His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. He went to high school in Oakland. Who was Bill Russells wife? Beloved NBA legend Bill Russell has died at the age of 88, his family announced in a statement Sunday. There was no doubt who the fans were yelling at. Although Bill Russell played less than 50 games, due to the fact he has won a gold medal for basketball in the Olympics, in his first NBA season he definitely made his presence felt. 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. Libraries werent open to the Black community in Louisiana so Katie Russell made sure to take advantage of that benefit upon their relocation. Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. He dealt with Boston bussing issues. 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. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. 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. His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. Meanwhile, Bills first marriage was to Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973, Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980, and Marilyn Nault from 1996 to 2009. However, Russell fought a long and tough battle off the court as well. 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. Before he won 11 NBA championships and five MVP awards before he won two national championships in (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. 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The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Bill Russell Biography Facts, Age, Family, Wife, Children, Early life Childhood Story, Family Background & Early Life, Bill Russell High School Basketball Career, Bill Russell College Basketball Career, Achievements & Awards, Bill Russell NBA Career, Achievements & Awards, Bill Russell Net worth, Earnings & Endorsements, Bill Russell Personal life, Spouse & Trivia, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Biography & Personal Life Facts, Draymond Green Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life, Kyle Lowry Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, Otto Porter Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, Kobe Bryant Biography Facts, Childhood, Life, Death, Jimmy Butler Biography Facts, Childhood And Personal Life, Paul Millsap Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, Dwight Howard Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, Kevin Love Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life, Magic Johnson Biography & Personal Life Facts, Carmelo Anthony Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life. What Russell did was close the circuit, creating turnovers that allowed Boston to get back on offense even faster, as well as patrol the paint with an intensity that single-handedly compensated for the Celtics imbalance. It was a breakthrough that would change not only his life but, in the long term, basketball itself. While his successful career in basketball is well-known to the world, some are curious to know about his personal life following his passing. Russell would lead these teams over some other among the greatest of all time, including Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Hal Greer, and his most famous rival Wilt Chamberlain.While Russell was rewriting Boston sports history he faced immense racism from the most devout Celtics fan. 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. Even after he became a s Why this film and why now? NBA Sacramento Kings, player/head coach (1987-1988). 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. Russell's Russell used his popularity to fight for civil rights and help others who were in a similar situation. Former Basketball coach, Former Professional Basketball Player. While featuring in the high school team, he was dumped many times for his inability to comprehend game rules and scopes. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). He won the NCAA in his finals and even earned recognition as a shot-blocker and defensive maestro. She says dont cry. 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. That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. For good measure, he might have had 12, had an ankle injury not sidelined him early in the 1958 NBA finals. An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. During his college years, Bill competed in many sports besides basketball, including the high jump. 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. In the 1958/59 season, the Celtics won the NBA championship with Russell making the most defensive impact in the team. Russell used this mindset while on the court and in He is an American by nationality and has a belief in the Catholic Christian religion. Currently, Russells estimated net worth is about $10 million. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. I say yes maam. 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. 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. We went all through the projects looking for those 5 guys. 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. When we first moved to the projects, my mother was getting everything together. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. Anstett competed in theMiss Washingtonpageant in 1967, finishing in second place. 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. You know, I think people remember that sort of ugly era in Boston's history, which went on for quite some time, like the racial tension in Boston. However, they divorced in 1973. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. You'll get covered with chocolate. He has been a very consistent player who has been struggling a Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. | Born: February 12, 1934Played all 13 seasons with CelticsFive-time NBA MVPEleven-time NBA championNo. Named to NBA's 25th, 35th, 50th and 75th anniversary teamsTwelve-time NBA All-StarNamed Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1968Induced into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame on April 28, 1975Member of gold-medal winning US Olympic team in 1956 Doesnt matter whether you won or lost. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. He married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA, in 1968, but divorced in 1980. Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. As at 2020, Bill Russell is married to Jeannine Russell and the couple appears frequently together on his Instagram. But as her wife was white they got divorced in 1980. On the road it was not uncommon for him to have to sleep in a different hotel from the one the rest of the club used. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. 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. And these 5 guys ran by. I knew about the rivalry between him and Wilt Chamberlain. Bill Russells first wife was Rose Swisher, whom he married on December 9, 1956. It is a truly staggering rate of success, one that no other NBA player has come close to approaching. On the day of Bill Russells private funeral, NBA announces its greatest honor: the permanent retirement of No. I was the only Negro athlete on either team. A the time of his death, he was Bill Russells Mom Changed His Life Forever By Making Him Fight 5 Guys In The Projects To Learn A Lesson. He married again Dorothy Anstett (Miss USA 1968) in 1977. Bill Russelll described the incident as one that changed my whole attitude sticking up for yourself. Like, how did he deal with all of that? - IMDb Mini Biography By: His home was accosted on a few occasions, and he heard he would not get MVP because he was black from a reporter. {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. 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. Russel died on July 31, 2022. MARTIN: I have to tell you, you've done so many things - produced and directed and edited award-winning feature films and documentaries. 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. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. All rights reserved. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. The couple divorced in 1973. Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). This season every NBA team is wearing the No.6 on the front of their jerseys to honor the great mans legacy. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in In 13 seasons, Russell won 11 NBA championships (1957, 195966, and 196869). He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. 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. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. WebFamily Life. It seems weird that there hasn't been this kind of full feature-length treatment until now, given the impact that he had. And so she says are these the guys?. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND"). He later received a scholarship from the University of San Francisco. He was a His draft rights were traded by the Hawks to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and. He was assaulted by a group of guys that ran by. And finally today, we know it's all about football today, it being Super Bowl Sunday and all, but we're going to talk basketball for a minute to hear about one of the icons of that sport - Bill Russell. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Sadly, Russell passed away in August 2022 at the age of 88. Tributes to the late Bill Russell poured in after the basketball legends death on Sunday, with former president Barack Obama expressing his admiration and condolences on social media. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. He could care less, you know, about being someone that MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. 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. During his days playing in the NBA, brands were not accustomed to signing sponsorship and endorsement deals with players. 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.. 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. The family moved from Louisiana to Oakland during World War II due to employment opportunities for the blacks in the west at the time. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. He was married four times and had three children. He stood for what he believed, stood with who he believed in. In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. But above all else, Russell was basketballs ultimate winner. Bill Russell, the great Boston Celtics center who died last summer at the age of 88, cuts a singular figure in the American sports firmament. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. . In 2010 Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the countrys highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama. In his 1st season, the Celtics failed to reach and win the NBA finals for the 1st time in 8 years. Also at the end of the game Wilt Chamberlain was taken out of the game by unpopular coach Butch van Breda Kolff. He was one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball and left behind an amazing legacy. Russell was married to his college girlfriend Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973, they had three children but then grew apart and divorced in 1977. The teams coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. mens basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell Russells example helped shape the generations that followed him. In 2011, he was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition for his services to basketball and his contribution to the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. All rights reserved. And I think maybe it's because we are so used to seeing African Americans as dominant in basketball. 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. 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