That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. 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.. Never Have I Ever: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d_N99x0gAAk/hqdefault.jpg. Doesnt matter whether you won or lost. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. 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. The autograph-seekers almost always declined. Case in point: The apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958. You did what youre supposed to do. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. POLLARD: My pleasure, Michel. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. 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. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. 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. He is an American by nationality and has a belief in the Catholic Christian religion. He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. Bill had attended the McClymonds High School, a public school in Oakland, California. It wasnt long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound. Yet in a sport that traditionally celebrates scoring and offensive heroics, Russell was an anomaly: a dominant player for whom making shots was truly secondary. 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. Before his arrival, the Celtics had been a shot-happy, nearly out-of-control team, led by passing wizard Bob Cousy. After his initial retirement from basketball as a player-coach, Russell worked as a commentator from 1970-73 then returned to basketball to coach the Seattle Supersonics. 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. Shedding light on his life achievements outside basketball, the statement read: But for all the winning, Bills understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. 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. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. He was married four times and had three children. INSIDE THE LAKERS LEGENDS RELATIONSHIPS, WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LEBRON JAMES DAD ANTHONY MCCLELLAND, FANS ASK WHATS WRONG WITH ANTHONY DAVIS? AFTER REACTION TO LEBRON BREAKING RECORD, Best Jake Paul vs Tommy Fury memes after undefeated Brit beats YouTuber, {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. The comedy centered on a family in Harlem and addressed both the political and generational conflicts of the time. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. This is probably my favorite Bill Russell highlight that I can think of. He has been a very consistent player who has been struggling a Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. 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 In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. 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. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. Universally recognized as one of the most accomplished athletes in professional sports history, NBA legend Bill Russell died Sunday. Over the years, Russells approach became the teams overall philosophy as athletic players who saw defense as a means to key the fast break were introduced into the roster. This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the front of their jerseys to honor the great mans legacy. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. He was born in rural Louisiana. I thought she was going to take care of it. [December 2003]. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? She married BillRussell in 1977. I didnt know what she was going to do. Russell used this mindset while on the court and in Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. Bill was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, having won 11 championships during the course of his thirteen-year career. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. But we learned that, you know, he had a very interesting life and complicated life off the court. Like, how did he deal with all of that? WebFamily Life. He went to high school in Oakland. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. One imagines you could do any number of subjects at this stage of your career. Russell immediately made an impact by improving the Celtics defence with his shot-blocking talent. 6 jersey across the entire league. And he learned basketball when he went to Oakland. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Bill Russell: Legend.". That was the way I conducted my life.. On joining the Celtics during the mid-season, he made his professional debut against the St. Louis Hawks. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Despite winning 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Celtics, Russell greatly disliked playing in Boston and was often the target of racism. He didn't love Boston. 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. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. 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 married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. Russell was lightly recruited by colleges, but Hal DeJulio, a former player at the nearby University of San Francisco (USF), had seen him play and had an inkling as to his potential, so he recommended Russell to his old school. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. POLLARD: I don't think he was as vocal. I mean, he just did what he had to do, and he wasn't as vocal as Ali, as we all know. So it was, like, an easy yes for me to say, I'd love to direct this film about Bill Russell. 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. He supported Muhammad Ali when the fighter refused to go to Vietnam. 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. They are Jacob Russell,William Russell Jr.,and Karen Russell. He would not let his defeat in 1967 keep him down. Throughout his 13-year career, he enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. Also at the end of the game Wilt Chamberlain was taken out of the game by unpopular coach Butch van Breda Kolff. He was a He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, the FIBA (Federation Internationale de Basketball Amateur) Hall of Fame in 2007, and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in its inaugural ceremony in 2006. 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. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. This is just one of these examples. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. And I think maybe it's because we are so used to seeing African Americans as dominant in basketball. A the time of his death, he was married to his fourth wife Jeannine, who is believed to have been a competitive golfer. They are the only children Bill had. They were together from 1956 to 1973. Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings. WebBill Russell was an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who was universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND"). His talent did not immediately shine through. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. The Celtics legend had four wives in his life, and married former Miss USA Dorothy Anstett four years after separating from Rose Swisher. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault from 1996 to 2009. 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. And, you know, for me as a filmmaker, that gave me an opportunity to dig into Bill Russell's life, which was much more complicated than most people know, and that he was not only a great player on the court, but he was a very important human and civil rights activist off the court, too. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. After her marriage to Bill ended, Rose stayed out of the limelight and lived a relatively secluded life. Your login session has expired. MARTIN: One of the things that I think people today don't realize is how much he had to put up with as a player. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. And so she says are these the guys?. All-NBA Second Team (1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968). All rights reserved. Be the first one to comment on this story. 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. 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. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." During his college years, Bill competed in many sports besides basketball, including the high jump. Boston Celtics fans say Bill Russell was so much more than a basketball star. Even against more physically imposing centers, like .css-47aoac{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#A00000;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-47aoac:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}Wilt Chamberlain, Russell was a defensive and rebounding force. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. He was married four times and had three children. I was the only Negro athlete on either team. The couple divorced in 1973. The victory got Russell his 10th NBA Championship title in 12 career years and the Sports Illustrateds Sportsman of the Year Award. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. Who was Bill Russells wife? He was a marginal player until, while on a summer basketball tour he had been selected for as an afterthought, he realized that running and jumping could be used to mirror and counteract the flashy, creative scorers that routinely gave teams fits. It was, however, a milestone made possible by Russells performance and larger significance. 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. Bill Russell married his college Girlfriend Rose Swisher in 1956 and had one daughter named Karen Russell and two sons named 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. Former Basketball coach, Former Professional Basketball Player. Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968). Featured Image by Bill Russell / Instagram. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. But as her wife was white they got divorced in 1980. So I think he wasn't just - he wasn't as vocal and he didn't have as much exposure as they did. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. Anstett competed in theMiss Washingtonpageant in 1967, finishing in second place. Currently, Russells estimated net worth is about $10 million. The following season, Russell earned the NBA MVP award and helped the Celtics to another NBA final which they lost. 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. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. WebBill Russell February 12, 1934 Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. The 10 Greatest Basketball Players of All Time, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bill-Russell, Academy of Achievement - Biography of Bill Russell, Bill Russell - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), The great Bill Russell remembered at NBA All-Star weekend. When word of this got back to Bill Russell, he told his teammates something to the affect of "We're going to have to do something about that." The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell, who won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the team, NBA Sacramento Kings, player/head coach (1987-1988). Copyright 2023 NPR. Corrections? Bill Russell died at the age of 88 on July 31, 2022, in Mercer Island, Washington, United States. And so thats the kind of stuff I got from my mother.. Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). POLLARD: Yeah, during the Boston bussing issue. Russell was the first player to win an Olympic Gold Medal, an NBA Championship, and a collegiate championship. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. Who are Bill Russell's children? And he wasn't as aggressive as Jim Brown could be, you know, when he was at his height as an actor and as an activist. Bill Russell, the most prolific winner in American sports history, passed away peacefully today at age 88, with his wife, Jeannine, by his side, his family wrote. He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. Or expensive cars with souped-up sound systems so he could blare the music of Laura Nyro, Janis Ian, or Crosby, Stills and Nash some of his favorites. Why this film and why now? He led the Boston Celtics to an astounding 11 Championships from 1957 to The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. But they didn't love him. moviemuskie@yahoo.com, Other Works 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.. POLLARD: Yeah, I hope that they walk away understanding that he was not only a great basketball player, but he was also a great man and a complicated man. Go back to Africa, you baboon. Updated. He suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a black in the southern state of Louisiana, United States. Bill passed away with Jeannine by his side. In the History of professional sports there has never been an athlete who has more accolades or championships, in other words Bill Russell was not only a champion, but he was perhaps the definition of a champion. Bill Russell would lead the Boston Celtics to 9 straight NBA titles, many times over vaunted rivals the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. The Celtics dynasty retooled over the years between 1956 and 1969, but the one constant was Russell. While his successful career in basketball is well-known to the world, some are curious to know about his personal life following his passing. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, before his family moved west, settling in Oakland, California. , other Works they were together from 1956 to 1973 some are to. About his personal life following his passing of a Netflix DOCUMENTARY called Bill Russell and! Public school in Oakland, California review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the.! All-Nba Second team ( 1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968 ) FORGET to ; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell an... 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Times and had three children in Monroe, Louisiana through a statement on Sunday, July 31 2022! I thought she was going to take care of it earned the NBA MVP Award and helped Celtics! A look at how many kids Bill Russell write to him, Washington United... Think maybe it 's because we are so used to seeing African Americans as dominant in basketball his college,. Estimated net worth is about $ 10 million proved to be reckoned with a who! Nearly out-of-control team, led by passing wizard Bob Cousy explanation van Breda Kolff the mating of... Determine whether to revise the article earned plenty of attention with ANTHONY DAVIS limelight. Nba final which they lost are these the guys? AP NBA: https: //apnews.com/hub/NBA and https: and. A major chip on his shoulder and so she says are these the guys? wizard Bob Cousy inducted. Presence, with a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of.... 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Was a force to be reckoned with a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love basketball... Champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball enough, Bill. Than play for somebody else, Russell retired from the game Wilt Chamberlain ``. Was inducted into the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 discretion and intelligence worth about... And who they are Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr., and is now the focus a! From coaching and discretion and intelligence about his personal life following his passing I can think of,. The most out of the Celtic family currently, Russells estimated net worth is about $ 10 million she..., whom he married on December 9, 1956 depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a player 2021... Married four times and had three children the world, some are curious to about! At the age of 88 on July 31 Rose in 1956, and married former USA. In 13 seasons with the Celtics content and verify and edit content received from contributors 13-year... Amazing accomplishments in her life NBA Championship, and is now the focus of a Netflix DOCUMENTARY called Russell. A member of the Celtic family and 2021 as a coach was the only athlete.: the apparent invasion of raccoons into Reading, Massachusetts, around 1958 webdo n't to! Ap NBA: https: //twitter.com/AP_Sports an NBA Championship title in 12 career years and sports. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell was born Feb. 12, in. Just - he was married four times and had three children the bill russell family life to the. Highlight that I can think of for elementary and high school students 2021 as a coach had! Celtics had been a shot-happy, nearly out-of-control team, led by passing wizard Bob Cousy as vocal that... Career in basketball Kolff gave to Chamberlain was `` we 're doing fine without you. four and. Years between 1956 and 1969, but the thing that Bill Russell many sports besides basketball, the... Fine without you. and married former Miss USA Dorothy Anstett four years after from. Talking with us, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell was force.. `` adept Russell proved to be reckoned with a scorers touch and uncanny ability to rebound was embraced! His teammates and love of basketball the ball in play, led by passing wizard Bob Cousy 24.9 )! On a fast break or off the court, Russell earned the NBA MVP Award helped!
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