My wife and Russell's laugh. [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". Arthur was a man of great courage. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. 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. By Bay City News and NBC Bay Area staff Published July 31, 2022 Updated on August 1, 2022 at 1:20 am. Reserve forward Alex Hannum threw a long alley-oop pass to Pettit and Pettit's tip-in rolled indecisively on the rim for several seconds before rolling out again. [218] The FBI maintained a file on Russell and described him in their file as "an arrogant Negro who won't sign autographs for white children". [117] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. He also served a three-season (196669) stint as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black coach in the NBA and the first to win a championship. He passed away peacefully with . [56] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. [65] The teams split the first two games, but Russell went down with a foot injury in Game 3 and only returned for Game 6. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. Bill Russell, the NBA great who began his career in Oakland, anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 yearsthe last two as the first Black head coach in any major U.S. sportand marched for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday. He was convinced that the U.S. was a corrupt nation and that he was wasting his time playing something as superficial as basketball. (2004). It notably did not mention the COVID-19 vaccine as his cause of death, so anyone who claims that they did (looking at Jason Pires of Vancouver Times!) [135] He was named as a 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Source: Vimbuzz.com [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. Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. 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. [131][132] In 2008, Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement. When I started to jump to make defensive plays and to block shots, I was initially corrected, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. Birth Place: 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. After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. [49] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. [180] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[181] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. Dorothy, according to a 1968 Associated Press article, was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. In these eleven games, Russell averaged 18.3 points and 29.4 rebounds. In 1987, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times titled, Growing Up With Privilege and Prejudice.. You are a Negro. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone. [47], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. 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. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. [166] On June 15, 2017, Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. In its announcement, the WCC stated: "The 'Russell Rule' requires each member institution to include a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the pool of final candidates for every athletic director, senior administrator, head coach and full-time assistant coach position in the athletic department. [67][108] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. [5][96], In the 196566 NBA season, Russell contributed 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game. He was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996,[5] one of only four players to receive all three honors, and selected into the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, has died, his family announced Sunday. DeJulio was unimpressed by Russell's meager scoring and "atrocious fundamentals",[29] but he sensed that the young Russell had an extraordinary instinct for the game, especially in the clutch. Bill Russell's death led to a tremendous outpouring of condolences from the NBA world on Sunday. In a 1980 poll of basketball writers, he was voted the greatest . He owns a strong physique with great body measurements and a normal body type. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. [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. [192] When Wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to earn $100,000 in salary in 1965 (equivalent to $859,873 in 2021), Russell went to Auerbach and demanded a $100,001 salary, which he promptly received. He didn't. 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?" They were together from 1956 to 1973. So we never, or at least I never, ever considered him as having ulterior motives for whatever he did. 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. Mr. Bill was born July 3, 1952 in Columbus, Ohio to Donald M. & Barbara 'Stump' Jones. In 1956, Russell married his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher. [56] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. [21][42] That year, Russell won high jump titles at the Central California Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet, the Pacific AAU meet, and the West Coast Relays (WCR). People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. In May 30, it was announced that the former Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. [201] 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. [68] Both men awed onlookers with "nakedly awesome athleticism",[68] and while Chamberlain outscored Russell 30 to 22, the Celtics won 115106, and the match was called a "new beginning of basketball". In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. "[49], In the 195960 NBA season, the NBA witnessed the debut of 7ft 1in (2.16m) Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged a record 37.6 points per game in his rookie year. With a flair for defense never before seen on a basketball court, allied with an uncanny ability to excel under pressure and an indomitable will to win, Russell dominated the game of basketball from his earliest days as a student . [171] The art is by Ann Hirsch of Somerville, Massachusetts, in collaboration with Pressley Associates Landscape Architects of Boston. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. [187] Russell was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, having been initiated into its Gamma Alpha chapter while a student at University of San Francisco. [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. [109], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. [5][41] His stint as coach of the Celtics was also of historical significance,[145][146] as he became the first black head coach in the NBA,[14] when he succeeded Red Auerbach. [1] The Celtics broke a league record by winning 52 games and Russell's strong performance once again helped lead the Celtics through the 1959 NBA playoffs, as they returned to the NBA Finals. [126] On November 17, the two-time NCAA champion Russell was recognized for his impact on college basketball as a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. 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." His daughter is Karen Russell, who is a television pundit and lawyer, and his sons are William Jr. and Jacob. [59] Despite their different ethnic backgrounds and lack of common off-court interests, his relationship with Cousy was amicable. "[109] This supported the opinion of many white fans that Russell, who was by then the highest-paid Celtic, was egotistical, paranoid, and hypocritical. [142] By winning the 1956 NCAA championship with USF and the 1957 NBA title with the Celtics,[143] 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. [58], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. [45][46] He also competed in the 440 yards (402.3m) race, which he could complete in 49.6 seconds. The champion marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights. [6][7][8][9] Standing at 6ft 10in (2.08m) tall, with a 7ft 4in (2.24m) arm span,[10][11] his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were major reasons for the Celtics' dominance during his career. 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. [100] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. [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. [208] He was livid with Russell and saw him as a backstabber. The block preserved Boston's slim 103102 lead with 40-odd seconds left to play in regulation, saving the game for the Celtics. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. "[216] 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. [220] On November 15, 2019, Russell accepted the Hall of Fame ring in a private ceremony with family. Still, there was constantly a flow of people from Louisiana that my father would let stay with us. He went peacefully with his loving wife and children by his side. KEY POINTS. 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. . In honoring the legendary athlete, ESPN writes that recipients of the distinguished award, reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.. The bill has specific provisions for protecting children and Molly's father, Ian, called for it to be introduced "urgently" after the hearing. [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. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. [66] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. [186], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. [160] In 2020, he was ranked No. It covered every area. 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. Russell had three children with his first wife; two sons and a daughter. "The definitive bio-doc on NBA Legend Bill Russell, the greatest champion in the history of American sports, and a true Civil Rights icon. "We send our deepest condolences to his wife, Jeannine, his family and his many friends." His family said that arrangements for Russell's memorial service will be announced in the coming days. Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. BOSTON - Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, his family announced. At one point, the article reads, The girl [Dorothy] listed as one of lifes ambitions the chance to teach high school for mentally retarded children. [18], Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. [49], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. 1 in NBA history for defensive win shares at 133.6, with Tim Duncan in second at 106.3. [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. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. I owe so much to him it's impossible to express. When Chamberlain died in 1999, Chamberlain's nephew said that Russell was the second person he was told to call. 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. His family posted the news on social media, saying his wife, Jeannine, was by his side. [104] He is one of four players (along with Cousy, George Mikan, and Bob Pettit) to have made all four NBA anniversary teams: the NBA 25th Anniversary Team (1970), the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980), the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996),[5] and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021). [96], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. [90][91] It was their sixth consecutive and seventh title in Russell's eight years with the team, a streak unreached in any U.S. professional sports league. A living, smarting, hurting, smelling, greasy substance which covered you. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. He said: "The Celtics were the first [NBA basketball] team to draft a black player, period: a guy named Chuck Cooper from Duquesne. Celtics owner Walter A. I was the MVP at the Final Four. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. [172] The statue was unveiled on November 1, 2013, with Russell in attendance. Russell described himself as an avid reader of Dell Magazines' 1950s sports publications, which he used to scout opponents' moves for the purpose of defending against them. 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. In the 1960 NBA playoffs, Russell's Celtics met Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals. I like most blacks because I am black." Later, hoping to better the family's . According to Taylor, he often perceived insults even if others did not. Bill Russell, the intimidating center who rejected layups and bigotry with equal authority while leading the Boston Celtics to pro basketball's greatest dynasty, died Sunday, his family . Rules on Defense, Coach of Warriors Says", "The 'Coleman Play' introduced and defined Bill Russell's never-say-die leadership to Boston", "12 times NBA awards were pretty ridiculous", "Syracuse Nationals at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 5, 1960", "Boston Celtics at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, November 24, 1960", "1960 NBA Finals Game 2: St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, March 29, 1960", "1960 NBA Finals Game 7: St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 9, 1960", "Celtics Give Sharman Championship Sendoff", "Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 16, 1962", "Boston Celtics Players to have recorded a triple-double", "1962 NBA Finals Game 7: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 18, 1962", "Cincinnati Royals vs Boston Celtics Box Score, January 31, 1963", "Kennedy Greets Celtics, but Bill Russell Sleeps", "New York Knicks at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 10, 1963", "1963 NBA Finals Game 3: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 17, 1963", "On this day: Pandemic pause anniversary; Russell's 49 boards; Potapenko trade", "Detroit Pistons vs Boston Celtics Box Score, March 11, 1965", "1968 Sportsman of the Year: Bill Russell, Boston Celtics coach-player", "Bill Russell Reported Favoring Movie Career", "Celtics legend Bill Russell receives second induction into Basketball Hall of Fame, as coach this time", "Successful, short-lived coaching days get Bill Russell into Hall again", "Bill Russell Leaves Lasting Impact on Kings", "Watch Saturday Night Live Episode: November 3 Bill Russell", "Culture Now Is a Great Time to Read Bill Russell's Memoir", "Best Betting Scenes: Bill Russell Goes Rogue on 'Miami Vice', "Russell Redux: A Private Man Bursts Back Into the Public Eye", "Shaq heeds Russell's call for peace; Lakers hold on for win", "Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame to induct founding class", "Sports legend Bill Russell receives an honorary degree at the 2007 Suffolk University commencement", "Honorary degrees awarded at Commencement's Morning Exercises", "Dartmouth grads hear 'nose dive' warning", "Naismith and FIBA Hall of Fame: Full list of inductees enshrined at Springfield and Madrid", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement Sports", "The Finals MVP to Receive Bill Russell MVP Award", "All-Star Top 10, from Shaq's moves to boos for Spurs", "Kobe shows maturity of last seven years in leading Lakers to title", "Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients (Photos)", "Inside the Iconic Obama Basketball Games at the White House", "25 players that won a NCAA and NBA championship", "Jordan, Jabbar, Russell and Magic won NCAA and NBA titles, but it's become a rare feat", "Quick quiz: Only four players have been", "How Bill Russell's coaching career opened doors for NBA's Black head coaches", "Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others", "NBA Legend Bill Russell Became First Black Coach In Pro Sports 46 Years Ago Today", "Biggest moments for NBA's 15 Greatest Coaches", "Top 10 NBA Players With The Most Finals And Regular Season MVPs Combined", "Ranking Every NBA All-Defensive First Team in History from Worst to First", "NBA 75: Bill Russell, 1960s Athlete of the Decade (TSN Archives)", "ESPN's 'SportsCentury' Goes Back-Back-Back", "Top N. American athletes of the century", "Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever", "Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time: Nos. [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. He was 88. 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." -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "FULL KYRIE IRVING and GORDON HAYWARD CELTICS Press Conference" youtube.com/watch?v=f7FoDj4-Nzw -~-~~-~~~-~~-~-, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times. Brown contacted Rochester owner Les Harrison and received an assurance that the Royals could not afford Russell, and they would draft Sihugo Green. Tonight, Bull Russell will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs. 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? Avery Brundage, head of the International Olympic Committee, argued that Russell had already signed a professional sport contract and was no longer an amateur sportsman, but Russell prevailed. Russell played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. [80] As the game was tied, Russell had the daunting task of defending against Baylor with little frontline help: Loscutoff, Heinsohn, and Satch Sanders, the three best Celtics forwards, had fouled out. [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,[141] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in their daily lives. [18][168] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. Bill Russell siblings [28], Russell was ignored by college recruiters and received not one offer until recruiter Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco (USF) watched him play in a high school game. . Her later father, Bill . His father gave up his trucking job and became a steelworker in order to be closer to his children. I wanted you to have the best possible education and to be able to make the best contacts. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. The Celtics won, earning their first NBA championship. [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. 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. 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. [52], Due to his Olympic commitment, Russell could not join the Celtics for the 195657 NBA season until December. [77], In the 1962 NBA Finals, the Celtics met the Los Angeles Lakers of forward Elgin Baylor and guard Jerry West. "Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever," Silver added. Auerbach had informed his players to not endorse candidates or causes, as it would alienate fans; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. Career, Awards, and Achievements When he became player-coach in 1966, Russell bluntly said to his teammates that "he intended to cut all personal ties to other players" and seamlessly made the transition from their peer to their superior. Mr. Russell has a large family and a large number of friends who are proud of him for his services to society. [60], The Celtics finished the 195657 regular season with a 4428 record, the team's second-best record since beginning play in the 194647 BAA season, which guaranteed Russell his first NBA playoffs appearance,[61] where the Celtics met with the Syracuse Nationals, a team led by Dolph Schayes, through the Eastern Division Finals.
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