Bill Russell is a retired American basketball player who played professionally in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics. 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. WebBill Russell February 12, 1934 Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. In school, he was a natural track star and led his high school basketball team to consecutive state titles. Russel died on July 31, 2022. 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. The youngest son of the NBA legend hasn't led a very public life, which is why there isn't much information about him. Now the incident is under review. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. If you have three hours and want to check out Russells story, you can watch this video right below. Ill get around to watching that at some point but three hours is a serious time commitment for me. But as her wife was white they got divorced in 1980. 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. Russell went to the police, who surmised that raccoons must be the culprits. But there was more to it than that: the white Heinsohn was simply a more attractive candidate for many voters. She was born on January 20, 1962. West Monroe, Ouachita Parish, Louisiana, United States, Mercer Island, King County, Washington, United States. 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. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He could care less, you know, about being someone that the Boston fans would love. Holds NBA Finals single-game record for most free throws attempted in one half (15, April 11, 1961) vs. St. Louis; most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960 vs. St. Louis and April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles); most rebounds by a rookie (32, April 13, 1967 vs. St. Louis); and most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles). In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images. moviemuskie@yahoo.com, Other Works UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: No. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. The victory got Russell his 10th NBA Championship title in 12 career years and the Sports Illustrateds Sportsman of the Year Award. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. Later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington. You know, he didn't love the Boston fans. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. 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. And so, to do this took thought, planning and discretion and intelligence. In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. You know, I thought he was one of the greatest defensive centers who ever played the game. But the way she took care of it was; okay, youre going to fight every 1 of them. After a successful off-Broadway run, the production became the only one from that theater to ever become a film in 1973. Somebody had broken in and defecated on the family bed and made - you know, wrote things on the wall and on his garage door. Omissions? He received as much as $100,001 annually, plus an extra $25,000 as a player-coach. Until Michael Jordan he was almost unanimously acclaimed as the greatest player of all time, and some still think he is. That day changed my whole attitude about she says I dont want you to ever pick a fight, but always finish the fight youre in. They are Jacob Russell,William Russell Jr.,and Karen 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. Like, how did he deal with all of that? 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. Please logout and login again. 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. In 2010 Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the countrys highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama. The 11-time NBA champion is survived by his wife Jeannine and two children. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Affiliate Disclosure: We may earn commissions from purchases made on Amazon via our links. 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. She went on to win theMiss Washington USA1968 crown title. The relationship was broken apart in controversy because of Anstetts color. He endured insults and vandalism, but he kept on focusing on making the teammates who he loved better players, and made possible the success of so many who would follow, Obama said that day. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born in 1962. This intensity not only paid off in the Olympics, and in college, but it would have an immediate impact in the NBA. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. Write to him at treynolds(at)ap.org, More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. Without Chamberlain and an injured Jerry West, it was not enough to defeat the Celtics, who won by only two points.Russell later said Chamberlain was week, and should have demanded to go back into the game. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human He was also inaugurated to the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Basketball hall of fame in 1975. In the 1962/63 season, Russell was named the NBA Most Valuable Player and won the honour again the following year after winning the NBA championship again. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. And so thats the kind of stuff I got from my mother.. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. The statement draws attention to his achievements and contributions outside the field over the years. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You have entered an incorrect email address! MARTIN: I have to tell you, you've done so many things - produced and directed and edited award-winning feature films and documentaries. 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. MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. This is just one of these examples. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934. They were together from 1956 to 1973. 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. His autobiography, Second Wind: The Memoirs of an Opinionated Man (cowritten with Taylor Branch), was published in 1979. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. 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. He was voted league MVP five times. Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. The couple got divorced in 1973. A look at Bill Russells family life Bill was born to Katie and Charles Russell. 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. It's titled, appropriately enough, "Bill Russell: Legend.". I mean, he had a major chip on his shoulder. His marriage with Rose produced 3 children of which one, Karen Russell is a renowned television pundit and lawyer. Russells impact was immediate. I mean, you've won so many accolades. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. Bill Russell who was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks as its first-round second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft earned a draft trade and was acquired by the Boston Celtics but soon after participated in the Olympics which delayed his participation with the Celtics. Bill Russell died at the age of 88 on July 31, 2022, in Mercer Island, Washington, United States. 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. He had such curiosity about human nature, about psychology, Branch said. People broke into his house and destroyed his trophies, among many other outrageous deeds. He Had Three Children with His First Wife Together, Russell and Swisher had three children: daughter Karen, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. BroBible is the #1 place on the internet for the very best content from the worlds of sports, culture, gear, high tech, and more. And so she says are these the guys?. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. He didnt shut up and dribble. For good measure, he might have had 12, had an ankle injury not sidelined him early in the 1958 NBA finals. He didn't love Boston. Russell took home one more championship before hanging up his sneakers for good in 1969. Bill Russell hated autographs. Same thing happened during the seasons second road trip. The Celtics legend had four wives in his life, and married former Miss USA Dorothy Anstett four years after separating from Rose Swisher. 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. Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968). There was no doubt who the fans were yelling at. Bill Russell Wife, Children. Bill Russells family announced his demise through a statement on Sunday, July 31. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. Well, I was 9 years old, and I did what 9 year olds are supposed to. First Laker's owner Jack Kent Cooke had filled the rafters with purple and yellow balloons balloons and intended to drop them after the Lakers won. If he was out dining and got approached by someone asking for his signature, Russells usual response was to instead ask the person to join him at the table to have a conversation about life. .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. 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). Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. He dealt with Boston bussing issues. And these 5 guys ran by. 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. 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. It was a treasure for me to be around Bill and see how he viewed the world in all of its dimensions.. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. The series airs on Wednesday, February 8, and fans want to know more about his personal life. WebDON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. He was 88 years old. | Why this film and why now? MARTIN: Exactly. According to CBS Sports, he was a track star at his university. Being fearless in the real world even when dealing with matters of race in some of the nations darkest times on that topic was somehow even easier. Updated. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. Copyright 2023 NPR. He was also involved in several build-ups and could intelligently help the team in tight areas and big games. Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000. He was married four times and had three children. The Celtics legend had four wives during his life, and is now the focus of a Netflix documentary called Bill Russell: Legend. Bill shares all of his three children with his first wife. He married Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, in 1956. She is still very active and frequently appears on MSNBC and CNN, among many other media platforms. His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. After losing manager Red Auerbach to retirement in the 1966/67 season, Russell picked up the managerial position as a player-coach. Do you know what I mean? His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. 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. She attended theUniversity of Washingtonwhere she majored in English but later found fame as a beauty queen and pageant titleholder. His family fell into poverty and they moved into housing projects and thats where this story picks up. Karen graduated from Harward Law School and has dissected high-profile trials and national political issues. His last season came in 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the professionalism of basketball. Yeah. He was then married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980 and Marilyn Nault He was part of the March on Washington. 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. Rose Swisher and Bill Russell had three children, daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr and Jacob. Stand up for yourself. Bill was only nine years old at the time. Sam Pollard, thanks so much for talking with us. 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. The most out of necessity ; he was not ready for the Boston fans an American retired professional player! Struggles, he might have had 12, 1934 basketball player who professionally... Opportunity that was given to him Rose produced 3 children of which one,,..., NBA legend, and fans want to check out Russells story you. 1968/69 as he began to age and lose interest in the 1958 NBA finals nine years at... 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