Bill . [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. [143][156] 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. 85.235.64.191 You are less. His marriage with Rose produced 3 children of which one, Karen Russell is a renowned television pundit and lawyer. His wife name is Jeannine Russell. . Because Russell ignored virtually any well-wisher who approached him home or away, including the vast majority of media, his autograph was among the most difficult to secure of any professional athlete of his time. The Celtics made good use of the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers had exhausted the St. Louis Hawks in a long seven-game Western Conference Finals,[75] and Boston won the 1961 NBA Finals in five games. 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. 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. When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. RELATED ARTICLES. [52] The U.S. dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points 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. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Russell was "the greatest champion in all of team sports". [138][139] Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011. He revealed that his mother died when he was 12. [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. 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. [183] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. The children from Bill's marriage to Rose include Karen Russell, William Russel Jr., and Jacob Russell. equal . 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. [37], On the hardwood, Russell's experiences were far more pleasant. 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." As indicated, Bill Russell's children are Jacob Russell, Karen Russell, and William Russell Jr. Karen is very active on social media and often accompanied her father . Russell averaged . He married Rose Swisher on 9th December 1956, after dating her for several years. Both Cousy and Russell called it the greatest Celtics team of all-time. 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. [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. [34] In one incident, hotels in Oklahoma City refused to admit Russell and his black teammates while they were in town for the 1954 All-College Tournament. Two sculptures of children were added two years later, in the spring of 2015, to recognize Bill Russell's devotion to working with children. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. [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. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. ", "Bill Russell, K.C. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. [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. [109] According to Taylor, Russell discounted the fact that his career was facilitated by white people who were proven anti-racists: his high school coach George Powles, who encouraged him to play basketball, his college coach Phil Woolpert, who integrated USF basketball, Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who made him the first black NBA coach and is regarded as an anti-racist pioneer for his no color barrier, and Celtics owner Walter A. 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.. When the Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper and they came into Washington, D.C., to sign his contract, Walter Brown the owner of the team walked up to him and said: 'Mr. Three women by the names of Rose Swisher, Dorothy Anstett, and Marilyn Nault were married off by the 11-time NBA champion. Bill Russell is an 11-time NBA champion, and 12-time All-Star and is perhaps the game's greatest champion. . [110] Although White became a standout Celtics player, Boston lacked an All-Star center, went 3448 in the 196970 NBA season, and failed to make it to the 1970 NBA playoffs, marking the first time since 1950 that they did not make the playoffs. [219] 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". Russell was married three times prior to Jeannine. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Nault became a stepmother to three of Bill's children: Karen Russell, William Russel Jr., and Jacob Russell. [102] In the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers had the better record than Boston and were the favorites. 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. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. [187], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. Fri 5 Aug 2022 10.44 EDT. According to Opoyi, Swisher died at the age of 78 on September 11, 2014. Bill Russell's daughter, Karen, was born on January 20, 1962. [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. The ex-wife of Bill Russell. [49] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. Bill Russell, who has died at the age of 88, was more than just a basketball superstar and world-class athlete. 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. [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,[97] in a 9593 win in Game 7. . The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. The statement draws attention to his . [112] His No. 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. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. To our children . [115], As a consequence of his endured racist abuse, Russell was extremely sensitive to all racial prejudice. He replied: "Yes." 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972,[113] Russell had worn the same number 6 at the USF and for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. [5] The Russell draft-day trade was later called one of the most important trades in the history of North American sports. In 1956, Russell married his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher. That's the first thing Walter Brown said to Chuck Cooper. The relationship between the two was tenuous at best. And in basketball I respect a man for his ability, period. [190], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. Karen Russell. [59] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. He starred in college playing center at the University of San Francisco, leading the team to . and understanding. . @celtics . Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. Yet its important to note that the happily married Seattle, Washington resident has since been serving at King Countys Metro Transit, where he currently holds the post of Transit Operator. Television Pundit and Lawyer Karen Russell is the only daughter of Bill Russell. [157], On August 11, 2022, it was announced that Russell's No. [85] On February 10, 1963, Russell recorded his first regular season triple-double after putting up 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists in a 129123 win over the New York Knicks. [120] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. [19] When he later became a standout college player at USF, Russell recalled how he and his few fellow black teammates were jeered by white students. [14] In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. Its thus unclear how she and Bill even came across one another after his divorce from Rose was finalized, yet the then-Washington residents did build a connection before getting married in 1977. Moreover, the Next Gen: #BLM founder helps clients manage, execute, as well as maintain inclusive initiatives as a freelance consultant while also helping democratic women vote full ballots as an activist. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2ac29f4a77691b Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing,[109] was not there; he ended his career and cut all ties to the Celtics. Bill Russell Lifestyle 2021 Wife, Children, Family, Career, Net worth, Car & House-Bill Russell Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of . he discovered it was littered with references to him as ''an arrogant Negro who won't sign autographs for white children." Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. "[5][121] On November 3, 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live, in which he appeared in several sports-related sketches. [115] While Russell long had sore feelings towards Boston, there was something of a reconciliation, and he visited the city regularly in his later years, something he never did in the years immediately after his retirement. As the son of one of Hollywood's most beloved . 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. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. The couple tied the knot in 1956 before parting ways in 1973. [155] In 1970, The Sporting News named Russell the "Athlete of the Decade". but We will update you or notify you when we get any more information about his family. Says Bill Russell: "Basketball is a game that involves a great deal of psychology. [158][159] In 2007, he was voted the third best center of all-time by ESPN behind Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. 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. She actually started by just enrolling herself in local pageants, only for it to turn into her placement as first runner-up in Miss Wahington 1967, the title of Miss Washington 1968, and finally, the title of Miss USA 1968. [67][108] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. 6 months ago. [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. [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. [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. [47], The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad. [18][169] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. ADVERTISEMENT. Russell later called it the best team of his era and the best defense of all time. [38] He became known for his strong defense and shot-blocking skills, once denying 13 shots in a game. [193] 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. Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in a major American sports league, died July 31. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. In 1987, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times titled, Growing Up With Privilege and Prejudice.. "[49] The next day, The Boston Globe read: "Russell's Reflexes Befuddles Visitors. [The sound of Russell throwing up] is a welcome sound, too, because it means he's keyed up for the game, and around the locker room we grin and say, 'Man, we're going to be all right tonight. [49][89], In the 196364 NBA season, the Celtics posted a league-best 5822 record in the regular season. She and Bill tied the knot on December 9, 1956, and reportedly met in college. [127] 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. NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away "peacefully" Sunday, according to a family statement from his . The former practicing attorney is hence the epitome of an empowered woman through and through. Arthur was a man of great courage. 6 jersey", "Bill Russell Statue Unveiled At Boston City Hall", "Bill Russell statue to be unveiled Nov. 1", "City Hall Plaza statue honors Celtics' Bill Russell", "Basketball's Bill Russell joins the Bronze Age", "Russell Rule Diversity Hiring Commitment", "The University of San Francisco Honors the Memory of Marilyn Nault Russell", "Bill Russell: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", "Bill Russell, legendary Celtics center and NBA coach, dead at 88", "Indomitable Russell Values One Accolade Above the Rest", "Police: NBA legend Bill Russell arrested with gun at airport", "Bill Russell, Basketball Great With Record 11 NBA Titles, Dies At 88", "Celtics legend, 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell dies at 88", "What NBA salaries would these superstar players make today? It was back when both Rose and Bill were attending the University of San Francisco in the early to mid-1950s that they first came across one another, only to feel a real spark almost immediately. His third . Twenty million England fans go wild across the country as Lionesses WIN nerve-shredding Euro final against Germany. It hence comes as no surprise Bill and Rose happily welcomed three kids into their lives over the next six years William Bill Russell Jr. (1957), Jacob Russell (1959), and Karen Russell (1962). [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. [100] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. He grew up in a racially segregated neighbourhood where his family was often subjected to rampant acts of racism. However, the NBA player did have children from his previous marriage. "[207] Years after Taylor's book, Russell published the autobiographical account Red and Me, which chronicled his lifelong friendship with Auerbach. Tonight, Bull Russell will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2019 ESPYs. He lost his mother when he was just 12 years old. [56] Russell had a more cordial relationship with many of his teammates with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old rival and fellow rookie. [171] Each plinth features a key word and related quote to illustrate Russell's multiple accomplishments. [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). [209], Chamberlain's knee was injured so badly that he could not play the entire offseason and he ruptured it the next season. [223] He thanked Chamberlain for taking him to the limit and "making [him] a better player", and the crowd for "allowing [him] to be a part of their lives. Marilyn Nault Russell would end up as the step-mother of Bill's children from his previous marriage to Rose Swisher. The Celtic mythical figure, who is now 88 years old, was involved in several passionate relationships. Flowers at the feet of Bill Russell's statue at Boston City Hall Plaza, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022, in Boston. Rusell states, It was one bedroom, so my brother and I both had rollaway beds. 1934-American basketball player. [157] Russell ranked No. http://t.co/rFfk4qnCEb, KarenKenyattaRussell (@Karen_Russell) June 19, 2013. If theres one thing Netflixs Bill Russell: Legend makes perfectly evident, its that the titular NBA champion, coach, and civil rights activist led a life that can only be described as deeply impactful. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. The former University of San Francisco and Boston Celtics center was professional basketball's . [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. In 1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to start three African-American players: K. C. Jones, Hal Perry, and Russell. Karen is the founder of Next Gen: #Blacklivesmatter and is a . 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. Although the salary was touted in the press as a record for an NBA coach, it is unclear whether Russell's continued $100,001 salary as a player was included in the calculation. 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 was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. In addition to his career accomplishments, Russell was a prominent human rights activist in sports. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972. [192], During his career, Russell was one of the first big earners in NBA basketball.