About Bill Russell
A retired professional basketball player from the United States named William Felton Russell was born on February 12th, 1934. His estimated net worth is $12 million. In Monroe, Louisiana, William Russell was born in the year 1934. Russell grew up in the projects in Oakland, California, where the family later relocated due to the city’s intense bigotry. There, the family slipped into poverty. He didn’t receive any college interest despite his high school basketball talent, but ultimately a scholarship to the University of San Francisco was provided.
Russell Creates USF History
When USF became the first major team to start three African Americans, he made history while a student there. In 1955 and 1956, Russell would help San Francisco win 55 straight games and back-to-back national championships. John Wooden, the famed UCLA coach, praised Russell for his defensive prowess and dubbed him “the greatest defensive man I’ve ever seen.”
Gold for Russell
Russell entered the 1956 NBA Draft and was selected by the St. Louis Hawks with the second overall pick, but he was soon moved to the Boston Celtics, who had earlier expressed interest in him. He was chosen as the captain of the American basketball team for the 1956 Olympics and led the squad to a gold medal in Melbourne before ever signing with the Celtics.
Russell Establishes the Celtics
In December 1956, he joined the Celtics again, averaging nearly 15 points and nearly 20 rebounds. He guided Boston to the NBA Finals, where they defeated the Hawks to win the team’s first title. Russell won his first league MVP award in 1957–1958, and the Celtics faced the Hawks in the Finals once more, but lost in six games. Russell scored 16 points and 23 rebounds per game during the season as the Celtics defeated the Minnesota Lakers to win the championship once more in 1959.
Eight straight victories for Bill Russell and the Celtics
Russell and the Celtics would go on to capture eight straight NBA titles. During this time, Russell and Wilt Chamberlain also grew close rivals. Russell averaged a career-high 18.9 points and 23.6 rebounds in 1961–1962.
As the first Black head coach, Bill Russell
Russell was appointed Boston’s coach in 1966, and for the following few years, he served as the team’s coach and player. He was the NBA’s first African American head coach. Russell guided the Boston Celtics back to the NBA Finals in 1968, where they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win their tenth championship in as many years. And they came back in 1969 to defeat Wilt Chamberlain and the Lakers for Russell’s 11th championship, despite having an ailing and elderly roster.
Breaks off ties with the Celtics
After winning the title, Russell skipped the public celebration and declared he was breaking all ties with the Celtics. He served 1973–1977 as the Seattle SuperSonics’ head coach after being hired a short time later, but the team never really took off. In 1987–88, he also served as the Sacramento Kings’ head coach for one season.
As a Civil Rights Leader, Bill Russell
Russell was a star on the court but experienced racism frequently off it and got involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He described Boston as a “flea market of racism.” when he departed the city, leaving him with a bad aftertaste. Russell and Boston have now made amends, and in 2011 President Barack Obama gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement.
Aspects of Bill Russell’s Playing
Russell is regarded as one of the greatest NBA players in history and is particularly well-known for his rebounding and defense abilities. He finished second all-time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game, and he led the NBA in rebounding four times. Only he and Wilt Chamberlain have ever amassed more than 50 rebounds in a single game.
A summary of Bill Russell’s career
The Celtics retired Russell’s number 6 in 1972, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1975, yet he was conspicuously absent from both occasions. He won the NBA title 11 times, was named league MVP 5 times, and was an All-Star 12 times. He was selected for the 25th, 35th, and 50th anniversary teams of the NBA. The NBA announced Russell as the recipient of the NBA Finals MVP award in 2009.
