Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. Even after he became a s Moreover, the Celtics needed to move up in the draft order to pick him; with Russell coming off two straight NCAA titles, some team was bound to take the plunge. WebAbout Bill Russell Composer William "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905 August 9, 1992) was an American music historian and modernist composer. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). But the Celtics kept winning, and he remained the engine that made them go. He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. Rose and Bill were college sweethearts and were together for much of Bills NBA [December 2003]. And now Netflix is out with a new documentary. Bill Russell was an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American sportspersons of all time. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in the history of American sports, died Sunday. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. As the decade progressed, the Celtics continued to make history. In 1966 Wilt Chamberlain was traded from the Golden State warriors to his new hometown Philadelphia 76ers. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. All Rights Reserved. We strive for accuracy and fairness.If you see something that doesn't look right,contact us! The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Updates? He was a man who grew up in Monroe, La., moved to Oakland with his family when he was a young, young man in his pre-teens. He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND"). Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. "Here is a Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life," Pollard said. In 2011, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition for his services to basketball and his contribution to the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. But if those souvenir hounds had taken Russell up on the chance to sit with him for a meal, they might have heard about his obsession with golf. Who are Bill Russell's children? I went and told my mother. Corrections? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). I thought she was going to take care of it. Like, how did he deal with all of that? Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.died July 31, 2022), 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. They are Jacob Russell,William Russell Jr.,and Karen Russell. 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. The relationship was broken apart in controversy because of Anstetts color. The former Boston Celtics legend is an 11-time NBA champion and widely regarded as one of the best players to ever play the game. It's no conversation. Russell was married three times. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. However, they divorced in 1973. 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. She is reportedly a legal and political analyst who graduated from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. Bill Russell: Legend is a new two-part Netflix documentary that covers the Boston greats triumphs on the court, and activism off of it. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. Once again, there was an element of chance involved: Auerbach had never seen Russell play and instead had to rely on the word of a trusted peer. NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965). NPR's Michel Martin speaks with director Sam Pollard about his new documentary Bill Russell: Legend, which is now streaming on Netflix. But without Bill Russell there is no doubt the Boston Celtics would not be the rock-solid professional sports team they have become in their legendary run of championships. Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. His talent did not immediately shine through. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. 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). 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. 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. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Thanks, mom. This site uses cookies to serve you better. His Russell anchored a Boston Celtics He opted for speed and marking from blind spots rather than man-marking; with this style, he could move to advance positions to help the attack and also run back to assist the defence. Do you know what I mean? What happened to Lil Durk at Lollapalooza 2022? Are you kidding? Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). Reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell Russells example helped shape the generations that followed him. Bill Russell had a delayed emergence. MARTIN: Whew. There was no doubt who the fans were yelling at. Bill Russel biography facts, childhood, net worth and personal life present a complete rundown of the profile, career and life from childhood to date, of the 12-time All-Star and 5-time NBA MVP. . .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. It is a truly staggering rate of success, one that no other NBA player has come close to approaching. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. He didnt shut up and dribble. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. The autograph-seekers almost always declined. I mean, he just did what he had to do, and he wasn't as vocal as Ali, as we all know. He defined the teams philosophy and its strategy. The world has many of them. NBA Sacramento Kings, player/head coach (1987-1988). So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. But I think this documentary will reset the clock on that and understand Bill from the other perspective, besides being a phenomenal basketball legend. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. 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. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, the FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur) Hall of Fame in 2007, and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in its inaugural ceremony in 2006. He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. 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. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west, settling in Oakland, California. Featured Image by Bill Russell / Instagram. A the time of his death, he was married to his fourth wife Jeannine, who is believed to have been a competitive golfer. I mean, we all know that when he became a Celtic, he became the lynchpin that began this dynasty of the Boston Celtics. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where Game Seven in the Finals was one of the most legendary ever played in the history of American sports. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Bill Russell: Legend.". His calling card was defense, rebounding, andabove all elseshot blocking, which he transformed into a fluid athletic art in the same way that some of his contemporaries had altered the perception of what was possible on offense.
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