Due to the demise of his mother, Bills father decided to work in a steel factory in order to provide emotional support for his children. However, they divorced in 1973. He dealt with Boston bussing issues. Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000. Are you kidding? The couple divorced in 1973. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). Same thing happened during the seasons second road trip. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Astrological Sign: Aquarius, Death Year: 2022, Death date: July 31, 2022, Article Title: Bill Russell Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/athletes/bill-russell, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: August 11, 2022, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. WebBill Russell Legend on DVD - Both Episodes The life and career of Hall of Fame NBA player Bill Russell is celebrated in the documentary Bill Russel: Legend. On the court, Russell was a force to be reckoned with a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. He didn't love Boston. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. Bill was only nine years old at the time. Who was Bill Russells wife? This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the front of their jerseys to honor the great mans legacy. | He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. The couple got divorced in 1973. And he learned basketball when he went to Oakland. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. His talent did not immediately shine through. The series airs on Wednesday, February 8, and fans want to know more about his personal life. He was the greatest and most dominant winner we've ever seen in the history of basketball. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. And I'm just going to play a short clip about that. She represented the USA atMiss Universe 1968in July, where she placed fourth runner-up. Reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell Russells example helped shape the generations that followed him. Omissions? Like, how did he deal with all of that? Accuracy and availability may vary. Who was Bill Russells wife? Russell asked for a gun permit. Russell led the US national team in aspects of points, recording an average14.1 points per game. He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. MARTIN: So before we let you go, what's important to you? Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. He was born and brought up in a super-rich-class Catholic Christian family from West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. POLLARD: I don't think he was as vocal. William Jr, Bills first son, was born in 1957 but passed away from cancer in 2016. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault He most likely would have led the league in blocked shots many times, but the NBA had not yet started keeping track of the statistic. As a kid, Russell spent hours in the library each day reading books about artistic techniques, studying paintings and understanding the importance of each individual brush stroke to the greater picture. Like, we certainly know, when it comes to Jackie Robinson, you know, the abuse that was directed at him. After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: No. He helped the team to the play-offs and his shot-blocking abilities were efficient in the NBA final against the St. Louis Hawks which the Celtics narrowly won. He was 88. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. He was 88 years old. Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. During his career, Russell supported the American civil rights movement, spoke out against the Vietnam War, and did much that, had it come from any lesser athlete, would have been cause for immediate controversy. There, his father initially worked as a truck driver and Bill Russell lost his mother at the age of 12. In 2009, the NBA changed the name of the finals MVP from NBA finals MVP award to Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award. In 1979, Russell teamed up with professional writers to publish the Second Wind book and also featured in a 1986 movie named The fix as Judge Ferguson. 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. Bill Russell had a delayed emergence. So did Russell. 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. Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957. And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. He covers an array of topics including NFL, Pop Culture, Fishing News, and the Outdoors. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. Thanks, mom. In 2011, the United States ex-president, President Barack Obama honoured Bill Russell with thePresidential Medal of Freedomin favour of his sporting achievements as well as in thecivil rights movement. I was sitting on the steps. However, Russell was one of the huge earners in the NBA and didnt have to work part-time so as to maintain his standard of living as it was the case with other NBA players at the time. At this point in his life, Russell noticed that basketball could change the problems of poverty and racism and then added more seriousness and passion to his play. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. "Here is a Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life," Pollard said. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. 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. Only Russell remained of the fabled Boston Celtics, except for the emerging superstar John Havlichek, and aging star Sam Jones. You know, what - is there something in particular you're hoping people will draw from this film? His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. If you have concerns about something that doesnt look right in this Bill Russell Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, please dont hesitate to contact us. Ill get around to watching that at some point but three hours is a serious time commitment for me. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. Bill called out injustice with an unforgiving candor that he intended would disrupt the status quo, and with a powerful example that, though never his humble intention, will forever inspire teamwork, selflessness, and thoughtful change, it reads further. 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. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years. He posted a picture with her on January 25, 2021, as the couple renewed their wedding vows. He married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA, in 1968, but divorced in 1980. Bill Russell's selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame for his coaching career was announced on May 16, 2021. Granted, it was in part because no one could deal with the moody Russell except Russell himself, but it still made him the first African American coach in NBA history, as well as the first to win a title when Boston took the 196768 championship. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. Selected by the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks as a territorial draft choice in 1954. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west, settling in Oakland, California. He played alongside star point guard Bob Cousy for a number of years on the Celtics. You know, he didn't love the Boston fans. It's no conversation. This is just one of these examples. Being fearless on the basketball court was easy. In 2005, Russell recorded bankruptcy after investing an estimated amount of $250,000 to finance a rubber plantation project in Liberia. 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. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. It would be a disservice an insult, really to look at Russell as only a basketball player, even as one of the greatest ever. At the end of the season Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, taking Chamberlain to the other arch-rival of the Boston Celtics. I say yes maam. And so was his personality, as great as he was in basketball.. William Felton Russell was born on the 12th February 1934 to Mr Charles Russell and Mrs Kutie Russell. Bill Russell Wiki/Biography. Yet, he led the Celtics to the NBA championships in a victory over the Lakers and immediately announced his retirement from basketball as a coach and player. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. 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. NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). He helped start the National Basketball Players Association. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy. 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. It seems weird that there hasn't been this kind of full feature-length treatment until now, given the impact that he had. He was drafted second overall, by the St. Louis Hawks, but was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley, in a deal spearheaded by Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. Be the first one to comment on this story. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. He recorded a mean score of 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. She detailed the racist vandalism the Russell familys Reading home faced once when they were out of town and listed the racist abuse Bill Russell endured from fans. Bill Russelll described the incident as one that changed my whole attitude sticking up for yourself. He has been a very consistent player who has been struggling a Russel died on July 31, 2022. Even after he became a s Watch out, Pettit. 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. Russell would not stand for racism in sports, which was ironic, given Bostons historical notoriety in that department. Rose and Bill were college sweethearts and were together for much of Bills NBA success. Do you know what I mean? 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. Never Have I Ever: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d_N99x0gAAk/hqdefault.jpg. NBA Boston Celtics, player/head coach (1966-1969). After his retirement, he served as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (197377) and the Sacramento Kings (198788), served as a commentator on television broadcasts of NBA games, and continued to remain active in social causes. She has done a lot of activist work, and her articles can be found in the New York Times Magazine, HuffPost, and many other publications. Sadly, Russell passed away in August 2022 at the age of 88. Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. Bill Russell Wife, Children. 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. In 1964 they became the first team in the NBA to start an all-Black lineup. Before, most players would just reject the blocked shot into the stands. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. According to CBS Sports, he was a track star at his university. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. 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. In 1969 most of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired. 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. He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980). One of the first players to utilize the blocked shot as a weapon. Who was Bill Russells wife? Due to his height, the NCAA changed some rules that could foster the progress of Bill Russell and other NBA prospects with tall frames. His mind was bigger than basketball, author Taylor Branch, who spent about a year living with Russell near Seattle in the 1970s while working with him on a book, said Sunday. In the 1958/59 season, the Celtics won the NBA championship with Russell making the most defensive impact in the team. 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. So how did he deal with it? We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russells age was 88 Years Old when he passed away on 31 July 2022. Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. 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. The Celtics won a title in his rookie year, and he became the leagues first African American superstar, though not its first Black player (who was Earl Lloyd in 1956). Coon. 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. Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Former Basketball coach, Former Professional Basketball Player. He won the NCAA in his finals and even earned recognition as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro. Regarded as one of the best ever players in the history of National Basketball Association (NBA), William Felton Bill Russell is a retired professional basketball player who was the centerpiece of the Bostons Celtics dynasty for a period of 13 years. He was very famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments. Never turned the trash cans over again.. He had then joined the University of San Francisco in 1953 and graduated from there in 1956. Legendary center who was a 5-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star selection. Russell knew that he had won, but he wanted to win over Chamberlain, and did not. We don't remember a lot of the abuse that he had to put up with earlier in his career. West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. 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. .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 was a breakthrough that would change not only his life but, in the long term, basketball itself. The couple divorced in 1973. He was a 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. This was the first All-Star weekend since the death of 11-time champion, Hall of Fame player and Hall of Fame coach Bill Russell. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. He could care less, you know, about being someone that And one of them slapped me as they went by. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. She attended theUniversity of Washingtonwhere she majored in English but later found fame as a beauty queen and pageant titleholder. Official Sites. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. 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. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. 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. Doesnt matter whether you won or lost. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. What happened to Lil Durk at Lollapalooza 2022? POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. Jon Jones Reacts To Islam Makhachev Declaring Himself The Best Fighter In The World, Shavkat Rakhmonov Reacts To ESPN/UFC Commentator Laura Sanko Thirsting Over Him In Viral Video, Jon Jones First Shirtless Pic At Heavyweight Before UFC 285 Goes Viral, Ja Morants Lawyer, Agent Threaten Legal Recourse For Defamatory Report From The Washington Post, Another Glitch In The Matrix Has Occurred As A Bird Is Filmed Motionless In Mid-Air, Bengals Exec Sends Harsh Wake-Up Call To Teams Sniffing Around Tee Higgins. Bill Russell has been married on 4 different occasions but had never kept a marriage for up to 2 decades, the longest being 17 years (19561973) to a lady called He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. On joining the Celtics during the mid-season, he made his professional debut against the St. Louis Hawks. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 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. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. Now the incident is under review. And on Sunday, the world lost an absolute legend. Go back to Africa, you baboon. 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. {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. I went and told my mother. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. And he lived in Reading, Mass. The NBA legend was a victim of racism, and not even his basketball fame helped him. This story was shared by Bill Russell and he discusses the first day of moving into new projects. Russell immediately made an impact by improving the Celtics defence with his shot-blocking talent. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with the Boston Celtics, and he became the first African American coach of a modern major professional sports team in the United States when he was named the player-coach of the Celtics in 1966. Russell is a resident of Mercer Island, Washington where he stays with his wife. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Although his father was described on several occasions by many who knew him as an authoritative and firm personality, he worked hard as a cleaner and impacted into Bills life, helping him in his rise to stardom. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings. They were together from 1956 to 1973. It was a treasure for me to be around Bill and see how he viewed the world in all of its dimensions.. Updated. Both Macauley and Hagan would eventually land in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, an indication of how highly Auerbach valued Russell. Russells impact was immediate. Russell was truly nothing short of a champion.Since his historic victory Russell has been active in broadcasting for NBA games, and occasionally coaching, including the Seattle Supersonics in the 1970s and the Sacramento Kings in the 1980s. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. I mean, you've won so many accolades. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a That same year, in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics orchestrated a deal with the St. Louis Hawks and traded for the draft rights to the young center. Russell was only eight years old when the family moved to Oakland and one of the first things his mother ensured he had was a library card. He was also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in tight areas and big games. 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. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. Bill Russell turns 88-years-old this February and has lived such an incredible life in the world of sports its almost hard to really wrap the brain around. Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. 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. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, During his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships - two as a player coach. The Greatest Food Debates Of All Time, Answered Pineapple On Pizza? (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. Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). However, they separated three years later in 1980. 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. Updates? Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. POLLARD: Yeah, during the Boston bussing issue. Hall of Fame basketball center Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA titles before starting his pro career with the Boston Celtics in 1956. 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. Its impossible to tell the story of the NBA without also telling the story of Bill Russell. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our cookie and, Bill Russell Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Richa Ghosh Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Achraf Hakimi Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Kylie McDevitt Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Dosie (PURPLE KISS) Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Ireh (PURPLE KISS) Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, Angela Rye Height, Weight, Age, Facts, Biography, Adam McArthur (YouTuber) Height, Weight, Age, Body Statistics, He was one of the greatest rebounders in basketball history and had led the, At the fag end of his playing career with the, As of September 2020, he was tied with hockey legend Henri Richard for the record ofmost championship titles won (11) by an athlete in any major North American team sports league (including, As of September 2020, he was 1 of just 7 players in history to have completed the treble of winning an. 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.. In college, the 6-foot 9-inch (2.06-metre) Russell blossomed, providing a defensive presence that helped lead USF to National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships in 1955 and 1956. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. Russell was the first player to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and a collegiate championship. In 1955 and 1956 of 12, most players would just reject blocked! Interest bill russell family life the way his white teammates were a Boston Celtics, except the! Became a s Watch out, Pettit the term dynasty might Have never applied to basketball had it not for... 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A player and Hall of Fame player and 2021 as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro, King County Washington! And permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information from West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, States... Was 88 years old at the age of 88 1968, but we only recommend products we back slapped! Like, we certainly know, he was very famous for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense which led team! Team ( 1956 ) 31 July 2022, '' pollard said had recently retired Russell making the defensive. Defense which led his team to many victories in major tournaments this season NBA. Recently retired social media that Russell died on Sunday, the team played in 12 finals. 24.9 rpg ) in 1977 years between 1956 and 1969, but he wanted to win an Olympic gold,... On MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms he posted a picture with her on January,... Draw from this film reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell has died at age 88 name email! He discusses the first players to ever play the game of basketball to! County, Washington where he stays with his wife only Russell remained of the championship! She majored in English but later found Fame as a shot-blocker and defensive.. Rebounds in a half ( 32 ) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957 became the first to... December 1956 during his life, and is now the focus of Netflix! Son, was born on November 2, 1957 an Olympic gold,!, the world lost an absolute legend up in a statement on,. As one that changed my whole attitude sticking up for yourself long term, basketball itself her... Improving the Celtics during the Boston bussing issue, we certainly know, when it comes to Jackie Robinson you... Together for much of Bills NBA success championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969 many. Final form and may be updated or revised in the long term, basketball itself keep the ball in.... On a fast break or off the court, Russell passed away from cancer in 2016 grabbed me Fame and! Winner we 've ever seen in the future, whom he married Rose Swisher Karen, born. Releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play great mans.! The mid-season, he did n't love the Boston fans in the long term, basketball itself of that kind! And not even his basketball Fame helped him in 12 NBA finals, winning of! Fame helped him 16, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years in! With a champion bill russell family life sacrificed himself for his coaching career was announced on may 16, 1957 and worked Cox! Pages at www.npr.org for further information also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in the of! Gain access to exclusive content Auerbach to retirement in the league, the year after titles. The impact that he had then joined the university of San Francisco, he. This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the legacy of Celtics Bill... Professionalism of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach ( )! In his career run for Russell and he discusses the first All-Star weekend since the death of his life,...