Bill Russell, an American-born basketball player and coach, achieved significant success, winning 11 NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in 13 seasons.
Notably, he broke all barriers when he became the first African-American coach of a major professional sports team in America.
Russell’s dominance on the court was highlighted by his five NBA MVP awards, an unprecedented streak of eight consecutive wins from 1959 to 1966.
Revered as one of the most influential figures in basketball history, he was dual inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, once for his stellar playing career in 1975 and again for coaching prowess in 2021.
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- Full name: William Felton Russell
- Nickname: Bill
- Date of birth: February 12, 1934
- Age: 90 years old (as of 2024)
- male
- Birthplace: Monroe, Louisiana, United States
- Nationality: American
- Occupation: Former professional basketball player, coach and author
- Height: 6 feet 10 inches (208 cm)
- Parents: Charles Russell, Katie Russell
- Siblings: Charlie L. Russell
- Spouse: Marilyn Nault
- Children: Karen Russell, William Jr. Russell, Jacob Russell
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: 10 million USD
Early life and education
Bill Russell, currently 90 years old as of 2024, was born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana.
He grew up in a deeply segregated America, where racism was rampant. Russell’s parents, Charles and Katie Russell, instilled in him the values of resilience and perseverance.
Growing up with five siblings, he learned early on the importance of family and unity.
Russell’s journey took a dramatic turn when his family moved to Oakland, California during his childhood.
Here, he learned the skill of playing basketball, despite racial barriers and social expectations. Despite facing adversity, Russell excelled in academics and sports. He attended McClymonds High School.
After graduating from high school, Russell continued his studies at the University of San Francisco, where he further established himself as a formidable basketball player.
His collegiate career was highlighted by many accolades, including leading the Dons to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956.
Personal life
Russell married his college sweetheart, Rose Swisher, in 1956, and their marriage lasted until 1973.
During this time, they welcomed three children: a daughter named Karen Russell, who later became a television pundit and lawyer, and two sons named William Jr. and Jacob.
However, as time passed, the emotional connection between Russell and Rose weakened, eventually leading to their divorce.
After his first marriage dissolved, Russell married Dorothy Anstett, who held the title of Miss America in 1968.
However, their marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1980. Russell’s third marriage took place in 1996 when he exchanged vows with Marilyn Nault. Their marital relationship lasted until Marilyn’s death in January 2009.
Career
The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball team. However, Russell, who was sensitive to any sign of racial bias, became angry when he learned that Globetrotters owner Abe Saperstein only wanted to discuss the matter with USF Coach Woolpert instead of directly to Russell himself.
During the meeting between Saperstein and Woolpert, Globetrotters assistant coach Harry Hanna tried to lighten the mood with jokes. However, Russell still felt deeply offended at being ignored and rejected the offer.
He concluded that if Saperstein thought he was unworthy of direct communication then he was too smart to play under Saperstein’s leadership.
As a result, Russell was available to enter the 1956 NBA Draft. During the draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach identified Russell as the ideal candidate for the team, recognizing his defensive prowess and rebounding ability. Your work is a valuable asset.
Auerbach’s assessment differed from the prevailing standards at the time, in which offensive ability was given priority over the defensive skills of center forwards and strikers.
Boston’s prospects of acquiring Russell initially seemed bleak, given their second-place finish last season and their lower position in the draft order.
Furthermore, Auerbach used the team’s NBA territory option to attract talented forward Tom Heinsohn.
Knowing that the Rochester Royals, who held the first draft pick, were looking for an outside shooting guard and were reluctant to meet the $25,000 signing bonus Russell demanded, Auerbach arranged arranged negotiations with Rochester owner Les Harrison through Celtics owner Walter A. Brown.
Brown received assurances from Harrison that the Royals could not afford Russell and were instead inclined to choose Sihugo Green.
After that, St. The St. Louis Hawks, owning the second pick, selected Russell but were primarily interested in Celtics center Ed Macauley, a six-time NBA All-Star with strong ties to St. Louis.
Auerbach agreed to trade Macauley, who had expressed interest in joining the St. Louis Blues. Louis to be closer to his sick son, in exchange for Russell.
However, the Hawks’ owners demanded additional concessions in the trade, insisting on acquiring Cliff Hagan, who had not yet played for the Celtics due to his military service, along with Macauley.
After consideration, Auerbach accepted the requests and the transaction was completed. In the same draft, Boston also selected guard KC Jones, Russell’s former teammate at USF.
The Celtics won three future Basketball Hall of Famers in 1956: Russell, Jones and Heinsohn. The trade involving Russell on draft day was later hailed as one of the most important in North American sports history.
prize
- 11-time NBA champion
- 5-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP)
- 12-time NBA All-Star champion
- NBA Hall of Fame Inductees
- Recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Net value
Bill Russell’s net worth was estimated to be $10 million when he died. This net worth reflects his lasting legacy and contributions to basketball.
Death
On July 31, 2022, Russell, aged 88, passed away at his residence in Mercer Island, Washington.
His family conveyed the news through a Twitter post. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, in a statement, hailed Russell as “the ultimate champion among collegiate athletes.”
Argumentative
Bill Russell, famous for his civil rights activism and his remarkable basketball career highlighted by 12 NBA All-Star appearances, has been embroiled in several notable incidents:
In 1961, Russell, along with Satch Sanders, KC Jones and Sam Jones, boycotted an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky, following their unfair treatment at the hotel restaurant.
In 1964, Russell made a pivotal visit to Mississippi following the tragic assassination of civil rights icon Medgar Evers.
In 2020, Russell wrote an insightful essay for SLAM magazine detailing his lifelong fight against racism.
All proceeds from publication are directed towards charities supporting the Black community.
Additionally, Russell’s relationship with the city of Boston was controversial, characterized by tension and discomfort stemming primarily from instances of racism and discrimination he encountered.
Social Media
- Instagram: @realbillrussell
- Twitter: @BillRussellNBA
Book
- Second Wind: Memoirs of an Opinionated Man (1979)
- Russell Rules: 11 Leadership Lessons from the 20th Century’s Greatest Winner (2001)
