document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from purchases made on Amazon via our links. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. In May 30, it was You know, I thought he was one of the greatest defensive centers who ever played the game. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. The Celtics went on to win 8 more back-to-back NBA championships winning five against the Lakers in the finals to set up one of the biggest rivalries in the NBA. Please logout and login again. Who was Bill Russells wife? Dorothy Catherine Anstett was born on June 28, 1947, and was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. Rose and Bill were college sweethearts and were together for much of Bills NBA Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). Yeah. Born on Feb. 12, 1934, William Felton Russell spent his earliest years in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west during World War II, ultimately landing in Oakland, California. NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970). William Jr, Bills first son, was born in 1957 but passed away from cancer in 2016. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. Russell brought an aspect to basketball that had rarely been explored before: defense. The documentary features the last interview with Russell before his passing, as well as archived interviews throughout his life. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: No. Hailed as the greatest winner in sports, Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons. | Russell, the greatest winner in the history of team sports, died Sunday at 88. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. 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. He didn't love Boston. He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. Russell who began his professional career in the NBA in 1956 and ended it in 1969 with a total of eleven NBA championships won, is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. 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. Best Known For: Hailed as the greatest winner in sports, Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons. Reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell Russells example helped shape the generations that followed him. During his three-year varsity career, in which he led the team to consecutive NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. MARTIN: Whew. POLLARD: Well, I was approached by Ross Greenberg, who used to be the president of HBO Sports, about two years ago to get involved with the film as a director. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. From boycotting a 1961 exhibition game to unmask too-long-tolerated discrimination, to leading Mississippis first integrated basketball camp in the combustible wake of Medgar Evans assassination, to decades of activism ultimately recognized by his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.. Even after he became a s He is an American by nationality and has a belief in the Catholic Christian religion. Why this film and why now? The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. He went to high school in Oakland. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. Are you kidding? Being fearless in the real world even when dealing with matters of race in some of the nations darkest times on that topic was somehow even easier. I mean, he had a lot of issues. That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. . Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory. He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. Bill was named an NBA All-Star 12 times (19581969), the NBA MVP 5 times (1958, 19611963, 1965), and the NBA All-Star Game MVP in 1963. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. Who was Bill Russells wife? He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. He left for a road trip and his garbage cans got turned over. Named Russell William Wagner at birth, when he decided to become a classical music composer, he dropped his last nameas it already "was taken" by Richard Wagner. The victory got Russell his 10th NBA Championship title in 12 career years and the Sports Illustrateds Sportsman of the Year Award. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. Case in point: The apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958. Who are Bill Russell's children? After his death he was interred in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle WA. It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. Russell led the US national team in aspects of points, recording an average14.1 points per game. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. He was part of the March on Washington. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. Legendary center who was a 5-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star selection. And she said What!. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. 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. Bill had attended the McClymonds High School, a public school in Oakland, California. Hes still second on the NBAs all-time rebounding list, behind only Wilt Chamberlain, and will probably be in that spot forever since nobody has come remotely close to him in the last 50 years. One imagines you could do any number of subjects at this stage of your career. Macauley was part of a solid offensive unit with Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, but the team had a missing piece to the puzzle.As America would soon find out Bill Russell would be that missing piece. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a Although possessing a perfect basketball height and huge hands to aid his efficiency, Bill Russell initially had struggles in understanding the game. Still yet Russell was without a doubt one of the finest players of his day. You know, I want you to understand, like a lot of these films about (inaudible) the complexity of the human being, we're playing up on a screen. Due to his height, the NCAA changed some rules that could foster the progress of Bill Russell and other NBA prospects with tall frames. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. So the Celtics traded centre Ed Macauley and the rights to guard-forward Cliff Hagan, who had yet to play in the NBA owing to his military service, to the St. Louis Hawks shortly after the Hawks used the second overall pick of the draft to select Russell. Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000. 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 On the day of Bill Russells private funeral, NBA announces its greatest honor: the permanent retirement of No. And I hope that one day, in the streets of Boston, children will look up at a statue built not only to Bill Russell the player, but Bill Russell the man.. 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. Later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington. In school, he was a natural track star and led his high school basketball team to consecutive state titles. They are the only children Bill had. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault 15 Episodes of Seinfeld That Teach Everything You Need To Know About Life, Read more sports articles on BroBible right here, 5-time NBA MVP Bill Russell shared a story from his childhood that he says changed his life forever, It took place right when he and his mother moved to the projects and he was attacked by a stranger, his mother then took charge of the situation. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. What I ascribed to do, and I did quite well, is every time I came into an adversarial situation, I decided to take control of it so that if a guy came up to me and tried to give me a bad day, I made sure that he was the one who left with the bad day, Russell said. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. 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. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. Bill was born in Louisiana in 1934. But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. Despite winning 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Celtics, Russell greatly disliked playing in Boston and was often the target of racism. I was sitting on the steps. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. He won the NCAA in his finals and even earned recognition as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro. Bill Russell, a towering figure in the NBA and in American sports history, died at 88 on Sunday, his family announced. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. This story was shared by Bill Russell and he discusses the first day of moving into new projects. Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. The Greatest Food Debates Of All Time, Answered Pineapple On Pizza? President Barack Obama at about 6-foot-2, a taller-than-average individual had to stretch a bit when draping the Presidential Medal of Freedom around Russells neck in 2011, even after Russell crouched down to accommodate the moment. The series airs on Wednesday, February 8, and fans want to know more about his personal life. 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. Russells Celtics ruled the roost at a time when the minuscule number of teams (the NBA consisted of eight or nine franchises for the majority of his career) made for a greatly condensed talent pool, and a combination of integration and improved scouting brought on an unprecedented rush of new stars. The Celtics then lost to Los Angeles in the Forum in Game 5, and the Celtics returned to the Boston Garden in game 6 and won that contest. Take away all the on-court accomplishments, and Russell still lived a life. That was the way I conducted my life.. Bill Russell Death Reason Talking about his cause of death so he was very in for a long time and age was the factor also, however, everyone started paying him a tribute on the social media platform and started sending his family sympathy and condolence messages. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). Bill shares all of his three children with his first wife. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. I went and told my mother. With Russell anchoring the middle of the floor, the Celtics finished with the NBA's best record in 1957, and went on to win the title over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. He was married four times and had three children. Throughout his 13-year career, he enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics. He was assaulted by a group of guys that ran by. And he became a major star at USF, went on to win the Olympic gold medal in Australia and then got drafted by the Celtics in '57. Tim Reynolds is a national basketball writer for The Associated Press. He had represented the Boston Celtics in the NBA from 1956 to 1969 and was the central figure in the teams total domination of the league winning the NBA championship title 11 times (1957, 19591966, 1968, 1969). Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. It was, however, a milestone made possible by Russells performance and larger significance. While Charlie found good work, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became quite sick with the flu and died. 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. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin has been found not guilty of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register a political group and provide financial disclosures at a trial in southern New Mexico, Former President Barack Obama is marking the retirement of the South Carolina woman credited with popularizing the chant Fired up, ready to go!, Top diplomats from the worlds major industrialized and developing nations have opened what are expected to be contentious talks dominated by Russias war in Ukraine and Chinas moves to boost its global influence, Authorities say a central Florida man has been arrested after fatally shooting his teenage daughter and three other people, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to strengthen state control over agriculture and make all available efforts to increase grain production, as the country faces a worsening food shortage, The man convicted of killing eight people in a terrorist attack on a Manhattan bike path declined to testify in the death penalty phase of his trial, just as he had before the jury returned guilty verdicts, Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSign Up For Our NewslettersSite Map, Copyright 2023, The San Diego Union-Tribune |, FILE - Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell stands court side during a tribute in his honor in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Boston, Nov. 1, 2013. Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. 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, It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. Bill Russell viewed basketball as a science, and played the game with an analytical view as well as with an emotional intensity.Russell played the game psychologically as well, defending his various opponents so well that many times he made those he defended feel like they could not score a basket. It would be a disservice an insult, really to look at Russell as only a basketball player, even as one of the greatest ever. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, file), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Trump cowboy found not guilty of campaign finance charge, Obama praises woman behind Fired up chant as she retires, India urges G-20 ministers to look beyond East-West crisis, Sheriff: Florida man fatally shot teenage daughter, 3 others, N. Korea wants more control over farming amid food shortage, NYC bike path killer doesnt testify in death penalty phase, San Diego lawyer sentenced to prison for stealing $5K worth of life insurance premium payments, Driver extricated from overturned car after crashing off I-5 in La Jolla, RFK killer Sirhan Sirhan denied parole by California board, 25 years to life in prison for nanny who fatally injured 4-week-old baby in her care, Imperial Beach school placed on lockdown after unsubstantiated threat of gun on campus. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Currently, Russells estimated net worth is about $10 million. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. Supervisors explore ways to offset vehicle traffic from new rural housing, Column: Padres offense inspires bright forecasts as Petco Parks worst clouds have lifted, Opinion: Converting Californias empty office buildings to apartments and condos is a great idea. So how did he deal with it? Bill Russell was born in 1934 in Louisiana and when he was eight years old his family moved west to Oakland, California during WWII looking for a new life. POLLARD: Yeah, because I think most people see him just as a great sports figure, a legend on the basketball court, and really didn't really dig into how complex his life was off the court. The family moved from Louisiana to Oakland during World War II due to employment opportunities for the blacks in the west at the time. Do you know what I mean? The cemetery is also the final resting place of martial arts action star Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee. Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968). Have a good day. {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. Bill hasnt shared how he met his last wife, but he adored her. Featured Image by Bill Russell / Instagram. Full Article. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.), 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. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with Somebody had broken in and defecated on the family bed and made - you know, wrote things on the wall and on his garage door. He was voted league MVP five times. A cause of death wasnt given, nor did a family statement say where he died. There were things you might take away from Bill Russell and say, wow, you know, for him to have - hold this grudge against Wilt Chamberlain for so many years. We go back to our place and Im crying. Publicity Listings His home was accosted on a few occasions, and he heard he would not get MVP because he was black from a reporter. He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. He stood for what he believed, stood with who he believed in. 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. Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. Russell is a resident of Mercer Island, Washington where he stays with his wife.