[1] Boston defeated the Cincinnati Royals 41 to earn another NBA Finals appearance and then won against Chamberlain's newly relocated San Francisco Warriors 41. In 1977, four years after his divorce from Rose Swisher, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, who was Miss USA 1968. Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game. [3] Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. [129] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[130] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. [50] He had the option to skip the tournament and play a full season for the Celtics, but he was determined to play in the Olympics. 6 jersey will be retired across the NBA, was a champion, a gold medalist and a civil rights activist. Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr., and Karen Russell nare his children. Yet its important to note that the happily married Seattle, Washington resident has since been serving at King Countys Metro Transit, where he currently holds the post of Transit Operator. And what we would do is[Auerbach] trusted all his playersso like when he'd make a coaching decision, he could talk: he talked to [Bob] Cousey [who is white], he talked to me [black], he talked to [Bill] Sharman [white], he talked to Sam [Jones] [black]all of us: 'What do you think?' [1] The 195657 Boston Celtics season saw the debut of a starting lineup made up of five future Hall-of-Famers: center Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. Your IP: Therefore, on January 25, 2016, the 58-year-old passed away peacefully in his sleep in the comfort of the Mountain West place hed learned to call home alongside some of his closest loved ones. Of the book, Bill Bradley wrote for The New York Times Book Review that "Bill Russell is a private, complex man, but on the subject of his love of Red Auerbach and his Celtic teammates, he's loud and clear. [104] He is one of four players (along with Cousy, George Mikan, and Bob Pettit) to have made all four NBA anniversary teams: the NBA 25th Anniversary Team (1970), the NBA 35th Anniversary Team (1980), the NBA 50th Anniversary Team (1996),[5] and the NBA 75th Anniversary Team (2021). [132][133] In 2008, Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement. Brown contacted Rochester owner Les Harrison and received an assurance that the Royals could not afford Russell, and they would draft Sihugo Green. William Jr was born on November 2, 1957,. The game was tied with two seconds left when Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the series. Updated. Date of Death. "[213] Describing the Celtics organization, as distinguished from Boston sports fans in the 1950s and 1960s, as very progressive racially, Russell recalled in 2010 a list of the organization's accomplishments on racial progress both in terms of objective milestones and his own subjective experience as a member of the organization. [223] In 1995, the Celtics left the Boston Garden and entered the FleetCenter, now known as the TD Garden; as the main festive act, the Celtics wanted to re-retire Russell's jersey in front of a sellout audience. [109] Russell was also notorious for his refusal to give autographs or acknowledge the Celtics fans, and was called "the most selfish, surly and uncooperative athlete" by one pundit. "We had a few white kids come to that camp . Karen Russell, Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr. Rose Swisher got married to her husband, Bill Russell on 9 December 1956. her husband Basketball player Bill Russell was his college sweetheart, she got divorced from him in 1973. Date married. In honoring the legendary athlete, ESPN writes that recipients of the distinguished award, reflect the spirit of Arthur Ashe, possessing strength in the face of adversity, courage in the face of peril and the willingness to stand up for their beliefs no matter what the cost.. [50], Before his NBA rookie year, Russell was the captain of the 1956 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, which was held in November and December in Melbourne, Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere. Getty Images/Getty Images. [109] He was so tense before every game that he regularly vomited in the locker room; early in his career, it happened so frequently that his fellow Celtics were more worried when it did not happen than when it did. NBA great Bill Russell died on Sunday with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. [49] He ranks No. Bill Russell's Daughter Account of Racism He Faced Resurfaces - MSN Bill Russell Personal life, Spouse & Trivia. Bill answered, I played for the Celtics, period I did not play for Boston. [164], Of Russell, former NBA player and head coach Don Nelson said: "There are two types of superstars. As a freshman at McClymonds High School in Oakland,[23][24] Russell was almost cut again;[25] as he saw Russell's raw athletic potential, coach George Powles encouraged him to work on his fundamentals. As Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry, the press speculated that Russell was worn down. Bill Russell: Legend tells the remarkable life and legacy of an NBA superstar and civil rights icon." Sadly, Bill passed away on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. (Video: Reuters) In his prime, the goateed . Karen is very active on social media and often accompanied her father to his important events. Suddenly, his grandfather broke down crying. [189] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. Russell regarded Auerbach as "the greatest of all coaches". "[198] In 2009, Russell wrote his paternal grandfather's motto, passed down to his father and then to him: "A man has to draw a line inside himself that he won't allow any man to cross." "[101] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. Bill Russell is survived by three children he shares with his first wife and college sweetheart, Rose Swisher. The Celtics made good use of the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers had exhausted the St. Louis Hawks in a long seven-game Western Conference Finals,[75] and Boston won the 1961 NBA Finals in five games. 1 choice has to be Bill Russell. Nault became a stepmother to three of Bill's children: Karen Russell, William Russel Jr., and Jacob Russell. He is survived by his younger brother Jacob, his baby sister Karen, the love of his life Sherrill Hansen, his son Sean Tyler Russell, and two pet dogs/fur babies, Pugsley as well as Lilly. West Coast Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year, San Francisco Dons men's basketball 195455 NCAA champions, San Francisco Dons men's basketball 195556 NCAA champions, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award, List of National Basketball Association annual minutes leaders, List of National Basketball Association annual rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career minutes played leaders, List of National Basketball Association career playoff rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association career rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association longest winning streaks, List of National Basketball Association single-game rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association rookie single-season rebounding leaders, List of National Basketball Association single-season rebounding leaders, List of NBA players with most championships, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leaders, "Bill Russell, Henri Richard Famous Elevens Gallery", "195356 NCAA Championship Seasons: The Bill Russell Years", "Bill Russell's Trailblazing Legacy Is Secure (Even If Stats Can't Measure It)", "Bill Russell Is A Champion By Defintion [sic]", "Where does Bill Russell rank among best centers in NBA history? Today, Karen is 57 years old. Performance & security by Cloudflare. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. [5], For his achievements, Russell was named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated in 1968. Bill Russell, NBA legend and Boston Celtics great, dies at 88 - USA TODAY Bill Russell's daughter, Karen, was born on January 20, 1962. He was born on November 2, 1957, and spent several years working for Cox Trucking. Russell scored 15.0 points per game and grabbed a career-high 24.7 rebounds per game, leading the NBA in rebounds for the first time since Chamberlain entered the league. 6 jersey would be retired throughout the National Basketball Association, the first time a jersey had been retired league-wide in NBA history, and joining Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky in the honor among the four major American sports leagues. Rose Swisherwas Bill's first wife. Russell agreed to the project so long as it promoted and raised money for mentorship programs. Boston Celtics great Bill Russell, 11-time NBA champion, dies at 88 He stood side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 1960s, the height of the civil rights movement. Celtics owner Walter A. If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. [110] Although White became a standout Celtics player, Boston lacked an All-Star center, went 3448 in the 196970 NBA season, and failed to make it to the 1970 NBA playoffs, marking the first time since 1950 that they did not make the playoffs. [5][41], Besides basketball, Russell represented USF in track and field events. [13], Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. Bill Russell dies at 88: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Jordan, more All about Marilyn Nault, NBA Legend Bill Russell's third wife Alex Wong/Getty Images. He has three children, Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr., and Karen Russell . [79] Game 7 was tied one second before the end of regular time, when Lakers guard Rod Hundley faked a shot and passed out to Frank Selvy, who missed an open eight-foot last-second shot that would have won Los Angeles the title. Russell's 51 rebounds in a single game is the second-highest performance ever, trailing only Wilt Chamberlain's all-time record of 55. [80] As the game was tied, Russell had the daunting task of defending against Baylor with little frontline help: Loscutoff, Heinsohn, and Satch Sanders, the three best Celtics forwards, had fouled out. Bill Russell, basketball great, dies at 88 - The Washington Post William Felton Russell Jr., Bill Russell's oldest son who was named after the 11-time NBA champion, died in 2016. And that's the kind of guy [Brown] was. [106], Russell and the Celtics achieved upsets over the 76ers and the Knicks to earn a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. According to Taylor, he often perceived insults even if others did not. When I started to jump to make defensive plays and to block shots, I was initially corrected, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. Despite the former Miss USA 1968 and Russell being happy at first, things took a turn south, and they divorced in 1980. Rules on Defense, Coach of Warriors Says", "The 'Coleman Play' introduced and defined Bill Russell's never-say-die leadership to Boston", "12 times NBA awards were pretty ridiculous", "Syracuse Nationals at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 5, 1960", "Boston Celtics at Philadelphia Warriors Box Score, November 24, 1960", "1960 NBA Finals Game 2: St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, March 29, 1960", "1960 NBA Finals Game 7: St. Louis Hawks at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 9, 1960", "Celtics Give Sharman Championship Sendoff", "Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 16, 1962", "Boston Celtics Players to have recorded a triple-double", "1962 NBA Finals Game 7: Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics Box Score, April 18, 1962", "Cincinnati Royals vs Boston Celtics Box Score, January 31, 1963", "Kennedy Greets Celtics, but Bill Russell Sleeps", "New York Knicks at Boston Celtics Box Score, February 10, 1963", "1963 NBA Finals Game 3: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, April 17, 1963", "On this day: Pandemic pause anniversary; Russell's 49 boards; Potapenko trade", "Detroit Pistons vs Boston Celtics Box Score, March 11, 1965", "1968 Sportsman of the Year: Bill Russell, Boston Celtics coach-player", "Bill Russell Reported Favoring Movie Career", "Celtics legend Bill Russell receives second induction into Basketball Hall of Fame, as coach this time", "Successful, short-lived coaching days get Bill Russell into Hall again", "Bill Russell, NBA great and former Sonics coach, dies at 88", "Bill Russell Leaves Lasting Impact on Kings", "Watch Saturday Night Live Episode: November 3 Bill Russell", "Culture Now Is a Great Time to Read Bill Russell's Memoir", "Best Betting Scenes: Bill Russell Goes Rogue on 'Miami Vice', "Russell Redux: A Private Man Bursts Back Into the Public Eye", "Shaq heeds Russell's call for peace; Lakers hold on for win", "Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame to induct founding class", "Sports legend Bill Russell receives an honorary degree at the 2007 Suffolk University commencement", "Honorary degrees awarded at Commencement's Morning Exercises", "Dartmouth grads hear 'nose dive' warning", "Naismith and FIBA Hall of Fame: Full list of inductees enshrined at Springfield and Madrid", "Golden Plate Awardees of the American Academy of Achievement Sports", "The Finals MVP to Receive Bill Russell MVP Award", "All-Star Top 10, from Shaq's moves to boos for Spurs", "Kobe shows maturity of last seven years in leading Lakers to title", "Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients (Photos)", "Inside the Iconic Obama Basketball Games at the White House", "25 players that won a NCAA and NBA championship", "Jordan, Jabbar, Russell and Magic won NCAA and NBA titles, but it's become a rare feat", "Quick quiz: Only four players have been", "How Bill Russell's coaching career opened doors for NBA's Black head coaches", "Bill Russell: How historic success as the league's first Black coach paved the way for others", "NBA Legend Bill Russell Became First Black Coach In Pro Sports 46 Years Ago Today", "Biggest moments for NBA's 15 Greatest Coaches", "Top 10 NBA Players With The Most Finals And Regular Season MVPs Combined", "Ranking Every NBA All-Defensive First Team in History from Worst to First", "NBA 75: Bill Russell, 1960s Athlete of the Decade (TSN Archives)", "ESPN's 'SportsCentury' Goes Back-Back-Back", "Top N. American athletes of the century", "Daily Dime: Special Edition The game's greatest giants ever", "Ranking the top 74 NBA players of all time: Nos. "[201], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. [49] Despite this, the Celtics were leading only 9795 with 34 seconds left when Russell closed out the game with several consecutive clutch plays. He led the San Francisco Dons to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956,[4] and he captained the gold-medal winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics. The former University of San Francisco and Boston Celtics center was professional basketball's . Karen Russell. In May 30, it was announced that the former Celtics player would be receiving the Arthur Ashe Award at the ESPYs. He was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996,[5] one of only four players to receive all three honors, and selected into the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. MENTOR co-founder, board member, and close friend of Bill Russell, Geoffrey Boisi, made the following statement: Bill Russell: cause of death, wife, children, daughter, net worth Bill Russell, who has died at the age of 88, was more than just a basketball superstar and world-class athlete. Goldie became a mom for the first time after welcoming her eldest child, Oliver, with former husband Bill on September 7, 1976. [181] In 1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn Nault;[182] their marriage lasted until her death in January 2009. However, she was a step-mom to Russell's three children from his first marriage. In the pivotal Game 7, Russell managed to hold Chamberlain to 22 points, 28 points below his season average, while scoring 19 points. Russell . Arthur was a man of great courage. Russell wore his Presidential Medal of Freedom and the image was captioned: "Proud to take a knee, and to stand tall against social injustice." [52], Due to his Olympic commitment, Russell could not join the Celtics for the 195657 NBA season until December. @celtics . While attending college at the . Who is Sarina Wiegman's husband Marten Glotzbach and do couple have children? She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. 4 in a similar list by The Athletic. [29] When DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, he eagerly accepted. The home also has a four-car garage. [49], Russell was considered the consummate defensive center, noted for his defensive intensity, basketball IQ, and will to win. Russell was married three times prior to Jeannine. Bill Russell age, height, weight, net worth 2023, wife, kids, gay On May 6, 1999, the Celtics re-retired Russell's jersey in a ceremony attended by his on-court rival and friend Chamberlain, along with Celtics legend Larry Bird and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. "[165] In 2000, his longtime teammate Tom Heinsohn described both Russell's stature and his uneasy relationship with Boston more earthily, saying: "Look, all I know is the guy came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a bleeping tunnel after Ted Williams. [210] After that, the two were often seen together at various events and interviewed as friends. When he attempted to leave and find a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in his face and threatened to kill him if he did not stay and wait his turn. Although nearly 16 years younger than Bill Russell, Kansas native Marilyn Nault tied the knot with the basketball legend on February 17, 2000, upon meeting him sometime prior by pure chance. "[98], Boston's championship streak ended at eight in his first full season as head coach when Chamberlain's Philadelphia 76ers won a record-breaking 68 regular-season games and were the favorites heading into the 1967 NBA playoffs, where they beat the Celtics 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. The duo shares three children together. [67] On November 7, 1959, Russell's Celtics hosted Chamberlain's Warriors and pundits called the matchup between the best offensive and defensive centers "The Big Collision" and "Battle of the Titans". Bill Russell obituary | NBA | The Guardian How many wives has Bill Russell had? Looking at the personal life of There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Aside from that, the late Russell remained a big part of the . (embedded photo)", "Rare Photos of Bill Russell (third photo in gallery", "Eight players who have won NCAA, NBA, and Olympic titles", "2003 draft eventually may be best in history", "Philadelphia Warriors vs Boston Celtics Box Score, January 1, 1957", "Russell of Celtics Violates N.B.A. [17] Shortly after his death in 2022, the NBA retired Russell's #6 jersey league-wide, making him the only player in NBA history to receive the honor. [5], Despite his limitations on offense, as Russell averaged 15.1 points per game, his rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. [222] When Russell originally retired, he demanded that his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was enraged by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only discuss the matter with Woolpert. DeJulio was unimpressed by Russell's meager scoring and "atrocious fundamentals",[29] but he sensed that the young Russell had an extraordinary instinct for the game, especially in the clutch. At 85 years old, he is still active going to watch basketball games with his wife Jeannine Russell, as he shows in his Instagram account. Dorothy, according to a 1968 Associated Press article, was one of nine children of an aircraft plant worker. In fact, she is even a qualified attorney as she earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Harvard Law School after obtaining a Bachelors in Philosophy as well as Government from Georgetown University. When their family uprooted to Oakland, California, they lived in the projects. "[179], Russell was married to his college sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. During a conversation with students, a reporterunknown to Russellheard Russell describe Chamberlain as a malingerer and accused him of "copping out" of the game when it seemed that the Lakers would lose. As a dedicated human rights activist, Russell fought against . Karen Russell. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972. Jones treated like 'Rock' stars at Alcatraz", "Bill Russell, Who Transformed Pro Basketball, Dies at 88", "Bill Russell Receives Arthur Ashe Courage Award At ESPYS", "Watch Bill Russell be inducted into Hall of Fame as a coach", "Bill Russell's No. [34] Even after he became a star with the Celtics, Russell was the victim of racial abuse. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. Her birthday is January 20, 1962. After USF kept Holy Cross Crusaders star Tom Heinsohn scoreless in an entire half,[31] Sports Illustrated wrote: "If [Russell] ever learns to hit the basket, they're going to have to rewrite the rules. Bill and Jeannine did not have any kids together. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. [154] He was selected three times to the All-NBA First Teams (1959, 1963, 1965) and eight Second Teams (1958, 196062, 1964, 196668), and was a 12-time NBA All-Star (19581969). Bill had two sons William Felton Jr and Jacob who kept their private lives out of the public spotlight. . Bill Russell. [109] Journalists were often treated to the "Russell Glower", described as an "icily contemptuous stare accompanied by a long silence". [5] Auerbach's thoughts were unorthodox, as in that period centers and forwards were defined by their offensive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary. [14][191] The news was announced in a Twitter post by his family. [67][108] The Celtics held on for a 108106 victory and Russell claimed his eleventh championship in thirteen years. A morass to fight from. Bill Russell Net Worth 2023: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids, Bio-Wiki Bill Russell, the legendary Celtics center who was the cornerstone of basketball's greatest dynasty and an exemplar of racial harmony and progress, died Sunday at age 88, his family announced on . [15], Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. [183] Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. I could hear anything, I could see anything, and nothing mattered. A post shared by Bill Russell (@realbillrussell) on Oct 7, 2018 at 10:07pm PDT. Thats despite the fact he personally had a merely comfortable lifestyle based in St. George, Utah as a proud truck driver at Cox Trucking, which he had truly developed an interest in early on. The couple tied the knot in 1956 before parting ways in 1973. Russell's stint with the Kings was considerably shorter, his last assignment ending when the Kings went 1741 to begin the 198788 NBA season. She had actually relocated to Seattle, Washington (his base home) following her high school graduation and was working as a jewelry salesperson when they began building a life together. The Celtics rallied back, winning Game 5 122104 and Game 6 114106, powered by a spirited Havlicek and helped by a terrible Sixers shooting slump. One of his highest jumps occurred at the WCR, where he achieved a mark of .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}6feet 9+14inches (2.06m);[43] at the meet, Russell tied Charlie Dumas, who would later in the year win gold in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia for the United States and become the first person to high-jump 7 feet (2.13m). [30], Combining the stature and shot-blocking skills of a center with the foot speed of a guard, Russell became the centerpiece of a USF team that soon became a force in college basketball. Bill Russell poses with his Championship rings in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1996. [19], His father was said to be a "stern, hard man" who initially worked in a paper factory as a janitor, which was a typical "Negro Job"low-paid and not intellectually challenging, as sports journalist John Taylor commented. WIlliam Russell Jr. is the . DON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. The story behind Bill Russell's Boston statue, a monument to - News [8][38] His awards and achievements include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons,[52] two of which were won as player-coach,[142] and he is credited with having raised defensive play in the NBA to a new level. However, not much is known about her personal life. In an interview with ESPN, Russell said he wanted the NFL players to know they were not alone.[225]. William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. In 1977, Bill Russell married his 2nd wife, Dorothy Anstett, who had won the Miss USA beauty pageant in 1968. The psychology in defense is not blocking a shot or stealing a pass or getting the ball away. ( Source : twitter ) The NBA icon and Olympian Bill Russell has passed away as of July 31, bringing down a part of basketball with him. July 31, 2022 1:27pm. 101", "The NBA's 75th Anniversary Team, ranked: Where 76 basketball legends check in on our list", "NBA 75: Top 75 NBA players of all time, from MJ and LeBron to Lenny Wilkens", "President Obama Names Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipients", "Bill Russell to receive NBA's inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award", "Bill Russell's No. In 1966, Bill Russell agreed to be the head coach of the Boston Celtics. Russell averaged . His 1956 rookie contract was worth $24,000 (equivalent to $239,207 in 2021), only fractionally smaller than the $25,000 of top earner and teammate Bob Cousy. At the time of his death, Bill was married to his fourth wife, Jeannine. The couple actually tied the knot on December 9, 1956, with Bill soon making it clear he owed a vast majority of his ambition, compassion, drive, and success to his supportive wife, Rose. He revealed that his mother died when he was 12. [152] In 2009, Russell's erstwhile Knicks opponent Bill Bradley wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]". [Auerbach would] get the information from us and then make a decision based on that information and his thoughts. Bill Russell Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements [5][41] His stint as coach of the Celtics was also of historical significance,[146][147] as he became the first black head coach in the NBA,[14] when he succeeded Red Auerbach. When the NBA All-Stars toured the U.S. in the 1958 offseason, white hotel owners in segregated North Carolina denied rooms to Russell and his black teammates, causing him to later write in his 1966 memoir Go Up for Glory: "It stood out, a wall which understanding cannot penetrate. The statement draws attention to his . The crowd gave Russell a prolonged standing ovation, which brought tears to his eyes. [4][8] While at USF, he and Jones helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop.

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