Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. While Charlie found good work, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became quite sick with the flu and died. You can swipe through the Instagram gallery below to see the videos and/or check out the full quotes below the Instagram post. 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. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. Their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. The documentary features the last interview with Russell before his passing, as well as archived interviews throughout his life. William Felton Russell was born on the 12th February 1934 to Mr Charles Russell and Mrs Kutie Russell. He was in the audience when King delivered the I Have A Dream speech in Washington in 1963. So I think he wasn't just - he wasn't as vocal and he didn't have as much exposure as they did. 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. 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. Celtics's all-time leading rebounder (21,620, 22.5 rpg) in 963 games; second best in history. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. The Celtics went on to win 8 more back-to-back NBA championships winning five against the Lakers in the finals to set up one of the biggest rivalries in the NBA. 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. Bill was only nine years old at the time. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND"). It's not rare for our writers and team members to collaborate and work together to create the articles you read on the site. Sadly, Russell passed away in August 2022 at the age of 88. I was the only Negro athlete on either team. Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. Throughout his 13-year career, he enjoyed a successful spell with the Celtics. During his 13-year NBA career, Russell led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships - two as a player coach. You know, he didn't love the Boston fans. NBA legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell died Sunday at the age of 88. The comedy centered on a family in Harlem and addressed both the political and generational conflicts of the time. While there is still progress to be made, the Hall of Famer should get a lot of credit for fighting against what was wrong. He married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA, in 1968, but divorced in 1980. His on-court achievements did not give him a platform; instead, they granted him a strange kind of amnestythe very greatness that should have forced others to listen somehow overshadowed any trouble he might have wanted to stir up. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. .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. Russell could very easily have never taken up basketball, much less gone on to become one of the sports immortals. 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. At SportyTell.com, we strive for fairness and accuracy. Russell was married three times. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. MARTIN: I have to tell you, you've done so many things - produced and directed and edited award-winning feature films and documentaries. Copyright 2023 NPR. He was born in rural Louisiana. Russell's 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}}. He was 88 years old. NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88. His calling card was defense, rebounding, andabove all elseshot blocking, which he transformed into a fluid athletic art in the same way that some of his contemporaries had altered the perception of what was possible on offense. This is just one of these examples. He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. WebWilliam "Bill" Russell (February 26, 1905 August 9, 1992) was an American music historian and modernist composer. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. And there were things that you could take away and say that he was really wonderful and special. He was a five-time NBA MVP, an 11-time NBA Champion with the Boston Celtics (twice as a coach), and hes a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a coach and a player. Are you kidding? With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha and Jacob. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. William Felton Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana. He won more championships than any other NBA player and made the Boston Celtics one of the most successful franchises in the league's history. They were together from 1956 to 1973. "Here is a Black man from Oakland, surrounded by Black people most of his life," Pollard said. You know, I thought he was one of the greatest defensive centers who ever played the game. And so was his personality, as great as he was in basketball.. All 5 of them, 1 at a time. WebBill Russell February 12, 1934 Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. The couple married in 2018 when Russell was 84. But the thing that Bill Russell was always focused on as a player was being a member of the Celtic family. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. William Felton Russell Jr., also known as "Buddha," lost a courageous battle with cancer. He defined the teams philosophy and its strategy. He suffered a financially depressed childhood and faced racial discriminations as a black in the southern state of Louisiana, United States. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. Bill Russell attended the University of San-Francisco and played on the school team presumably due to his height advantage. Corrections? MARTIN: That was award-winning director Sam Pollard. Copyright 2008-2023 BroBible. While featuring in the high school team, he was dumped many times for his inability to comprehend game rules and scopes. 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. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family to Oakland, California, where the job prospects were better. His talent did not immediately shine through. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. The basketball legacy is beyond well-known: 11 championships in 13 years with the Boston Celtics, first Black coach in the NBA, first Black coach to win an NBA title, Hall of Fame player, Hall of Fame coach, Olympic champion, NCAA champion, member of the leagues 75th anniversary team, and the namesake of the NBA Finals MVP award which, had it existed when he played, he would have won at least a half-dozen times. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. Celebrities, athletes and politicians are paying homage to NBA Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who has died at the age of 88, his family announced Sunday. His new documentary, "Bill Russell: Legend," is streaming now on Netflix. Stand up for yourself. A post shared by ProCity Hoops (@procityhoops). When Auerbach retired after the Celtics won the 196566 NBA title, Russell succeeded him as coach. By the end of his career, however, Russell himself had come to see the turmoil of the 1960s as far more important than the silly little game he played for a living. MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. 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. He marched in Mississippi after the slaying of civil rights leader Medgar Evers. A the time of his death, he was married to his fourth wife Jeannine, who is believed to have been a competitive golfer. He didn't love Boston. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Thats what I did, Russell said in 2009. 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. I mean, he just did what he had to do, and he wasn't as vocal as Ali, as we all know. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. Russell led the US national team in aspects of points, recording an average14.1 points per game. 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. Is A Hot Dog A Sandwich? The Celtics who were supposedly way past their prime were led by Bill Russell to their eleventh championship, they were only the third team to repeat a championship, the first were the Minneapolis Lakers, and the second were the Boston Celtics. 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. Bill was born in Louisiana in 1934. He has been a very consistent player who has been struggling a Somebody had broken in and defecated on the family bed and made - you know, wrote things on the wall and on his garage door. Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000. 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. 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. Bill was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, having won 11 championships during the course of his thirteen-year career. That story was part of a THREE-HOUR interview with Bill Russell that is preserved in the Library Of Congress. Bill hasnt shared how he met his last wife, but he adored her. Russell once got asked a question about being a Black star in Boston, a city with a complicated history when it comes to race. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. So why did you want to do this film and why now? The series airs on Wednesday, February 8, and fans want to know more about his personal life. 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. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. Or the mating habits of bees, something he penned a column about once. The world has many of them. 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. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. Later that year she won Miss USA1968 while studying at Washington. He posted a picture with her on January 25, 2021, as the couple renewed their wedding vows. Off the court, he was a force in the fight for human 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. Reflecting on the legacy of Celtics great Bill Russell Russells example helped shape the generations that followed him. 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. He is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. William Jr, Bills first son, was born in 1957 but passed away from cancer in 2016. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with director Sam Pollard about his new documentary Bill Russell: Legend, which is now streaming on Netflix. Russell is a resident of Mercer Island, Washington where he stays with his wife. Bill Russell had a delayed emergence. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Bill Russell achieved a lot during his life. I knew about the rivalry between him and Wilt Chamberlain. Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. Russell would not stand for racism in sports, which was ironic, given Bostons historical notoriety in that department. Russell's life was marked by an uphill battle against racism and controversial actions and statements in response to racism. The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. He was voted league MVP five times. One imagines you could do any number of subjects at this stage of your career. After a successful off-Broadway run, the production became the only one from that theater to ever become a film in 1973. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. In addition, he was a high-level sprinter and high jumper on USFs track-and-field team (Wilt Chamberlain, his future archrival, also excelled at track and field up until his pro basketball career). 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. 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 was 88 years old. After taking the first two at home the Lakers returned to the Boston Garden to lose the next two. So it was, like, an easy yes for me to say, I'd love to direct this film about Bill Russell. A San Diego judge had a defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. He was at the '67 summit in Cleveland with Jim Brown and Muhammad Ali. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 25, 2016. {{#media.media_details}} {{#media.focal_point}}. Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. It would be a disservice an insult, really to look at Russell as only a basketball player, even as one of the greatest ever. UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: There was a full house in Kiel Auditorium on that night in December 1956. Auerbachs lineup came out of necessity; he was notoriously indifferent to social causes and the opposing backlash. 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. Until Michael Jordan he was almost unanimously acclaimed as the greatest player of all time, and some still think he is. And so thats the kind of stuff I got from my mother.. Go back to Africa, you baboon. I mean, you've won so many accolades. The family of Bill Russell announced that he passed away on Sunday at the age of 88. Legendary center who was a 5-time NBA MVP and 12-time All-Star selection. His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. The raccoons heard about that, Russell said. And one of them slapped me as they went by. But the Celtics kept winning, and he remained the engine that made them go. They were together from 1956 to 1973. And she said What!. Over the next several decades he periodically came back to the game as a coach or as an executive, but his teams failed to win with the kind of regularity he enjoyed as a player. . Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach. She grabbed the keys to the house and grabbed me. . He was a Although possessing a perfect basketball height and huge hands to aid his efficiency, Bill Russell initially had struggles in understanding the game. moved his family over to Oakland, California, where So I go into 5 fights, and I lose 3 and win 2. The NBA legend was 88 years old at the time of his death. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Following his passing on Sunday at 88, tributes poured in fast 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. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. 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. The victory got Russell his 10th NBA Championship title in 12 career years and the Sports Illustrateds Sportsman of the Year Award. In the 1961/62 season, Bill Russell recorded his career highest score by an average of 18.9 points and 23.6 rebounds per game; he also scored 30 points and 40 rebounds in the finals helping the Celtics to defeat a rugged Lakers side. WebFamily Life. 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. Bills third wife was Marilyn Nault, whom he married in 1996. NBA legend and civil rights activist Bill Russell dies at 88 Then came the proving ground of Boston. He was born on November 2, 1957 and worked for Cox Trucking for several years. The family moved from Louisiana to Oakland during World War II due to employment opportunities for the blacks in the west at the time. Despite going through numerous struggles, he managed to stay strong and make the most out of the opportunity that was given to him. Bill Russell hated autographs. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. Russell went to the police, who surmised that raccoons must be the culprits. Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). The two who were previous friends were now very distant. Due to his height, the NCAA changed some rules that could foster the progress of Bill Russell and other NBA prospects with tall frames. Bill Russell died at the age of 88 on July 31, 2022, in Mercer Island, Washington, United States. 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. Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. Publicity Listings 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. So did Russell. However, they divorced in 1973. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Never Have I Ever: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix, https://i.ytimg.com/vi/d_N99x0gAAk/hqdefault.jpg. Bill Russell: Legend is a new two-part Netflix documentary that covers the Boston greats triumphs on the court, and activism off of it. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). You may occasionally receive promotional content from the San Diego Union-Tribune. POLLARD: Well, first of all, he was a very angry guy about that. In 1966 Wilt Chamberlain was traded from the Golden State warriors to his new hometown Philadelphia 76ers. moviemuskie@yahoo.com, Other Works This story was shared by Bill Russell and he discusses the first day of moving into new projects. 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. In May 30, it was Russell did not create the first basketball dynasty, but to date, through Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, Bill Russell has one more championship than any other basketball player.Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934, to Katie and Charlie Louis Russell. To improve this article ( requires login ) thirteen-year career `` Bill Russell died on at... Was inducted into the Naismith Memorial basketball Hall of Fame in 2011 ( inaugural class ) with your! 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