He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Well, Karen Kenyatta had four important members in her family. [69] It was the record for most rebounds in a single game until November 24, 1960, when Chamberlain grabbed 55 rebounds against Russell,[13] who led the Celtics to a 132129 win over the Philadelphia Warriors with 18 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. Birth Place: 2. [118] Russell then served as general manager of the Kings during the 198889 season. When the Sixers' Hall-of-Fame guard Hal Greer inbounded, Havlicek stole the ball, causing Celtics commentator Johnny Most to scream: "Havlicek stole the ball! Around that time, according to John Taylors book, The Rivalry: Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and the Golden Age of Basketball, they grew emotionally distant and divorced. Dorothy, who went by Didi, hailed from Kirkland, Washington, and went on to compete at the Miss Universe Pageant in July in Miami Beach of that same year. No one in the history of North American team sports won at a higher level than Bill Russell did as a member of the Boston Celtics, capturing 11 championships in his 13 seasons with the team. 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. [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. Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing,[109] was not there; he ended his career and cut all ties to the Celtics. When the reporter asked how, Russell responded: "Because the most important factor is respect. Bill marched with Martin Luther King Jr. when he delivered his "I Have a Dream . [58], At that time, Russell received much negative publicity as a player. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. Bill Russell parents Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. [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. National tragedy struck on April 4, day of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. With eight of the ten starting players on Sixers and Celtics being black, both teams were in deep shock and there were calls to cancel the series. [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". On the top is her late father, Bill Russel, who died on July 21, 2022. On Sunday, July 31, Russell's family shared the news in a statement via Twitter, sharing . Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. He was born on October 21, 1948 in Monroe, Louisiana as William Felton Russell. [61] In Boston, both fans and journalists felt betrayed because Russell left the Celtics without a coach and a center, and he sold his retirement story for $10,000 to Sports Illustrated. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. 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. The 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88 on Sunday. 6 jersey to be retired throughout NBA", "NBA players who currently wear No. The Celtics won Game 4 in an upset, but the Hawks prevailed in Games 5 and 6, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6. [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. Russell. By profession, Karen is an attorney and political expert. Source: Vimbuzz.com His daughter is Karen Russell, who is a television pundit and lawyer, and his sons are William Jr. and Jacob. When their family uprooted to Oakland, California, they lived in the projects. [19] Russell's father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. FILE - Boston Celtics legendary player Bill Russell is greeted at his seat before Game 1 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers . 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. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. He's so good, he scares you. In the first two games, Russell ordered his players not to double-team West, who used the freedom to score 53 and 41 points in the Game 1 and 2 Laker wins. [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. "Bill was the ultimate winner and consummate teammate, and his influence on the NBA will be felt forever," Silver added. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years . [115], As a consequence of his endured racist abuse, Russell was extremely sensitive to all racial prejudice. Rose Swisher (1956-1973) - Bill began dating his college acquaintance Rose Swisher in 1956, his senior year in college. [186], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. The already hostile atmosphere between Russell and Boston hit its apex when vandals broke into his house in Reading, Massachusetts, covered the walls with racist graffiti, damaged his trophies, and defecated in the beds. They were together from 1956 to 1973. As the teams split the first six games, the tension was so high that in Game 3 Celtics coach Auerbach punched his colleague Ben Kerner and received a $300 fine. [98] His second choice was Cousy, who declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. 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. [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. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. [125] Russell's Rules was published in 2001, and he convinced Miami Heat superstar center Shaquille O'Neal to bury the hatchet with fellow NBA superstar and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant and end the ShaqKobe feud in January 2006. In 1987, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times titled, Growing Up With Privilege and Prejudice.. 6 in ESPN's NBA 75th Anniversary Team list,[162] and No. [45][46] He also competed in the 440 yards (402.3m) race, which he could complete in 49.6 seconds. No cause of death was immediately available; Russell, who. He was 88. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. There are no Insights into his past relationship. "[152] In the book, Russell wrote: "Whenever I leave the Celtics locker room, even Heaven wouldn't be good enough because anywhere else is a step down With Red [Auerbach] and Walter Brown, I was the freest athlete on the planet. [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. The first team to start five black players was the Boston Celtics. [56], Russell was an elite help defender who allowed the Celtics to play the "Hey, Bill" defense: whenever a Celtic requested additional defensive help, he would shout "Hey, Bill!" [99] Russell became the first black head coach in NBA history,[5] and he commented to journalists: "I wasn't offered the job because I am a Negro, I was offered it because Red figured I could do it. Boston Celtics fans say Bill Russell was so much more than a basketball star. [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. He led USF to NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, including a string of 55 consecutive victories, and an unofficial double triple-double with 26 points, 27 rebounds, 20 blocks, 3 steals, and an assist. Bill Russell has three children. 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." She works as an attorney, corporate trainer, and political strategist, according to the Huffington Post. [106], Russell and the Celtics achieved upsets over the 76ers and the Knicks to earn a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. [107] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. My wife and Russell's laugh. I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. The Celtics rallied back, winning Game 5 122104 and Game 6 114106, powered by a spirited Havlicek and helped by a terrible Sixers shooting slump. [65] Many observers thought that Boston could have won had Russell not been injured, but Auerbach commented: "You can always look for excuses We just got beat. "[49], Duiring the 196869 NBA season, Russell was shocked by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, and weary from his increasingly stale marriage to his wife Rose; the couple later divorced. [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] On March 11, 1965, in a 112100 win over the Detroit Pistons, Russell grabbed 49 rebounds, which tied for the third-most in a single game in NBA history,[92] along with 27 points and 6 assists. [153] 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). A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. [13], Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. 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. 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. [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. 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. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft. He was 88. Bill Russell (L) greets Jimmy Butler at the NBA All-Star Game 2018 at Staples Center on February 18, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. He worked hard and used the benefits of a growth spurt to become a decent basketball player. I was able to separate the Celtics institution from the city and the fans. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. [221] When Russell originally retired, he demanded that his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden. [20] Since Russell's previous experiences with white authority figures were often negative, warm words from Powles reassured him. People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named William Russell Jr & Jacob Russell from the wedlock. [78] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. Charlie was an actor known for his play, Five on the black hand side. Television Pundit and Lawyer Karen Russell is the only daughter of Bill Russell. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. [152] He could score with putbacks and made mid-air outlet passes to point guard Bob Cousy for easy fast-break points. [112] His No. He passed away peacefully with . She used to admire her father, a national basketball player. [48], In the draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach set his sights on Russell, thinking his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess were the missing pieces the Celtics needed. [98] On April 16, 1966, Russell agreed to become head coach of the Celtics, and a public announcement was made two days later. Updated. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. 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. She graduated as an English Major from the University of Washington. Your login session has expired. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. . Over the course of his life, Rusell played 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics, during which time he took home 11 championships titles with the team. [52] The U.S. dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points per game. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. [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. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. [56] Russell never had to work part-time. He still holds the NBA record for rebounds in one half with 32 (vs. Philadelphia, November 16, 1957). They were happily wed until 1973. Bill Russell was born to Charles and Katie Russell on February 12, 2022, in West Monroe, Louisiana. Arthur was a man of great courage. And what we would do is[Auerbach] trusted all his playersso like when he'd make a coaching decision, he could talk: he talked to [Bob] Cousey [who is white], he talked to me [black], he talked to [Bill] Sharman [white], he talked to Sam [Jones] [black]all of us: 'What do you think?' Bill Russell's Parents Charles Russell and Katie Russell are his parents. [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. "[49] That playoff series ended in a dramatic Game 7, when the Sixers were trailing 110109 five seconds before the end, but Russell turned over the ball. He later commented that he would have participated in the high jump if he had been snubbed by the basketball team. [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). [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. [49] After the game, Russell went over to the distraught West, who had scored 42 points and was named the only NBA Finals MVP in history from the losing team, clasped his hand and tried to soothe him. '"[217] In retirement, Russell described the Boston press as corrupt and racist; in response, Boston sports journalist Larry Claflin claimed that Russell himself was the real racist. Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, with his wife, Jeannine, at his side, his family said in a statement posted on social media. 6 was retired in 1972; he also refused to attend his induction into the Hall of Fame in 1975. The couple grew emotionally distant and divorced. Would love your thoughts, please comment. 18 on ESPN's "50 Greatest Athletes of the 20th Century" list in 1999. Updated: July 31, 2022 Biography ID: 192868748 Jump to: Biography Memories Family Tree 1 Follower William Russell's Biography [49] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. 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. BOSTON - Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88, his family announced. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. [96], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. [188] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. 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. Arthur was a man of great courage. [176], On August 2, 2020, the West Coast Conference (WCC), which has been home to Russell's alma mater of USF since the league's formation in 1952,[177][a] became the first NCAA Division I conference to adopt a conference-wide diversity hiring commitment, announcing the Russell Rule, named after Russell and based on the National Football League's Rooney Rule. The Hall of Famer was 88. After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. He owns a strong physique with great body measurements and a normal body type. I was the MVP at the Final Four. 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