And so the Celticsall we looked for was: 'Can he play?' "[49], The Celtics swept the Nationals in three games to earn the franchise's first NBA Finals appearance in the 1957 NBA Finals,[62] where they met the St. Louis Hawks, led by Pettit and former Celtic Ed Macauley. [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. WIlliam Russell Jr. is the . We won the National Championship. Alex Wong/Getty Images. 1934-American basketball player. Jones treated like 'Rock' stars at Alcatraz", "Bill Russell, Who Transformed Pro Basketball, Dies at 88", "Bill Russell Receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award At ESPYS", "Watch Bill Russell be inducted into Hall of Fame as a coach", "Bill Russell's No. [208] 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. [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. [52], Due to his Olympic commitment, Russell could not join the Celtics for the 195657 NBA season until December. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. Bill Russell wound up married to his second wife, Dorothy, in 1977. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[163] and No. [50] Auerbach later said that Brown offered Harrison guaranteed performances of the Ice Capades if they did not draft Russell; it is difficult to verify or disprove this, but it is clear that the Royals underrated Russell. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [151] He played in eleven deciding games (ten times in Game 7s, once in a Game 5) and ended with a 110 record. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". I knew youd encounter racism and sexism, and maybe, in some ways, thats a good thing. They were together from 1956 to 1973. @celtics . Bill Russell Fast Facts | CNN [49] Boston's chances of getting Russell seemed slim because they had finished second in the previous season and the worst teams had the highest draft picks, and the Celtics had slipped too low in the draft order to pick Russell. 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. [115] He attended his 2021 induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame as a coach. They were together from 1956 to 1973. (2004). She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. Bill Russell dies at 88: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, more In May 30, it was announced that the former Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. In addition to Macauley, who was the Celtics' premier player at the time, he wanted Cliff Hagan, who had been serving in the military for three years and had not yet played for the Celtics. He unfortunately passed away from cancer back in 2016 at the early age of 58, according to NBC News. During a conversation with students, a reporterunknown to Russellheard Russell describe Chamberlain as a malingerer and accused him of "copping out" of the game when it seemed that the Lakers would lose. [5], Despite his limitations on offense, as Russell averaged 15.1 points per game, his rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. Bill . The champion marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights. Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. equal . [129] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[130] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. [67][108] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. Bill Russell Personal life, Spouse & Trivia. In his 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell, who has died aged 88, won . He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". [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. - WILLIAM FELTON RUSSELL, WILLIAM FRANCIS McSWEENY . Russell was married three times prior to Jeannine. July 31, 2022 1:50 PM PT. My father is Bill Russell . The psychology in defense is not blocking a shot or stealing a pass or getting the ball away. Although Russell was a good runner and jumper and had large hands,[20] he did not understand the game and was cut from the team at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. [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. She already does volunteer work as a tutor for underprivileged children in her hometown.. [109], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. Karen Russell. [5] He was also known as a fine passer and pick-and-roll setter, featured a decent left-handed hook shot, and finished strong on alley oops. GROWING UP WITH PRIVILEGE AND PREJUDICE - The New York Times Nault became a stepmother to three of Bill's children: Karen Russell, William Russel Jr., and Jacob Russell. Rose Swisherwas Bill's first wife. 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. Bill Russell Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements As for Jeannines current standing, the former competitive professional golfer with several accolades in the Canadian Womens Tour seemingly still resides in Washington, where shes trying to deal with her grief in private. and understanding. [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. The former University of San Francisco and Boston Celtics center was professional basketball's . The game featured Shane Battier, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Obama's friends from high school. . NBA Legend Bill Russell Has Been Married 4 Times - AmoMama MENTOR co-founder, board member, and close friend of Bill Russell, Geoffrey Boisi, made the following statement: [15], Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. "[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. These are Karen Kenyatta Russell, William Russell Jr., and Jacob Russell. The Celtic mythical figure, who is now 88 years old, was involved in several passionate relationships. 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. Bill Russell got married to his girlfriend, Rose Swisher in the year 1956. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". INSIDE Bill Russell's 4 marriages: From Miss USA to loving - MEAWW [5] In addition, Russell holds the NBA Finals single-game record for most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960, vs. St. Louis, and April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), and most consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds (15 from April 9, 1960 April 16, 1963). [107], The Celtics were ahead by nine points with five minutes remaining; in addition, West was limping after a Game 5 thigh injury and Chamberlain had left the game with an injured leg. [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? 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 later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. He was born on November 2, 1957, and spent several years working for Cox Trucking. Bill Russell: Death, Career, Retirement & Controversy - Players Bio 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. [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. [152] In 2009, Russell's erstwhile Knicks opponent Bill Bradley wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]". Russell was named the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1955. He is survived by his younger brother Jacob, his baby sister Karen, the love of his life Sherrill Hansen, his son Sean Tyler Russell, and two pet dogs/fur babies, Pugsley as well as Lilly. The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. Thats because it features not just first-hand accounts of some of the most renowned basketball experts but also archival footage to really explore every aspect of the titular athletes actual being. Date married. [117] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. Russell, who had a difficult relationship with the media, did not attend either ceremony. Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing,[109] was not there; he ended his career and cut all ties to the Celtics. [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. [140] Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday at the White House tennis court. He Had Three Children with His First Wife. [118] Russell also served as general manager of the SuperSonics during his coaching tenure,[119] and held the same position with the Kings during the 198889 season. . To coach the Celtics, he had initially wanted his old player Frank Ramsey, who was too occupied running his three lucrative nursing homes. Bill Russell: cause of death, wife, children, daughter, net worth [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. on November 1, 2013. The game was tied with two seconds left when Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the series. [222] When Russell originally retired, he demanded that his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden. [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. [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. What do we know about Russells personal life? [56] He also became famous for his shot-blocking skills and pundits called his blocks "Wilsonburgers", referring to the Wilson NBA basketballs he "shoved back into the faces of opposing shooters". It thus comes as no surprise that she often shares her memories with them on her social media platforms, as seen below, all the while fulfilling her duties as a writer, voting advocate, public speaker, and consultant. Bill Russell obituary | NBA | The Guardian There were times I wondered, but not Rose, Bill penned for Boston Traveler in 1956. [18], Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. In 1987, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times titled, Growing Up With Privilege and Prejudice.. [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 Russells Wives: Where Are They Now. Bill Russell, the legendary Celtics center who was the cornerstone of basketball's greatest dynasty and an exemplar of racial harmony and progress, died Sunday at age 88, his family announced on . Bill Russell Sons: Facts To Know About Jacob Russell And William Russell Jr That sums up Friday's Real Time with Bill Maher, as the actor/comedian and the politician railed against the machine and said the system has to be changed to give a voice to the working class.. Maher, for once, largely let them have at it. 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." [1] While his rival had a record-breaking season of 50.4 points per game, including Chamberlain's 100-point game,[67] the Celtics became the first team to win 60 games in a season and Russell was voted as the league's MVP. [143] By winning the 1956 NCAA championship with USF and the 1957 NBA title with the Celtics,[144] Russell became the first of only four players in basketball history to win an NCAA championship and an NBA championship back-to-back, the others being Henry Bibby, Magic Johnson, and Billy Thompson. [20], At USF, Russell became the new starting center for coach Phil Woolpert of the San Francisco Dons. [209], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. . Therefore, once the latter knew he was well on his way to stability upon getting drafted by Boston Celtics in 1956 and winning gold at the Summer Olympics mere months later, they decided to marry. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. [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. [107], Days later, 30,000 Celtics fans cheered their returning heroes. [18][169] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. Bill Russell Speaks at Ceremony for New Statue, For the unveiling of the new statue in Boston City Hall Plaza, Bill Russell speaks about his career as both an athlete and activist, as well as the importance of mentoring and friendship. As a dedicated human rights activist, Russell fought against . From Michael Jordan's unparalleled scoring . [56] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. They hence spent the ensuing nine years having fun as well as traveling with one another, that is, until she sadly passed away from losing her battle with cancer at the age of 59 on January 21, 2009. Karen is very active on social media and often accompanied her father . William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. He actually enrolled at the School of Art Institute in Chicago for a Bachelor's in Design-Visual Communications upon graduating from California's Galileo . Rose and Bill started dating in their college days. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. [192], During his career, Russell was one of the first big earners in NBA basketball. His parents, Charles and Katie Russell, decided they would not raise their children in this environment. #ESPYsABC #ArthurAsheAward @NBA @espn @celtics @BleacherReport @SLAMonline @BostonGlobe @ESPYS pic.twitter.com/AybfEZOzAb, TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) May 30, 2019, SWEET . "[165] In 2000, his longtime teammate Tom Heinsohn described both Russell's stature and his uneasy relationship with Boston more earthily, saying: "Look, all I know is the guy came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a bleeping tunnel after Ted Williams. Tonights event will be hosted by Tracy Morgan, and will air live on ABC from 7-10pm ET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. "[179], Russell was married to his college sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. "[213] Describing the Celtics organization, as distinguished from Boston sports fans in the 1950s and 1960s, as very progressive racially, Russell recalled in 2010 a list of the organization's accomplishments on racial progress both in terms of objective milestones and his own subjective experience as a member of the organization. [49], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. Read More: Bill Russells Wives: Where Are They Now? Oliver Hudson. [49], The Celtics lost Cousy to retirement after the 196263 NBA season, and they drafted John Havlicek and were powered by Russell, who averaged 16.8 points and 23.6 rebounds per game, won his fourth regular-season MVP award, and earned the NBA All-Star Game MVP honors at the 1963 NBA All-Star Game following his 19-point, 24-rebound performance for the Eastern Conference's All-Star team. This was the first time in seven years that he failed to average at least 23 rebounds a game. Bill Russell was the father of four children from three different women. Karen Russell was born on January 20, 1962 and is a legal and political analyst. The couple tied the knot in 1956 before parting ways in 1973. 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?" He is depicted in-game, surrounded by 11 plinths representing the 11 championships he helped the Celtics win. He stood side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 1960s, the height of the civil rights movement. RELATED ARTICLES. Last modified on Sun 4 Sep 2022 13.55 EDT. Performance & security by Cloudflare. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. She ended up speaking with him for nine hours. Bill Russell Kids & Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. [51] During that same draft, Boston also drafted guard K. C. Jones, Russell's former USF teammate, and managed to draft three future Basketball Hall of Famers: Russell, Jones, and Heinsohn. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. BOSTON (AP) Bill Russell, the NBA great who anchored a Boston . Brown, who gave him a high $24,000 rookie contract, just $1,000 shy of the top-earning veteran Bob Cousy.[121]. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. "[121] In December 2008, the We Are Boston Leadership Award was presented to Russell.