Bill Russell Wiki, Age, Bio, Height, Wife, Career, and Net Worth

Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player and civil rights activist. He passed away at the age of 88 and was of American nationality.

Wiki, Bio, Family, Siblings, Childhood & Education

William Felton Russell, better known as Bill Russell, was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, United States of America. He passed away at the age of 88 and was of American nationality. Furthermore, he was born under the sign of Aquarius and is a Christian.

Charles Russell (father) and Katie Russell are his parents (mother). Furthermore, he grew up in a racially segregated neighborhood, and his family was frequently subjected to widespread acts of racism. He grew up in poverty and had a difficult childhood. His mother died when he was only twelve years old.

In terms of academics, he went to McClymonds High School and began playing basketball there. His coach, George Powles, encouraged him to develop his skills and become a good player. He was awarded a scholarship by the University of San Francisco (USF). He was overjoyed to have received this scholarship because it enabled him to escape a life of poverty and racism.

Furthermore, he excelled at USF under Coach Phil Woolpert, who assisted him in developing his defensive technique. He emerged as the focal point of a USF team that grew into a formidable college basketball team.

Bill Russell’s Age, Height, Weight, and Body Dimensions

Bill is 6 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 100 kg. Furthermore, he has white hair and brown eyes, and there is no information about his other body measurements.

 Bill Russell’s Profession & Career

The Boston Celtics selected Bill Russell in the 1956 NBA Draft because of his defensive toughness and rebounding abilities. He was named captain of the United States national basketball team, which competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics and won a gold medal. He began playing for the Celtics in the 1956-1957 season in December 1956.

In 48 games, he averaged 14.7 points and 19.6 rebounds per game. The Celtics were already a high-scoring team, but Russell’s arrival accentuated their advantages. He had 16 points, 31 rebounds, and 7 blocks in his first NBA playoff game against the Syracuse Nationals in 1957.

The Celtics won 108-89 and swept the Nationals in three games. The Celtics won 14 straight games to begin the 1957-1958 season. He was named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for that season. He continued his incredible play in the 1958-59 season, averaging 16.7 points and 23.0 rebounds per game. The Celtics’ 52 victories set a league record.

The Celtics faced the Philadelphia Warriors in November 1959. Because Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell were both outstanding centers, the game was primarily viewed as a duel between them. The Celtics won by a score of 115-106. In 1960-61, he led his team to a 57-22 record, averaging 16.9 points and 23.9 rebounds per game.

The following season, the Celtics became the first team to win 60 games in a season, and he was named NBA Most Valuable Player for the second time. He averaged 24.7 rebounds and 15.0 points per game during the 1963-1964 season. During the 1964-1965 season, he continued to shine, assisting the Celtics in winning a league-high 62 games.

Career coaching and other projects

Red Auerbach, the Celtics’ coach, resigned before the 1966-1967 season. He was given the opportunity to work as a player-coach, which he took, making him the first NBA coach of African American descent. Furthermore, he was getting older and more tired, and his numbers were gradually declining during the 1967-1968 season. He maintained his 12.5 points and 18.6 rebounds per game average.

His playing career ended when he was 35 years old. He coached the Sacramento Kings from 1987 to 1988 and the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973 to 1977 after retiring. Bill Russell joined the NBA on ABC in 1971 to commentate on the Game of the Week. During the 1970s and early 1980s, he worked as a color commentator for CBS and TBS, became a vegetarian, and took up golf. However, he found broadcasting unsettling.

On November 3, 1979, he hosted Saturday Night Live and appeared in several sports-related sketches. In addition, he wrote books, most of which he co-wrote with a published author, such as 1979’s Second Wind, and he played Judge Roger Ferguson in the Miami Vice episode “The Fix” (aired March 7, 1986).

Awards

He was one of the most successful basketball players in American history. He won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics. Bill Russell was the first NBA player to average more than 20 rebounds per game for an entire season, and he is only the second player in NBA history to have 51 rebounds in a single game.

He was named to the all-NBA First Team three times and won five MVP awards during the regular season. In 2011, President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement both on and off the court.

Bill Russell Caption: Former American President Barack Obama awarded Bill Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his contributions to the Civil Rights Movement both on and off the court (Source: Obama White House Archives)

Bill Russell’s Salary and Net Worth

Bill’s net worth was estimated to be around $10 million at the time of his death. Aside from that, there is no other information available about his earnings and income.

Bill Russell’s Wife, Marriage & Relationship

Bill Russell was married three times. First, in 1956, he married his college sweetheart Rose Swisher. The couple has three children from their marriage: daughter Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. The couple divorced in 1973, however.

In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, a white woman who had previously been Miss USA. Their brief marriage ended in divorce in 1980. Marilyn Nault was his third wife, and they were married until 2009. Jeannine Russell and Bill married in 2018 when he was 84 years old.

Death

He died on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88, at his home in Mercer Island, Washington. His death was caused by natural causes, such as old age.

Bill Russell’s Social Media(Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)

Bill is no longer present in this world. As a result, he is not active on social media platforms such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

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