Amanda Knapp
William Felton Russell, also known as Bill Russell, was an American professional basketball player born on February 12, 1934, and passed away on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. He played centre for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time, winning 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Felton Russell |
| Nicknames | Russ, Whiskers, Willie, Bill the Hill, The Stuffer |
| Date of Birth | 12 February 1934 |
| Date of Death | 31 July 2022 |
| Height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Teams | Boston Celtics, San Francisco Dons, Sacramento Kings |
| College | University of San Francisco |
| Career Length | 13 years |
| NBA Championships | 11 |
| NCAA Championships | 2 |
| Olympic Medals | 1 |
| NBA Seasons | 1956-1969 |
| Positions | Center, Coach |
| Awards | NBA Finals MVP Award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, NBA Lifetime Achievement Award, Mannie Jackson – Basketball's Human Spirit Award |
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What You'll Learn
Bill Russell's birth and death
William Felton Russell, also known as Bill Russell, was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, United States. As a child, he moved with his family from rural Louisiana to Oakland, California, where he attended McClymonds High School. Russell was a tall teenager, standing at 6 feet 10 inches (2.06 metres) by the time he was in college.
Russell played college basketball for the University of San Francisco (USF) Dons, where he led the team to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. He also represented USF in track and field events, excelling as a high-level sprinter and high jumper.
Russell began his professional basketball career when he was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks in the first round of the 1956 NBA Draft. However, before joining the Hawks, he played for the US Olympic team, winning a gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Russell's performance at the Olympics impressed Red Auerbach, the head coach and general manager of the Boston Celtics, who traded for him even before seeing him play.
Russell made his Celtics debut on December 22, 1956, against his former team, the St. Louis Hawks. He quickly established himself as a dominant defensive centre, known for his shot-blocking abilities. With Russell, the Celtics went on to win 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, including two that he won as the team's player-coach in 1968 and 1969.
Russell died on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. At the time of his death, he was married to Jeannine Russell.
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Russell's college basketball career
William Felton Russell, born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Russell played college basketball for the University of San Francisco (USF) Dons, where he led the team to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. During his college career, Russell was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player (MOP) in 1955, averaging an impressive 20.7 points per game and 20.3 rebounds per game.
Russell's defensive artistry and shot-blocking skills were already evident during his college years, with UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden praising him as "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". While at USF, Russell also helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop. In addition to his basketball talents, Russell represented USF in track and field events, showcasing his all-around athletic prowess.
Russell's size and potential earned him a scholarship to play for USF, marking the beginning of his transformation into a basketball great. Before that, he had been an unremarkable center on the McClymonds High School basketball team in Oakland, California, where he attended after his family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Russell went on to have an illustrious professional career in the NBA, playing center for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. He was the cornerstone of the Celtics dynasty, playing in 12 NBA championships and winning 11 of them during his 13-year career. Russell's impact on the Celtics was immediate, as he brought a new level of defensive prowess and rebounding that the team had previously lacked. His accomplishments on the court, including his five NBA MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections, are a testament to his enduring legacy in the sport.
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His time at Boston Celtics
Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. In his 13 seasons with the team, he won 11 NBA championships, two of which were as the team's player-coach.
Russell's first Celtics game was on December 22, 1956, against the St. Louis Hawks. He impressed the Boston crowd with his man-to-man defence and shot-blocking, and he quickly became known for these skills. Before Russell joined the team, the Celtics had lacked a defensive presence, but with Russell, they laid the foundation for a dynasty, utilising a strong defensive approach to force opposing teams into many turnovers, which led to easy points on fast breaks.
Russell was part of a starting lineup of five future Hall-of-Famers, including forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. The team was coached by Red Auerbach, who Russell described in his autobiography, 'Red and Me', as one of his closest friends. In the book, Russell also described the Celtics organisation in the 1950s and 1960s as very progressive racially.
In the 1958–59 NBA season, Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23 rebounds per game. The Celtics broke a league record by winning 52 games, and they went on to recapture the NBA title, sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers 4–0.
In 1964, the Celtics, with Russell, became the first team in the NBA to start an all-Black lineup. When Auerbach retired after the Celtics won the 1965–66 NBA title, Russell succeeded him as coach, becoming the first African American coach in NBA history. As a player-coach, he won two more NBA championships in 1968 and 1969.
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Rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain
William Felton Russell, also known as Bill Russell, was an American professional basketball player who played centre for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was born on February 12, 1934, and passed away on July 31, 2022. Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain's rivalry is considered one of basketball's greatest. Chamberlain, who played for the Philadelphia Warriors, debuted in the 1959-60 NBA season, a year after Russell's Celtics won the NBA title. Chamberlain was a 7-foot-1-inch centre who averaged a record 37.6 points per game in his rookie year.
On November 7, 1959, Russell's Celtics hosted Chamberlain's Warriors, and the matchup between the best offensive and defensive centres was dubbed "The Big Collision" and "Battle of the Titans". Chamberlain outscored Russell 30-22, but the Celtics won the game 115-106. This game was considered a "new beginning of basketball".
Russell and Chamberlain played against each other 142 times in 10 years, with Russell's team winning 88 games and Chamberlain's team winning 74. Russell's high game against Chamberlain was 37 points, while Chamberlain's record rebound game was 55, with Russell only managing one 40+ rebound game against him.
Russell was known for his strong defence and shot-blocking skills, while Chamberlain led the league in rebounding most seasons. Russell won 11 NBA championships with the Celtics, including two as their player-coach, while Chamberlain's teams lost all four Game 7s against Russell's Celtics.
The rivalry between Russell and Chamberlain extended beyond their NBA careers. Both men also excelled in track and field events during their college careers. Russell was a high-level sprinter and high jumper, while Chamberlain was also a talented athlete.
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Accolades and awards
Bill Russell is widely considered to be one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His accolades and awards include eleven NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in thirteen seasons, two of which were won as a player-coach. Russell was a five-time league MVP (1958, 1961-63, 1965), a twelve-time NBA All-Star, and a two-time NCAA champion. He was also awarded Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in 1968 and The Sporting News Athlete of the Decade in 1970.
Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 and was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was also enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. Russell was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971, the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, and was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996. He was also selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021.
In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor, and in 2011, Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. In 2021, Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time in recognition of his coaching career. In 2022, the NBA retired Russell's #6 jersey league-wide, making him the only player in NBA history to receive this honor.
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Frequently asked questions
Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88 on July 31, 2022.
Bill Russell played in the NBA for 13 seasons, from 1956 to 1969.
Bill Russell won 11 NBA championships in his 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics.
Bill Russell is widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was the first African American coach in NBA history and the first to win a title. Russell was also an advocate for social justice and civil rights. In recognition of his achievements, Russell received numerous honours, including being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and having his jersey number retired league-wide in the NBA.
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