The famous African-American basketball player William Felton Russell popularly known as Bill Russell is One of the best basketball players of all time is regarded as being Russell.
In 1955 and 1956, he captained the San Francisco Dons, William Felton Russell was an American center who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969.
He was a professional basketball player who died on July 31, 2022. He was the focal point of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships over the course of his 13-year career.
Bill Rusell Profile – Personal Information – Date Of Birth, Age, Parent, Family – Nationality and Country – State Of Origin – Race, Religion – Contact Information – Phone Number, Email – Social Media Accounts – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram – William Felton Russell History
| Real Name: | William Felton Russell |
|---|---|
| Father Name: | Felton Russell |
| Mother Name: | Under Research |
| Wife Name: | Jeannine |
| Children/Kids: | (3) Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr, Karen Russell |
| Nationality: | American |
| Country: | United States |
| Born/Date Of Birth: | February 12, 1934 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died: | July 31, Mercer Island, Washington, U.S. |
| Age: | 88 (2022) |
| Height: | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| High School: | McClymonds (Oakland, California) |
| College: | San Francisco (1953–1956) |
| NBA Record: | 1956 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Playing Career: | 1956–1969 |
| Position: | Center |
| Number: | 6 |
| Coach Career: | 1966–1969, 1973–1977, 1987–1988 |
| House Address: | Under Research |
| Occupation/Work: | Singer, Song Writter |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Origin/Ethinc/Tribe: | Hausa |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Email: | Under Research |
| Phone Number: | Under Research |
| Net Worth In Dollar: | $10,000,000 Millions (USD) |
| Net Worth In Euro: | €9,900,000 Millions |
| Net Worth In Naira: | ₦4,236,337,390 Billions (NGN) |
He was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star. The record for the most titles won by an athlete in a North American sports league is shared by Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League. [3]
Bill Russell Career
Before USF recruiter Hal DeJulio saw Russell play in a high school game, he was disregarded by college recruiters and had not received a single offer.
DeJulio was dissatisfied by Russell’s modest scoring totals and “atrocious fundamentals,” but he felt that the young Russell possessed an exceptional sense of timing, particularly when the game was on the line. [27]
Russell happily accepted the scholarship DeJulio gave. [23] As a result of Russell realizing that basketball offered him the chance to escape racism and poverty, sports journalist John Taylor referred to it as a turning point in his life. Russell vowed to make the most of this opportunity. [18]
Russell was placed in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007, was one of the founding members of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975.
In addition to being chosen as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996,[5] he was also chosen as a member of the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971.
The NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021, and one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996.
Only four other players have received all three honors. The NBA changed the name of the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor in 2009.
Bill Russell received a second induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 for his work as a coach. [16]
Bill Rusell Early Life
Charles Russell and Katie Russell welcomed Russell into the world on February 12, 1934 in West Monroe, Louisiana.
Monroe, like virtually all Southern towns and cities at the time, was highly segregated, and the Russells frequently encountered bigotry in their day-to-day lives. [17]
A petrol station once refused to serve Russell’s father until the personnel attended to all the white customers first.
The attendant discharged a shotgun in his face and told him to stay and wait for his turn when he tried to leave and go to another station. [17]
Another time, a white policeman stopped Russell’s mother as she was walking outside in a fancy dress. He instructed her to take off the dress at home, read also Reece James biography, age, sport recods, lifestyle and net worth
Russell accepted an invitation to join the exhibition basketball team of the Harlem Globetrotters.
Russell was furious that owner Abe Saperstein would only speak with Woolpert about the situation because he was sensitive to any racial discrimination.
The Globetrotters assistant coach Harry Hanna attempted to amuse Russell with jokes while Saperstein spoke to Woolpert in a meeting, but he rebuffed the offer out of rage.
In his mind, if Saperstein was too intelligent to converse with him, then he was also too intelligent to work for Saperstein. Russell qualified for the NBA draft in 1956.
Bill Rusell Basketball Career
In the draft, Boston Celtics coach Red Auerbach set his sights on Russell, thinking his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess were the missing pieces the Celtics needed.[5]
Auerbach’s thoughts were unorthodox, as in that period centers and forwards were defined by their offensive output, and their ability to play defense was secondary.
Boston’s chances of getting Russell seemed slim because they had finished second in the previous season and the worst teams had the highest draft picks, and the Celtics had slipped too low in the draft order to pick Russell.
In addition, Auerbach had already used his NBA territorial pick to acquire talented forward Tom Heinsohn.
Auerbach knew that the Rochester Royals, who owned the first draft pick, already had a strong rebounder in Maurice Stokes, were looking for an outside shooting guard, and were unwilling to pay Russell the $25,000 signing bonus he requested, read als Romelu Lukaku Net Worth
Russell couldn’t join the Celtics until December of the 1956–1957 NBA season because of his Olympic commitment.
Russell played 48 games while averaging a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game and 14.7 points per game.
Five future Hall of Famers made their starting lineup debut for the 1956–1957 Boston Celtics season: center Bill Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy.
Due to his military service, K. C. Jones did not begin playing for the Celtics until 1958. On December 22, 1956, against the St.
Louis Hawks, a team captained by great big Bob Pettit, who would go on to hold multiple all-time scoring records, Russell played in his first Celtics game. He is one the most richest basket baller in American history.
Russell was guaranteed his first NBA playoff appearance after the Celtics finished the 1956–57 regular season with a 44–28 record, the team’s second-best record since the 1946–47 BAA season.
The Celtics then faced the Syracuse Nationals, a team coached by Dolph Schayes, through the Eastern Division Finals.
Russell finished with 16 points, 31 rebounds, 7 reported blocks—which were not yet officially recorded as a stat—and 31 rebounds in his debut playoff game.
Schayes, who forced Johnny Kerr to come off the bench since he struggled against Russell during the regular season, made the following joke following the Celtics’ 108-89 victory:
“How much does that guy make a year? If we could pay him off for five years, it would be to our favor.
Russell averaged 16.7 points and 23.1 rebounds per game in the 1958–1959 NBA season. [1]
By winning 52 games, the Celtics set a league record. Russell’s strong play once more helped the Celtics advance through the 1959 NBA Playoffs and back to the NBA Finals.
The Boston Celtics won the NBA championship back in 1959 by disposing of the Minneapolis Lakers in a 4-0 rout. [64]
John Kundla, the Lakers’ head coach, praised Russell and said: “Without Bill Russell, the Celtics pose no threat against us.
We can defeat them if you take him out. He’s the one who gave us a psychological beating.” [47]
The NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award was renamed the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his honor as an 11-time NBA champion on February 14, 2009, according to NBA Commissioner David Stern. [132]
The Celtics’ Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce surprised Russell with a birthday cake on his 75th birthday during halftime of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game. [133]
In Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals, Russell was present to give Bryant the Most Valuable Player trophy.
President Barack Obama presented Russell with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
Russell and Bryant watched a basketball game at the White House tennis court for Obama’s 50th birthday.
LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Shane Battier, and others played in the match.
Bill Rusell Personal Life
Rose Swisher, Russell’s undergraduate love, and he were wed from 1956 to 1973. Daughter Karen Russell, a television commentator and attorney, and boys William Jr. and Jacob were their three children.
The couple separated after becoming emotionally estranged. He wed Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA 1968, in 1977; their marriage ended in divorce in 1980.
Russell wed Marilyn Nault, his third wife, in 1996; their union lasted until her passing in January 2009. At the time of his passing, Russell was wed to Jeannine Russell.
He spent more than 40 years living on Mercer Island in Washington. The renowned dramatist Charlie L. Russell was his older brother. Lauren James sport career, biography and net worth.
Russell traveled to Africa for the first time as an NBA player in 1959. While a student at the University of San Francisco, Russell was initiated into the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity’s Gamma Alpha chapter.
Russell was detained on October 16, 2013, for bringing his loaded, registered.38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
The Transportation Security Administration said it would impose a civil penalty on him that would range between $3,000 and $7,500 after issuing him a ticket and releasing him.
On July 31, 2022, Russell passed away at his home in Mercer Island, Washington, at the age of 88, read also How his relatives have his number retired from all
teams .
Bill Russell Cause Of Death
It is stated that Russell passed away naturally from old age. When he passed away, he was 88 years old.
Russell was hospitalized for dehydration four years ago, but he soon made a full recovery.
At that time, it was discovered that he also has some respiratory challenges and age-related heart problems.
Bill Rusell Net Worth
The famous African-American basketball player Bill Russell has an estimated net worth of about $10,000,000 Millions US Dollar equivalent to about ₦4,236,337,390 Billions Naira in Nigeria currency.