[154] He could score with putbacks and made mid-air outlet passes to point guard Bob Cousy for easy fast-break points. [110] The same fate awaited his Boston restaurant Slade's, after which he had to default on a $90,000 government loan to purchase the outlet. With the added defensive presence of Russell, the Celtics had laid the foundation for a dynasty, as the team utilized a strong defensive approach to the game, forcing opposing teams to commit many turnovers, which led to many easy points on fast breaks. "[167] During the NBA All-Star Weekend on February 14, 2009, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that the NBA Finals MVP award would be named after Russell. [117], After retiring as a player, Russell had stints as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (19731977) and Sacramento Kings (19871988). The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. As a child, he witnessed how his parents were victims of racial abuse, and the family eventually moved into government housing projects to escape the daily torrent of bigotry. [144][157] Russell is universally seen as one of the best NBA players ever,[5] and he was declared "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980. [163] In 2022, he was ranked No. He is said to have made a conscious decision to put the team first and foremost, and not worry about individual achievements. His talent did not immediately shine through. [103] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. 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. [26], Russell soon became noted for his unusual style of defense. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. All Rights Reserved. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player for that season. [105] 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. Russell was offered the role of player-coach, which he acceptedmaking him the first African-American NBA coach. In his thirteen years, he averaged a relatively low 13.4 field goals attempted (normally, top scorers average 20 and more),[1] illustrating that he was never the focal point of the Celtics offense, who instead focused on his elite defense. He kept up his excellent performance during the 1964-65 season too when he helped the Celtics win a league-record of 62 games. Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. He had a difficult childhood and grew up in poverty. Career-wise in rebounds, Russell ranks second to Chamberlain in regular season total (21,620) and average per game (22.5), and he led the NBA in average rebounds per game four times. They were together from 1956 to 1973. [149][150], In his first NBA full season (195758), Russell became the first player in NBA history to average more than 20 rebounds per game for an entire season, a feat he accomplished ten times in his thirteen seasons. William Felton Russell was born on February 12th in 1934. On May 6, 1999, the Celtics re-retired Russell's jersey in a ceremony attended by his on-court rival and friend Chamberlain, along with Celtics legend Larry Bird and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. [50] 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). [152] He played in eleven deciding games (ten times in Game 7s, once in a Game 5) and ended with a 110 record. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. [8][38] His awards and achievements include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons,[53] two of which were won as player-coach,[143] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. 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. [4][8] While at USF, he and Jones helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop. Russell, who had a difficult relationship with the media, did not attend either ceremony. [89] In Game 3, Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists. [81] 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. The Celtics won 52 gamesa league record. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. 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. The NBA Finals MVP Award was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP Award in his honour in 2009. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. So after the season was over, they had a Northern California banquet, and they picked another center as Player of the Year in Northern California. [91][92] 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. 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. 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. [110] In response, Russell described Boston as a "flea market of racism". Spouse/Ex-: Dorothy Anstett (m. 19771980), Marilyn Nault (m. 19962009), Rose Swisher (m. 19561973). [53], Due to his Olympic commitment, Russell could not join the Celtics for the 195657 NBA season until December. 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? [21], Under head coach Gerald Tucker, Russell helped the U.S. national basketball team win the gold medal in Melbourne, defeating the Soviet Union national basketball team 8955 in the final game with an 80 undefeated run. [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. The Celtics played against the Philadelphia Warriors in November 1959. [61] He alienated Celtics fans by saying: "You owe the public the same it owes you, nothing! Celebs, sports stars and fans are mourning the loss of NBA legend, Bill Russell. That did not happen My junior year in college, I had what I thought was the one of the best college seasons ever. [77], In the 196162 NBA season, Russell scored a career-high 18.9 points per game, accompanied by 23.6 rebounds per game. The Celtic coach Red Auerbach retired before the 1966-67 season. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic. Bill Russell was born on 12 February 1934. [128] 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. [132] On June 18, 2007, Russell was inducted as a member of the founding class of the FIBA Hall of Fame. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. [57] In previous years, the Celtics had been a high-scoring team but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out tight games. In the interim, Russell won an Olympic gold medal in 1956. [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. [18], Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. 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. His team won 49 games and easily made the first berth in the 1958 NBA Playoffs. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. When the NBA All-Stars toured the U.S. in the 1958 offseason, white hotel owners in segregated North Carolina denied rooms to Russell and his black teammates, causing him to later write in his 1966 memoir Go Up for Glory: "It stood out, a wall which understanding cannot penetrate. He was famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. "[122] In December 2008, the We Are Boston Leadership Award was presented to Russell. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. And so the guy that owned the Celtics [Walter Brown] was [in addition to Auerbach for whom Russell expressed 'respect' and 'actual love'] another one of the fine, good, and decent human beings that I've ever encountered. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. [5] Russell's team again beat Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers 41 in the Eastern Division Finals, proceeding to win the NBA Finals in a tight showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers, with Russell scoring 25 points and grabbing 32 rebounds, plus giving out an assist,[98] in a 9593 win in Game 7. [125] In 1985, former Celtic teammate Don Chaney, who was head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, asked Russell to tutor Benoit Benjamin, the third overall draft pick from Creighton University, who left after his junior season; according to Chaney, Russell did not get paid for it. 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. [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. He was growing older and slow and by the 1967-68 season, his figures were slowly declining. Prior to Game 5, no NBA team had ever come back from a 31 deficit. His coach, George Powles, encouraged the youngster to develop his skills and become a good player. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. [194] 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. [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He's so good, he scares you. Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. [110], For most of his career, Russell and his perennial opponent Wilt Chamberlain were close friends. [168] On June 15, 2017, Russell was announced as the inaugural recipient of the NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. His father was Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. [5] For his efforts, Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. Even against more physically imposing centers, like .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Wilt Chamberlain, Russell was a defensive and rebounding force. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. He also served a three-season (19661969) stint as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black coach in the NBA and the first to win a championship. Bill Russell grins at announcement that he had been named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team, April 18, 1966. He was also much respected for his ability to inspire and motivate his team members to improve their playing techniques and give their best. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. [50], 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. Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. [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. "[61] Before the 196162 season, Russell's team was scheduled to play in an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky, when Russell and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of [58] Gottlieb protested the next day, saying that Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, to only be called once. "[218] 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. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. 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. [5] Auerbach's thoughts were unorthodox, as in that period centers and forwards were defined by their offensive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary. In Game 4, the Celtics were trailing by one point with seven seconds left and the Lakers had the ball until Baylor stepped out of bounds. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[164] and No. [155] 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). Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. [111] Russell notified Auerbach that he was resigning to join a career in television and movies "in order to find new sources of income for the future". This was in contrast to other Celtics who had to work during the offseason to maintain their standard of living; Tom Heinsohn sold insurance, Gene Guarilia was a professional guitar player, Cousy ran a basketball camp, and Red Auerbach invested in plastics and a Chinese restaurant. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where he looked for some employment at a shipyard. When Russell was 10, his father, Charlie, fed up with trying to navigate a racially charged South, moved his family across the country to Oakland, California, where he found work at a shipyard. If I looked at it objectively, detached myself, it would be a deficiency.
