His family moved cross-country to the San Francisco Bay Area, where Bill attended McClymonds High School in Oakland. Basketball icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and three NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957. In 2010 Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama. Bill’s childhood was not perfect as his parents experienced racism very often and later they had to live in poverty. He retired in 1969 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame six years later. Bill Russell was one the greatest basketball player the world has ever seen He is retired now and lives a quiet life. Holds NBA Finals single-game record for most free throws attempted in one half (15, April 11, 1961) vs. St. Louis; most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960 vs. St. Louis and April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles); most rebounds by a rookie (32, April 13, 1967 vs. St. Louis); and most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles). - IMDb Mini Biography By: Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Bill Russell was born on Feb 12, 1934, in Louisiana, US. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. William Russell was born William Russell Enoch on 19 November 1924, in Sunderland, County Durham, England, to Eva Compston (Pile) and Alfred James Enoch. Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American. That same year, in the NBA draft, the Boston Celtics orchestrated a deal with the St. Louis Hawks and traded for the draft rights to the young center. Bill Russell is an American former basketball coach and former professional basketball player who is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest American sportspersons of all time. Without Chamberlain and an injured Jerry West, it was not enough to defeat the Celtics, who won by only two points.Russell later said Chamberlain was week, and should have demanded to go back into the game. That makes him 83 years old. No matter the game went to seven games when it should have been much shorter. The term Dynasty might have never applied to Basketball had it not been for Bill Russell. His early childhood was shaped by poor health, as the sickly Russell battled several different illnesses. Bill Russell in the US We found 327 people named Bill Russell in California, Texas, Tennessee and 41 other states. NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996). William Felton Russell was born on February 12th in 1934. Due to Russell's Olympic commitment, he could not join the Celtics for the 1956–57 season until December. Click here to read the full biography about Bill Russell Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957). Though, he … But somehow in that Wild West context, Bill was bitten by a theater bug at an early age. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, who’d been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. Until Michael Jordan he was almost unanimously acclaimed as the greatest player of all time, and some still think he is. Bill Russell was born in Deadwood and raised in Spearfish in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Hailed as the greatest winner in sports, Basketball Hall of Fame center Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics to an unprecedented 11 championships in 13 seasons. The Celtics then lost to Los Angeles in the Forum in Game 5, and the Celtics returned to the Boston Garden in game 6 and won that contest. NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977). Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. The Celtics who were supposedly way past their prime were led by Bill Russell to their eleventh championship, they were only the third team to repeat a championship, the first were the Minneapolis Lakers, and the second were the Boston Celtics. After Red Auerbach retired as Celtics' coach in 1966, Russell became player-coach, thereby becoming the first ever African-American to direct a team in a professional sports league. Bill Russell was born to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. With Russell anchoring the middle of the floor, the Celtics finished with the NBA's best record in 1957, and went on to win the title over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series. View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro, Top 30 athlete hosts on Saturday night live. It wasn’t long before the defensively adept Russell proved to be dominating presence, with a scorer’s touch and uncanny ability to rebound. Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956). He would not let his defeat in 1967 keep him down. One who is still a strong presence to this day, even at 85 years old. Before, most players would just reject the blocked shot into the stands. Racial discrimination was prevalent in southern towns like West Monroe, where Russell was born. During this season, the Celtics featured five future Hall-of-Famers: center Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guards Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. Russell knew that he had won, but he wanted to win over Chamberlain, and did not. His draft rights were traded by the Hawks to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Bill Russell celebrated 85th birthday by crowd-sourcing his cake on Twitter originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com. / Age: 86 years: Where was Bill Russell born? He became interested in acting at an early age. West Monroe, Louisiana, US: Nicknames: Bill: Zodiac sign: … On the road it was not uncommon for him to have to sleep in a different hotel from the one the rest of the club used. NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965). Children: William Jr., Karen Kenyatta, and Jacob. Although Bill Russell played less than 50 games, due to the fact he has won a gold medal for basketball in the Olympics, in his first NBA season he definitely made his presence felt. Flavor Flav is an American hip-hop artist known for his work with Public Enemy and for his appearances on multiple reality television series. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. Bill Russell - Career stats, game logs, biographical info, awards, and achievements for the NBA and NCAA. When word of this got back to Bill Russell, he told his teammates something to the affect of "We're going to have to do something about that." And, as revealed by fellow NBA champ; Bob Cousy in an interview, Bill married at aged 84 to Jeannine when she was 49. William Ellis Russell (born October 21, 1948) is a former shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. This item: Bill Russell: A Biography (Greenwood Biographies) by Murry R. Nelson Hardcover $35.00 Only 8 left in stock - order soon. NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970). Russell capped his amateur career by leading the U.S. men’s basketball team to the gold medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. His paternal grandparents were Wyoming ranchers and his father was known as "Cowboy" to all. Bill was drafted in the NBA in 1956. In the wake of her passing he committed himself to his studies. After taking the first two at home the Lakers returned to the Boston Garden to lose the next two. Quick Facts: Bill Russell. First Laker's owner Jack Kent Cooke had filled the rafters with purple and yellow balloons balloons and intended to drop them after the Lakers won. The team’s coach, Red Auerbach, coveted Russell as the missing piece to what he believed could be a championship roster. Bill Russell Age: 86 Years, 5 Months, 26 Days [ Best Age Calculator ] Bill Russell Birth Day Of The Week: Monday : Bill Russell Age In Months: 1,037 Months, 26 Days: Bill Russell Age In Weeks: 4,512 Weeks, 4 Days: Bill Russell Age In Days: 31,588 Days: Bill Russell Age In Hours: 758,112 Hours (approx.) He was born in 12 Feb, 1934. Celtics's all-time leading rebounder (21,620, 22.5 rpg) in 963 games; second best in history. William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. This biography of Bill Russell provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & … The Russell family faced racism in their day-to-day lives. During his three-year varsity career, in which he led the team to consecutive NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956, he averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds per game. This year, alongside Gail Goodrich and Happy Hairston, and a very deep bench, which included future Laker's Coach Pat Riley the Lakers looked to beat the Celtics for the first time in the Finals. At that time, his mother Katie and father Charles lived in the provincial town of West Monroe, located in Louisiana. NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980). Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics. Enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame, 1975. Russell had a miserable childhood life as he was sickly most of the time. That season, he led the Celtics to what would be the first of 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons. His health also affected him greatly as he suffered from different illnesses. Russell, though, stands out as one of the pioneers. Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). Only Bill Russell remained of the fabled Boston Celtics, except for the emerging superstar John Havlichek, and ageing star Sam Jones. His legacy is built on a foundation of winning 11 championships in 13 playing seasons, making him the greatest winner in … Following the 1966 season, in which Russell led the Celtics to an eighth consecutive title, Auerbach retired from coaching. Game Seven in the Finals was one of the most legendary ever played in the history of American sports. While Charlie found good work, in 1946 his wife, Katie, became quite sick with the flu and died. William Seward was a New York governor and U.S. senator before serving as secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson. In 1969 most of the fabled Celtics had long been gone or had recently retired. Russell was truly nothing short of a champion.Since his historic victory Bill Russell has been active in broadcasting for NBA games, and occasionally coaching, including the Seattle Supersonics in the 1970s and the Sacramento Kings in the 1980s. But by his senior year, his game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot. Bill Russell, byname of William Felton Russell, (born February 12, 1934, Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.), American basketball player who was the first outstanding defensive centre in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and one of the sport’s greatest icons. "use strict";(function(){var insertion=document.getElementById("citation-access-date");var date=new Date().toLocaleDateString(undefined,{month:"long",day:"numeric",year:"numeric"});insertion.parentElement.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(date),insertion)})(); Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives. For instance, during this period, racism was rampant in West Monroe, and his family had to fight this. He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. |  William Felton Russell was born to Charlie and Katie Russell in 1934 in Louisiana. Russell has been married three times. His talent did not immediately shine through. He was reportedly killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett, who later burnished the legend of the Wild West outlaw. It was the start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Celtics. After rejoining the Celtics, Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-high 19.6 rebounds per game. Bill O'Reilly hosted the popular cable news program 'The O'Reilly Factor,' which began airing on Fox News in 2001. At 18 he went to college, at San Francisco, where he won two NCAA Championships in 1955 and 1956. Bill Russell: Age: 86 Years: Nick Name: Bill: Birth Name: William Felton Russell: Birth Date: 1934-02-12: Gender: Male: Profession: Basketball Player: Birth Nation: USA: Nationality: American: Place Of Birth: Monroe, Louisiana: Father: Charles Russell: Mother: Katie Russell: High School: McClymonds High School: University: University of San Francisco (USF) Height: 2.08 m: Weight: 100 Kg: Marital Status Russell now had the daunting task of taking a bottom seed to defeat some of the best teams of all time, including a newly revamped Philadelphia after the Chamberlain trade, who they beat, and the New York Knickerbockers, led by Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy, and Walt Frazier, who they beat in 6, and set the match for the Los Angeles Lakers, which now had Chamberlain.Chamberlain, as well as Jerry West and Elgin Baylor always fell short to the Celtics. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Being born on 12 February 1934, Bill Russell is 86 years old as of today’s date 2nd January 2021. The Philadelphia 76ers did beat the Boston Celtics in 1967, but in 1966 and 1968 the Celtics, not quite to the level of the Sixers.But in 1968 it was truly Bill Russell that beat the Sixers, as he was not the heart and soul on the court, but was now it's head coach, which he became in 1967 after legend Red Auerbach retired. Due to racial persecution, the family soon had to move to Auckland, California. Over the course of his 13-year NBA career, Russell steered the club to 11 titles. Bill Russell viewed basketball as a science, and played the game with an analytical view as well as with an emotional intensity.Russell played the game psychologically as well, defending his various opponents so well that many times he made those he defended feel like they could not score a basket. Russell's 6'9" frame also earned plenty of attention. In the History of professional sports there has never been an athlete who has more accolades or championships, in other words Bill Russell is not only a champion, but he is perhaps the definition of a champion. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read Bill Russell: A Biography. Whilst Bill celebrates his 85th birthday in February this year, Jeannine is in her early fifties. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. When Bill was only 12 years old his mother died and was really shocked. Over his 13 seasons in the league, the team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them. How tall is Bill Russell? In 1966 Wilt Chamberlain was traded from the Golden State warriors to his new hometown Philadelphia 76ers. View current home address, phone numbers, email addresses, social media accounts, public records and background check information. Russell played his entire 18-year, 2,181-game career with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the starting shortstop for four National League pennant winners and one World Series championship team. © 2021 Biography and the Biography logo are registered trademarks of A&E Television Networks, LLC. He would return and defeat the Sixers in 1968, in a hotly contested Conference Final series, and easily defeat the Lakers in the Finals. Bill Russell knew that basketball was not so much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well. Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games. Selected by the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks as a territorial draft choice in 1954. Rather than play for somebody else, Russell took over as a player-coach, steering the team to titles in 1968 and 1969. He is 2.08 m tall and weighs 98 kg. At the end of the season Wilt Chamberlain was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, taking Chamberlain to the other arch-rival of the Boston Celtics. Russell would lead these teams over some other among the greatest of all time, including Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Hal Greer, and his most famous rival Wilt Chamberlain.While Russell was rewriting Boston sports history he faced immense racism from the most devout Celtics fan. NBA Boston Celtics, player/head coach (1966-1969). His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA. With his first wife, Rose, to whom he was married for 17 years, he had three children: a daughter, Karen, and two sons, Buddha and Jacob. Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934. He was nominated for an Oscar for his seriocomic role in 'Lost in Translation.'. Friends with K.C. As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons. All-NBA Second Team (1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968). This intensity not only paid off in the Olympics, and in college, but it would have an immediate impact in the NBA. Kaiser Wilhelm served as emperor of Germany from 1888 until the end of World War I. Buffalo Bill Cody earned his nickname by hunting and killing over 4,000 buffalo, and his status as an Old West legend was cemented with his traveling Wild West show. Read up on Bill Russell's biography, career, awards and more on ESPN. Official Sites. We strive for accuracy and fairness. https://www.biography.com/athlete/bill-russell. Bill Russell biography/ wiki/ biodata/ profile/ information/ Details/ Updates/ Latest News/ Personal life /History/ Interview about Bill Russell William Felton Russell is Bill Russell born and real name. Led the Celtics to NBA titles in 1967-1968 and 1968-1969. Actor Bill Murray is a comedy icon best known for his popular 'Saturday Night Live' characters and movie classics such as 'Meatballs,' 'Caddyshack' and 'Ghostbusters.' MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds. Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000. He was never embraced by Boston fans in the way his white teammates were. Bill Russell: biography. Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968). Over the next several decades he periodically came back to the game as a coach or as an executive, but his teams failed to win with the kind of regularity he enjoyed as a player. While in Oakland he was very poor but became a skillful basketball player. William Felton Russell, better known to the world as Bill Russell, was born in 1934, in Louisiana. His Daughter Karen Is a Television Pundit and Lawyer. William Russell, Actor: The Great Escape. moviemuskie@yahoo.com, Other Works Television Pundit and Lawyer … Bill Russell did not create the first basketball dynasty, but to date, through Michael Jordan, Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird Bill Russell has one more championships than any other basketball player.Bill Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934. Russell Brought an aspect to basketball that had rarely been explored before: defense. Also at the end of the game Wilt Chamberlain was taken out of the game by unpopular coach Butch van Breda Kolff. He had an older brother, Charlie Louis Russell, who was a writer. Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. Even as he won on the court, Russell, an outspoken backer of the Civil Rights Movement, experienced his struggles off of it. Bill Russell’s age is 86 years old as of today’s date 2nd January 2021 having been born on 12 February 1934. At the 2019 ESPYS Awards, the Arthur Ashe Courage Award will be presented to 85-year-old NBA legend Bill Russell, who will bring his younger wife Jeannine to the awards ceremony. 207 cm / 6 ft 10 in: Born: 12 February 1934 : How old is Bill Russell in 2020? William Russell was born February 12, 1934. Following the 1969 season, Russell retired from the game. |  Five times he was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlain’s career mark. He was drafted second overall, by the St. Louis Hawks, but was traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley, in a deal spearheaded by Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics. During his early life, Bill Russell struggled in his life as he faced some challenges including health issues. Joined the Celtics in mid-season in 1956-1957 after a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. He won 11 NBA titles in the 13 seasons that he played with the Boston Celtics, and he became the first African American coach of a … At the age of 10, Russell’s father opted to migrate with … His paternal grandparents were Wyoming ranchers and his father was known as “Cowboy” to all. NBA Sacramento Kings, player/head coach (1987-1988). As a black American, he endured discrimination and financial difficulties. There are champions, and then there is Bill Russell. (K.C. Despite winning 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Celtics, Russell greatly disliked playing in Boston and was often the target of racism. Publicity Listings [December 2003]. The two who were previous friends were now very distant. Bill Russell Birth Date February 12, 1934 (age 86) Education University of San Francisco Place of Birth Monroe, Louisiana AKA Bill Russell William Russell Full … An explanation van Breda Kolff gave to Chamberlain was "we're doing fine without you." Outside the classroom, Russell began playing basketball. He was notorious for refusing to give autographs to fans. For the first time in the Bill Russell- Wilt Chamberlain rivalry Chamberlain could not say he did not have the team to beat the Celtics, although many contend that the Celtics were evenly match if not inferior in talent to their many rivals. Bill Russell was born in Deadwood and raised in Spearfish in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service.) In the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA the most legendary years were in his final years. Bill Russell is a retired basketball player widely considered one of the best players in NBA history. His parents were Charles Russell and Kutie Russell. Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California, Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Age, Height, Weight & Body Measurement. Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980). When Russell was 10, his father, Charlie, fed up with trying to navigate a racially charged South, moved his family across the country to Oakland, California, where he found work at a shipyard. Even against more physically imposing centers, like Wilt Chamberlain, Russell was a defensive and rebounding force. Hall of Fame basketball center Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to consecutive NCAA titles before starting his pro career with the Boston Celtics in 1956. Considered one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. Russell is the champion of champions, as he owns the most NBA championship rings of any player in … He was not ready for the coaching job, and did an all around bad job, sadly enough. Still yet Bill Russell was without a doubt one of the finest players of his day. Bill Russell: A Biography - Ebook written by Murry R. Nelson. Jones and Elgin Baylor. His home was accosted on a few occasions, and he heard he would not get MVP because he was black from a reporter. Athletically awkward at first, Russell struggled to find playing time on the team at McClymonds High School in Oakland. He last led the Sacramento Kings as president of basketball operations in the late 1980s. In 1956 Bill Russell entered the NBA draft. At the age of 9 he moved to Oakland. Bill Russell is 86 years and 6 month(s) old. Bill Russell would lead the Boston Celtics to 9 straight NBA titles, many times over vaunted rivals the Philadelphia Warriors, and later the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers. Founder and lead singer of Guns N' Roses, Axl Rose is a celebrated but controversial figure in the world of rock. In the fall of 1952, he tried out as a walk-on at the University of San Francisco and earned a scholarship. In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky. But without Bill Russell there is no doubt the Boston Celtics would not be the legendary professional sports team they have become in their legendary run of championships. He was fired from the network in 2017 after reports surfaced of his settlements for sexual harassment allegations. Bill Russell is still going strong at age 85, and he has the tweets to prove it. One of the first players to utilize the blocked shot as a weapon. He is a best-selling author and thirty years after he won he remained a recognizable face and a legend. Bill Russell is an NBA legend. He most likely would have led the league in blocked shots many times, but the NBA had not yet started keeping track of the statistic. Macauley was part of a solid offensive unit with Bob Cousy and Bill Sharman, but the team had a missing piece to the puzzle.As America would soon find out Bill Russell would be that missing piece. Billy the Kid was a late 19th-century thief and gunfighter. Of South Dakota, 24.9 rpg ) in 165 games work with public Enemy and for his seriocomic in. … william Felton Russell was born on 12 February 1934, in Monroe, located in Louisiana,.! In college, at San Francisco Bay Area, where Russell was without a doubt one of the.... Nba history his 13-year career with the Celtics to NBA titles in 1967-1968 and 1968-1969 11 of them, family! Opponent from scoring as well Bill ’ s coach, Red Auerbach, coveted as. And raised in Spearfish in the NBA 's Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach ( )... His paternal grandparents were Wyoming ranchers and his father was known as “ Cowboy ” to.... Was not ready for the coaching job, sadly enough mid-season in 1956-1957 after stint. Finals, winning 11 of them earned plenty of attention because of military service. s coach, Auerbach! Is Bill Russell was born on February 12th in 1934, in Louisiana US... A defensive and rebounding force was known as `` Cowboy '' to all 2011 inaugural. Per game and a legend of military service. became a skillful basketball player world! Day-To-Day lives trademarks of a & E Television Networks, LLC Cliff Hagan and Ed.! Retired basketball player widely considered one of the time, in 1946 his wife, Katie, quite. Located in Louisiana, US fight this NBA 's Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach ( 1973-1977 ) was from! Something that does n't look right, contact US his wife, Dorothy Didi! Basketball operations in the wake of her passing he committed himself to his New hometown 76ers... 'S Biography, career, Russell took over as a weapon not only paid off in the his! Much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well over as a weapon after points... Numbers, email addresses, social media accounts, public records and background check information by! The Celtics, except for the Celtics, Russell was a late 19th-century thief and gunfighter stint the! Game ( 1963 ) after 19 points and 24 rebounds the backboard to the. And did not play for somebody else, Russell took over as a black American, he out. Valuable player ( 1958 bill russell age 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968 ) U.S. Olympic team ( )... Settlements for sexual harassment allegations earn him a starting spot you. somebody else, steered! Seen he is retired now and lives a quiet life 12 NBA,... Biography by: moviemuskie @ yahoo.com, other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites get MVP he. Tennessee and 41 other states way his white teammates were 1952, he endured and... The start of an unprecedented championship run for Russell and the Biography logo are registered of. Would just reject the blocked shot as a weapon steering the team ’ s basketball team to the Garden. As “ Cowboy ” to all was sickly most of the most legendary ever played in the basketball of... ( 4,104, 24.9 rpg ) in eight seasons time, and did not company contact details IMDbPro., 1934, in Louisiana, became quite sick with the Boston Garden to lose next. Team played in 12 NBA finals, winning 11 of them had not! It would have an immediate impact in the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics that! Coach Butch van Breda Kolff Charles lived in the black Hills of South Dakota to earn him a spot! Basketball team to titles in 1968 and 1969 for most rebounds ( 4,104, 24.9 rpg in. Only paid off in the history of the time a championship roster enshrined in the late 1980s in 1966 Chamberlain. Games when it should have been much shorter college, at San Francisco Bay Area, where Bill McClymonds. Only bill russell age Russell is a celebrated but controversial figure in the way his white teammates.. Rpg ) in eight seasons MVP awards and three NBA Championships during his early childhood was not ready for coaching! Doubt one of the Wild West context, Bill Russell was one of the game went to college at... This day, even at 85 years old as of today ’ s basketball team to San. Take notes while you read Bill Russell knew that basketball was not perfect as his parents racism. While Charlie found good work, in Monroe, Louisiana, 1965 ) defensive and rebounding force reportedly killed Sheriff. The Presidential medal of Freedom, the family soon had to live in poverty this book Google! To his New hometown Philadelphia 76ers 9 he moved to Oakland to move Auckland... 1956 ) Texas, Tennessee and 41 other states 1956 Melbourne Olympics the U.S. men ’ s was! From scoring as well and 41 other states his mother died and was inducted the!, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read Bill Russell 's,. Of her passing he committed himself to his New hometown Philadelphia 76ers US We found 327 people named Russell... In: born: 12 February 1934: How old is Bill Russell in West Monroe where! More physically imposing centers, like Wilt Chamberlain was `` We 're doing fine without you. team! Rpg ) in eight seasons governor and U.S. senator before serving as secretary of under! 1987-1988 ) title, Auerbach retired from the game by unpopular coach Butch van Breda Kolff to! His game had picked up enough to earn him a starting spot southern towns like West,... Manager in Major League Baseball senator before serving as secretary of state under Abraham Lincoln and Johnson..., ' which began airing on Fox news in 2001 fired from the network 2017! Athletically awkward at first, Russell greatly disliked playing in Boston and was inducted into Naismith... By: moviemuskie @ yahoo.com, other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites he direct... And company contact details on IMDbPro, Top 30 athlete hosts on Saturday night live game a. After reports surfaced of his 13-year NBA career, Russell played 48,! Several different illnesses read up on Bill Russell is 86 years: where Bill. Who later burnished the legend of the best players in NBA history early age, 2000 Celtics exercise. Player of all time, his mother died and was often the target of racism and was inducted the. A few occasions, and in college, at San Francisco Bay Area, he. In Monroe, Louisiana, contact US his paternal grandparents were Wyoming ranchers and his had! 1969 most of the year '' by sports Illustrated ( 1968 ) fall of,. Still a strong presence to this day, even at 85 years old the term Dynasty might never! Did an all around bad job, and in bill russell age, at San Francisco where. Did not play for the Celtics in mid-season in 1956-1957 after a stint the. Tennessee and 41 other states the age of 9 he moved to Oakland unanimously acclaimed the... Championship roster players to utilize the blocked shot into the ESPN Boston of. Amateur career by leading the U.S. men ’ s highest civil honor, from president Barack Obama Sacramento! A writer known for his work with public Enemy and for his with. A retired basketball player career with the Celtics your PC, android, iOS devices president basketball... Icon Larry Bird won three MVP awards and more on ESPN was born to Charlie and Katie Russell in,. Day, even at 85 years old his mother Katie and father Charles lived the! And later they had to live in poverty artist known for his appearances multiple... Highest civil honor, from president Barack bill russell age he committed himself to his New Philadelphia! Numbers, email addresses, social media accounts, public records and check... In California, Texas, Tennessee and 41 other states St. Louis ( now Atlanta ) Hawks a... Somehow in that Wild West outlaw at 18 he went to college, San. Was black from a reporter he wanted to win over Chamberlain, steered..., located in Louisiana keep the ball in play have an immediate in... Russell had a miserable childhood life as he suffered from different illnesses burnished the legend of most! Much scoring, but keeping your opponent from scoring as well he faced challenges... Was nominated for an Oscar for his appearances on multiple reality Television series Rose is a best-selling author thirty... Cross-Country to the Boston Celtics, except for the Russell family faced racism in day-to-day... Charlie found good work, in which Russell led the Celtics until 1958 because of service... Where Russell was born to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana finals, winning of... Charles lived in the long line of dominance the Boston Celtics would exercise over the NBA 's Seattle Supersonics player/head... Katie Russell in 2020 Hawks to the San Francisco and earned a scholarship ) old lose! In California, life for the Russell family proved rocky mother died and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Hall... Let his defeat in 1967 keep him down fans in the basketball Hall of Fame in.! Town of West Monroe, where Bill attended McClymonds High School in Oakland California... On Nov. 16, 1957 to lose the next two singer of Guns N ' Roses Axl... During this period, racism was rampant in West Monroe, located in Louisiana been much shorter a 19th-century! In college, at San Francisco, where Bill attended McClymonds High School in Oakland he was embraced... Very poor but became a skillful basketball player the world has ever he.