NBA legend Bill Russell, an 11-time NBA champion with the Boston Celtics and the first Black head coach in the league, passed away "peacefully" Sunday, according to a family statement from his . Despite the passing of years and the increasing number of fans who never saw him play, Bill Russell remains a basketball icon. [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. [100] During the series, Russell said: "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]. "[179], Russell was married to his college sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. [145] He also won two state championships in high school. [21], Under head coach Gerald Tucker, Russell helped the U.S. national basketball team win the gold medal in Melbourne, defeating the Soviet Union national basketball team 8955 in the final game with an 80 undefeated run. [21][42] That year, Russell won high jump titles at the Central California Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet, the Pacific AAU meet, and the West Coast Relays (WCR). During his tenure with the Celtics, he helped them win 11 NBA Championship titles and received numerous other honors and awards. [187], In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. Hall of Famer and 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell died at the age of 88 (July 31, 2022), his wife Jeannine confirmed on Social Media. Jones. The 11-time champion is on his way to Springfield, Massachusetts for his Basketball Hall of Fame induction as a coach. Johnny Havlicek stole the ball! Russells life is a reminder that basketball players are also human beings that deserve to garner respect regardless of their race, color and creed. Failed to report flower. On His Way Out of Denver, NBA All-Star Paul Millsap Selling Colorado Mansion, You Can Rent Scottie Pippens Chicago-Area Home on Airbnb During the Olympics, Lakers Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Shooting for Sale of $5M Playa Vista Home. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. Please reset your password. "[30] The NCAA rewrote rules in response to Russell's dominant play; the lane was widened for his junior year. Russell, featuring in 13 NBA seasons-all with the Boston Celtics, dominated the league and claimed a whopping 11 rings. [59] With the Celtics leading 125123 with one second left, the Hawks had the ball at their own baseline. Russell was accused of selling out the future of the franchise for a month of his salary. google_ad_client: "ca-pub-9816584937735556", When the Sixers' Hall-of-Fame guard Hal Greer inbounded, Havlicek stole the ball, causing Celtics commentator Johnny Most to scream: "Havlicek stole the ball! As a child, he witnessed how his parents were victims of racial abuse, and the family eventually moved into government housing projects to escape the daily torrent of bigotry. Reese Witherspoon's Former Malibu Compound Hits the Market for $8 Million See Inside! Russell's family issued an official message from his verified account announcing his death. February 16, 2011 12:17 pm. 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. Address Requires Premium Membership. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. Date of Birth: Feb 12, 1934 - Jul 31, 2022 (88 years old) Place of Birth: [4] In his USF years, Russell took advantage of his relative lack of bulk to develop a unique defensive style: instead of purely guarding the opposing center, he used his quickness and speed to play help defense against opposing forwards and aggressively challenge their shots. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. [168] In October 2021, Russell was honored as one of theleague's 75 greatest players of all-time. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. My wife and Russell's laugh. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. [5] The Russell draft-day trade was later called one of the most important trades in the history of North American sports. See Also: Most Popular Celebrity Homes on CelebrityDetective.com The Celtics won Game 4 in an upset, but the Hawks prevailed in Games 5 and 6, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6. [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]". [56] Auerbach assigned him to shut down the Hawks' main scorer and Russell impressed the Boston crowd with his man-to-man defense and shot-blocking. Russell was just 9 when his parents arrived . [208] The close relationship ended after Game 7 of the 1969 NBA Finals, when Chamberlain injured his knee with six minutes left and was forced to leave the game. But there was so much more than his six-feet-ten-inches to admire. "https://ssl." This forced the NCAA to introduce rule changes to the college game like widening the lane ahead of his junior year and the prohibition of basket interference following his graduation. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of William Russell (242184906)? Quick Facts: Bill Russell. Russell articulated these views with a measure of self-criticism, saying: "I consider this a deficiency in myselfmaybe. After the next provocation, Russell pounded Felix to the point of unconsciousness, paid a modest $25 fine, and rarely was the target of cheap fouls thereafter. Prior to his death, he lived in Monroe. [105] He was 15 pounds overweight, skipped mandatory NBA coach meetings, and was generally lacking energy; after a New York Knicks game, he complained of intense pain and was diagnosed with acute exhaustion. As part of the 1961 Celtics boycott, he and the other black teammates refused to play in the exhibition game and flew home, drawing a great deal of controversy and publicity. Russell was born Feb. 12, 1934, in West Monroe, Louisiana, and was eight when his family moved to Oakland, California, seeking more economic opportunity and an escape from the extreme racial. [111], In 1971, Russell joined NBA on ABC to do commentary on the Game of the Week. [136] He was named as a 2010 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Bill Russell, an American actor, was born William Felton Russell on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. [5] Chamberlain said Russell's timing as a shot-blocker was unparalleled. [45][46] He also competed in the 440 yards (402.3m) race, which he could complete in 49.6 seconds. [120] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. '"[203], In a retrospective interview, Russell described the state of mind he felt he needed to enter in order to be able to play basketball: "I had to almost be in a rage. [5] Russell was elected to one NBA All-Defensive First Team. Among his multitude of achievements, the 6-foot-10 Boston Celtics center from 1956-69 notched 11 NBA titles with the Celtics and was a five-time NBA most valuable player and a 12-time NBA all-star. He continued, "The house was not built for me. In protest, the whole team decided to camp out in a closed college dorm, which was later called an important bonding experience for the group. I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. $2,750,000. With Russells passing, Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors had the final honors of being the recipient of the NBA Finals MVP from Russell himself since the NBA icon mostly stayed away from public appearances due to the onset of COVID-19. The dining area is tucked next to an elevated living space, and comes with built-in shelving and track lighting, with sliding doors leading outside. He was the Celtics pride. [19] While there, they fell into poverty and Russell spent his childhood living in a series of public housing projects. He was born and brought up in a super-rich-class Catholic Christian family from West Monroe, Louisiana, United States. [109] In response, Russell described Boston as a "flea market of racism". [98] His second choice was Cousy, who declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. His death was announced in a statement on social media. Longtime Mercer Island resident and NBA great Bill Russell passed away at his home on July 31, according to a message on his Twitter feed. [107] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. [49] He excelled at playing man-to-man defense, blocking shots, and grabbing defensive rebounds. Chase Warnick of Mercer Island High School grappled his way to sixth place in the 3A class 145-pound division at, School Board candidate orientations on tap, Mechem-Miller wins Seattle Shakespeare competition, Divisive bills on pursuits, gun purchases edge closer to House votes, Students represent MIHS at Day on the Hill, What do you do with your food waste? 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?' Spouse(s)/Children. In the 1959 NBA Finals, the Celtics recaptured the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 40. [48] He was active in the Black Power movement and was among the African-American athletes and the one political leader who came together at the 1967 Cleveland Summit to support Muhammad Ali and his decision to refuse to be drafted. See Inside the Homes Stars Are Selling After Living There for Many Years, David Ortiz Lists Miami Mansion for $12.5 Million, Jim Carrey Lists Sprawling Brentwood Ranch Estate for $28.9 Million See Inside. [101] Russell acknowledged the first real loss of his career, as he had been injured when the Celtics lost the 1958 NBA Finals, by visiting Chamberlain in the locker room, shaking his hand, and saying: "Great. Russell is now married to Jeannine Russell and lives on Mercer Island, Washington. You are less. [96], Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired before the 196667 NBA season. I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." [212] He was often called Felton X, presumably in the tradition of the Nation of Islam's practice of replacing a European slave name with an X and purchased land in Liberia. '"[218] In retirement, Russell described the Boston press as corrupt and racist; in response, Boston sports journalist Larry Claflin claimed that Russell himself was the real racist. [5] In addition, Russell holds the NBA Finals single-game record for most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960, vs. St. Louis, and April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962, vs. Los Angeles), and most consecutive games with 20 or more rebounds (15 from April 9, 1960 April 16, 1963). . He wrote these words after recounting how grandfather Jake Russell had stood up to the Ku Klux Klan and other whites who attempted to thwart his efforts to build a schoolhouse for black children; his grandfather was the first person in Russell's patrilineal line born free in North America and was himself illiterate. Russell retires and settles in Mercer Island, Wash. Please log in if you don't want to post [49] Bill Simmons has estimated that Russell had between 8 and 15 blocks per game in the playoffs. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in their daily lives. [199][200] Russell's motto became: "If you disrespect that line, you disrespect me. He purchased the 5-bed, 3.25-bath, 4,250 sq ft home in 1973 when he became the coach of the Seattle Supersonics. [224], On September 26, 2017, Russell posted a photograph of himself to a previously unused Twitter account in which he was taking the knee in solidarity with the U.S. national anthem kneeling protests. Try again later. FOLLOW MORE IBT NEWS ON THE BELOW CHANNELS, IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was. We have set your language to cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. I was the MVP at the Final Four. Russell described himself as an avid reader of Dell Magazines' 1950s sports publications, which he used to scout opponents' moves for the purpose of defending against them. [59], At the start of the 195758 NBA season, the Celtics won fourteen straight games and continued to succeed. But for all the winning, Bills understanding of the struggle is what illuminated his life. [109] According to Taylor, Russell discounted the fact that his career was facilitated by white people who were proven anti-racists: his high school coach George Powles, who encouraged him to play basketball, his college coach Phil Woolpert, who integrated USF basketball, Celtics coach Red Auerbach, who made him the first black NBA coach and is regarded as an anti-racist pioneer for his no color barrier, and Celtics owner Walter A. Need help resetting your password `` if you need help resetting your password his life into poverty and Russell his. 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