Bill Russell

Bill Russell - William Felton " Bill " Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a retired American professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five- time NBA Most Valuable Player and a two - time All - Star, Russell was the centerpiece of the royal Celtics, winning eleven NBA Championships during his years - three. And Henri Richard of the National Hockey League's Montreal Canadiens, Russell holds the record for the public Championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. Prior to his professional career, Russell led the University of San Francisco next to two NCAA Championships (1955, 1956). He also won a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics as the chief of the U.S. national basketball team.

Bill Russell is widely considered one of the best players in the history of the NBA. Bill Russell was listed between 6 ft 9 in (2.06 M) and 6 ft 10 in (2.08 M), and his shot - Blocking a man to man defense were major reasons for the success of the Celtics '. He also inspired his teammates to improve their own play defense. Russell was equally notable for his skills and Rebounding. He led the NBA in rebounds four times, had a few rebounds consecutive seasons of 1000 or more, and it remains the second time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. He is one of just two NBA players (the other being prominent rival wilt Chamberlain) to have grabbed rebounds than -50 in the game. While it is important never mistake Celtics ', Russell points 14,522 points of services provided and the passing of success.

Play after pioneers like Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, Russell was the first African player American to achieve superstar status in the NBA. He also served for three season (1966-69) as a player - a coach for the Celtics, he became the first American NBA coach. For his accomplishments in the Civil Rights Movement on and off the court, Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2011.

Bill Russell Early Life

Bill Russell was born to Charles and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. West Monroe became a different firm, and the Russells are often a problem of racism. And, Russell 's father was refused service petrol station staff had taken care of all the white customers. When my father tried to get a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in the face, threatened to kill him unless he sat and waited for his opportunity. At one point, Russell 's mother walked in without the fancy clothes when the police accosted. Told him to go home and take away the dress, which is described as " a woman 's white dress ". Because many blacks moving to the West during World War II to seek work there, Russell 's father moved the family out of Louisiana when Russell was eighty years old, and put them in Oakland, California. And when the family fell into poverty and Russell spent his childhood living in the home series project.

Charlie Russell described as " the boat, a hard man ' who was a first janitor in a factory (a typical low paid, intellectually unchallenging " Negro Job ', as a sports journalist John Taylor noted), but later became a trucker when World War II broke out. Near Katie 's mother than his father, Russell received a great emotional impact when he suddenly died at the age of 12. Father to abandon his work Trucking and became an employee to be closer to his children orphans language of metal. Russell has said his father was a childhood hero, later followed by the Minneapolis Lakers superstar George " Mr. Basketball " Mikan, whom he met when he was in high school.

When I was growing up, Russell struggled to develop his skills as a basketball player. While Russell was a good runner and jumper and had great hands, he simply did not understand the game and was cut from the team in junior high school. As a Freshman at Heritage High School, Russell was almost cut again. However, coach George Powles saw Russell raw sport and encouraged her to his basic service. Russell and the body of the former white with authority figures often negative, so I was pleased to find the words white hands of his coach. He worked hard and take advantage of the benefits of a spurt growth to become a decent basketball player, but for years his junior and senior scene, winning back to back in high school State Championships. Russell soon became noted for his unusual style of defense. Later recalled : " To play good defense... was told at the time that you need to stay flatfooted at all times to respond quickly. When I get to make plays defense and block shots, I was initially prepared, but I stuck with it, and it paid off. " Another high school basketball teammates Russell was Frank Robinson.

Bill Russell Work

Bill Russell was ignored by college recruiters and did not receive a letter of interest to one recruiter Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco (USF) watched him play in high school. DeJulio not less impressive scoring Russell and ' basic so bad ", but felt that the young center had an extraordinary instinct game, especially in the purchase. DeJulio offered Russell a scholarship, the latter eagerly accepted. Sports journalist John Taylor described it as a watershed in Russell, because he realized that Russell basketball is one opportunity to escape poverty and race, as a result, Russell swore to make the best of it.

At USF, Russell became the new starting center for coach Phil Woolpert. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half court play, the ideas that favor defensive standout Russell. Woolpert choices of how to deploy his players were unaffected skin color matters. In -1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to start three African American players : Russell, KC Jones and Hal Perry. USF years, Russell used his relative mass of the development of a unique style of defense : only instead of guarding the opposing center, he used his quickness and speed to play help defense opposing forward and aggressively challenge their gun. Include a higher skill shot - blocking of speed down the center of the guard, Russell became the centerpiece of the USF team that soon became a force in college basketball. After USF kept Holy Cross star Tom Heinsohn scoreless in an entire half, Sports Illustrated wrote : " If you can learn to hit the basket, They should write the rules. "

Bill Russell Professional Career

Bill Russell was not able to join the Celtics for 1956-57 season until December, because of his commitment to the Olympic Games. After rejoining the Celtics, Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and the league - high 19.6 rebounds per game. During this season, the Celtics featured five future Hall of Famers : center Russell, Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey and guard Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. (KC Jones did not play the Celtics until 1958 because of the military.)

First Celtics game, Russell came on December 22, 1956, against the Hawks in St Louis, led by star forward Bob Pettit, who held several scoring records - all the time. AUERBACH assigned Russell to shut scorer main St Louis, and the Rookie Boston crowd impressed with the man -to - man defense and his shot - Blocking. Over the years, the Celtics had been a high scoring team, but lacked the defensive presence needed to close out games in tight. However, with the added defensive presence of Russell, the Celtics had laid the foundation of a dynasty. The team used a strong defense to the game, forcing opposing teams to make many turnovers, which led to many easy to break fast points. Russell was an elite help defender who allowed the Celtics to play the so - called " Hey, Bill, " defense : " ! Hey, Bill, " so when Celtic and ask for more help to protect them, he would call Russell quickly so that he is able to fast for a double and make it back in time if the opponents try to find the open man. He also became famous for his skills and shot - blocking : Tahaan called his blocks " Wilsonburgers ", he said basketballs Wilson NBA he shoved back into the face of opposing shooters '. This ability also allowed the other Celtics play their men aggressively : if they were, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. This approach allowed the Celtics to finish with a 44-28 record regular season, the history of the second group - best since the beginning of the play 1946-47 season, and for the appearance of the post - season.

However, Russell received negative attention. This provoked by the New York Knicks center Ray Felix during the game, he complained to the coach AUERBACH. The latter told him to take matters into his own, so after the next irritation, Felix Russell hit nothing, paid a $ 25 fine and there was no longer a target of cheap fouls. And his partner, Russell had friendly relations, without significant Rookie them with an old rival Heinsohn. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year : Many people think that Russell was very important, but Russell had played the first half of the year. Russell ignored Heinsohn 's request to give his cousin 's autograph, and openly said to Heinsohn that was half - $ 300 Rookie of the Year bank. The relationship between the two rookies remained reserved. On the other hand, although their different ethnic backgrounds, and lack of common off - the court interests, his relationship with Celtics point guard and fan favorite Bob Cousy was peace.


In Game 1 of the Eastern Division finals, the Celtics met the Syracuse nationals, who were led by Adolph Schayes. In the first NBA playoff game, Russell, and finished 16 points and 31 rebounds, and 7 blocks reported. (At the time, the blocks were not officially registered the price.) After the Celtics ' 108-89 victory, Schayes joke, "How much does that guy make a year ? It would be if our money off of them five years to get away from us in the whole series. " The Celtics attack on tourists in three games for the appearance of the first Franchise in the NBA finals.

Bill Russell Personal Life

Russell married his college Sweetheart Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973. They had three children, is the daughter of Karen Russell, the television pundit and lawyer, and sons, William Jr. and James. However, the couple move away from the emotional and split. In -1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968, but in -1980 divorce. Fair weather on the issue because Didi was white. In -1996, Russell married his third wife, Marilyn, Lt, their marriage lasted until his death in January 2009. His older brother is the noted playwright Charlie L. Russell.


In -1959, Bill Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. Russell is a member of Alpha Gamma chapter of Kappa Alpha PSI fraternity. On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing a loaded.38 - caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to Seattle - Tacoma International Airport.

During his career, Russell was one of the first earners in NBA basketball. Rookie of his contract in 1956 was worth $ 24,000, only fractionally smaller than the $ 25,000 top of Warner Bob Cousy. Unlike other Celtics, who had to work in the offseason to maintain their standard of living (Heinsohn sold insurance, Gene Guarilia was a guitar player professional, Cousy ran basketball camp, and AUERBACH planted Plastics and Chinese restaurant), Russell had never to part - time work. When wilt Chamberlain became the first NBA player to get $ 100,000 in salary in -1965, Russell went AUERBACH and wanted to pay $ 100,001, which quickly found.

Bill Russell Personality

Bill Russell was driven by neurotic need to win, as his teammate Heinsohn observed. He was so tense before the game that he threw up Locker rooms, it often happens that his fellow Celtics were worried more if it did not happen. He was also known for his natural authority. When a player - coach in 1966, Russell bluntly told his colleagues that ' all intended to generate a personal relationship with the other players ', and seamlessly from their peers and their manager.

To friends and colleagues, Bill Russell was open and peaceful, but there was no one he owned to the extreme and cold about anyone else. Often journalists were treated to the "Russell Glower", described as " the stare of Sicily comply with contemptuous silence for a long time". Bill Russell was also a negative refusing to give autographs or even acknowledge the Celtics fans so far been called " the most selfish, the player is surly and uncooperative one pundit.