survey about what we could do to improve attendance. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. [150] He also had 51 in one game, 49 in two others, and twelve straight seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. . The truth is she had to pursue different opportunities to make money for herself since she wanted to attend university, which ultimately led her to the glamorous world of pageantry. Russell has always worn a jersey with No. [190], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. 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. Russell was equally notable for his rebounding abilities, and he led the NBA in rebounds four times, had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds,[12] and remains second all time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. Bill Russell wound up married to his second wife, Dorothy, in 1977. [1] The NBA reasoned that other centers were better all-round players than Russell but no player was more valuable to his team. 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. [48] He was active in the Black Power movement and was among the African-American athletes and the one political leader who came together at the 1967 Cleveland Summit to support Muhammad Ali and his decision to refuse to be drafted. [202] 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. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me. [55] Russell's first Celtics game came on December 22, 1956, against the St. Louis Hawks, led by star forward Bob Pettit, who would go on to hold several all-time scoring records. Bill Russell was also playing for the US National basketball team, where he was the team captain during the 1956 Summer Olympics, and in fact, the team won it. [96], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. [98] Third choice Tom Heinsohn also said no because he did not think he could handle the often surly Russell,[98] whom he proposed as a player-coach. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. Basketball star Bill Russell: Determination on the court - and off He's so good, he scares you. To coach the Celtics, he had initially wanted his old player Frank Ramsey, who was too occupied running his three lucrative nursing homes. However, not much is known about her personal life. And I could anticipate every move that every player made. William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 - July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. [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. [49] On offense, Russell's output was limited and his NBA career personal averages show him to be an average scorer (15.1 points career average), a poor free-throw shooter (56.1%), and average overall shooter from the field (44%, not exceptional for a center). Johnny Havlicek stole the ball! Karen Russell was born on January 20th, 1962 . [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. During a press conference, Russell was asked: "As the first Negro head coach in a major league sport, can you do the job impartially without any racial prejudice in reverse?" Off the court, Bill Russell paved the way for guys like me." Russell, a 6-foot-10 center, also won the NBA regular season MVP award five times while averaging 15.1 points, 22.5 rebounds and 4.3 . Rest in Peace, Bill. The Lakers featured new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West, and were the favorites. [49][89], In the 196364 NBA season, the Celtics posted a league-best 5822 record in the regular season. According to Opoyi, Swisher died at the age of 78 on September 11, 2014. Gottlieb stated: "Our Paul Arizin went underneath for a simple backboard lay-up, and as the ball traveled down towards the basket, Russell batted it away. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. The first [NBA organization] to hire a black [head] coach was the Boston Celtics, and they've had at least five [black head-coaches] over the years. Rose Swisher, Bill Russell's ex-wife - Dicy Trends He has all three children with his first wife, Rose Swisher. Three women by the names of Rose Swisher, Dorothy Anstett, and Marilyn Nault were married off by the 11-time NBA champion. Dorothy, according to a 1968 Associated Press article, was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. Bill Russell obituary | NBA | The Guardian Chamberlain outscored Russell by 81 points in the series, but the Celtics walked off with a 42 series win. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. 2. [109] Journalists were often treated to the "Russell Glower", described as an "icily contemptuous stare accompanied by a long silence". Russell agreed to the project so long as it promoted and raised money for mentorship programs. The NBA legend was married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, from 1956 to 1973. In his first playoff game, Russell finished with 16 points and 31 rebounds, along with 7 reported blocks, which were not yet an officially registered statistic. He made a free throw, blocked a shot by Sixers player Chet Walker, grabbed a rebound off a miss by Greer, and passed the ball to teammate Sam Jones, who scored to clinch the win. [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". [32] Russell became one of several big men who have brought about NCAA rule changes. Bill Russell with his coach, Red Auerbach, in December 1964 after scoring his 10,000th career point in a game in Boston Garden. The truth is Bill followed in his familys footsteps in terms of his choice to lead a quiet life, but he reportedly never shied away from admitting their identity or sharing the same generous nature. NBA legend Bill Russell was also a civil rights activist : NPR