[56] Russell never had to work part-time. "[201], Russell was driven by "a neurotic need to win", as his Celtic teammate Tom Heinsohn observed. Yet its important to note that the happily married Seattle, Washington resident has since been serving at King Countys Metro Transit, where he currently holds the post of Transit Operator. I could always be myself with them and they were always there for me. [129] Russell also received honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007,[130] and from Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. [56] This skill allowed the other Celtics to play their men aggressively; if they were beaten, they knew that Russell was guarding the basket. [50], The St. Louis Hawks, who owned the second pick, drafted Russell but were vying for Celtics center Ed Macauley, a six-time NBA All-Star who had roots in St. Louis. In addition to his career accomplishments, Russell was a prominent human rights activist in sports. When the NBA All-Stars toured the U.S. in the 1958 offseason, white hotel owners in segregated North Carolina denied rooms to Russell and his black teammates, causing him to later write in his 1966 memoir Go Up for Glory: "It stood out, a wall which understanding cannot penetrate. In a 2018 Halloween post, Bill wrote that he and Jeannine "go together like Bacon & Eggs". Although the middle child of Bill Sr. and Rose Swisher (born on July 6, 1959), Jacob is arguably the simplest member of the prominent Russell family in almost every sense of the term. Heinsohn felt that Russell resented him because the former was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. When the Celtics drafted Chuck Cooper and they came into Washington, D.C., to sign his contract, Walter Brown the owner of the team walked up to him and said: 'Mr. "[207] To teammates and friends, Russell was open and amicable; he was extremely distrusting and cold towards anyone else. The couple tied the knot in 1956 before parting ways in 1973. Auerbach had informed his players to not endorse candidates or causes, as it would alienate fans; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. [5] Russell was known as one of the most clutch players in the NBA. Bill Russell was born to Charles and Katie Russell on February 12, 2022, in West Monroe, Louisiana. "[60] Before the 196162 season, Russell's team was scheduled to play in an exhibition game in Lexington, Kentucky, when Russell and his black teammates were refused service at a local restaurant. "[101] The game still ended on a high note for Russell. [143][156] Russell is universally seen as one of the best NBA players ever,[5] and he was declared "Greatest Player in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America in 1980. [223] He thanked Chamberlain for taking him to the limit and "making [him] a better player", and the crowd for "allowing [him] to be a part of their lives. To our children . He stood side-by-side with Dr. Martin Luther King in the 1960s, the height of the civil rights movement. "[49], In the 195960 NBA season, the NBA witnessed the debut of 7ft 1in (2.16m) Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain, who averaged a record 37.6 points per game in his rookie year. 6 to be retired across NBA following legend's death last month", "Chat Transcript: Celtics Legend Bill Russell", "Russell 'So good, he scares you' Mikan", "Bill Russell Named Boston Celtic Coach; Basketball Star To Draw $125,001 Salary a Record for a Pro Coach or Manager He'll Take over Next Season", "Who's Better At Hoops: Bill Russell Or Frank Robinson? The game featured Shane Battier, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Obama's friends from high school. ( Source : twitter ) The NBA icon and Olympian Bill Russell has passed away as of July 31, bringing down a part of basketball with him. [18][169] However, the NBA players who currently wore the number 6 jersey (i.e. [202] Later in Russell's career, John Havlicek said of his teammate and coach that he threw up less often than early in his career, only doing so "when it's an important game or an important challenge for himsomeone like Chamberlain, or someone coming up that everyone's touting. She's also provided commentary on the high-profile cases of NBA players like Kobe Bryant and Jayson Williams. She was born on January 20, 1962. Karen Russell is a legal and political expert as well as a blogger. Rose Swisherwas Bill's first wife. Despite the former Miss USA 1968 and Russell being happy at first, things took a turn south, and they divorced in 1980. Over 50 percent of responses said 'There's too many black players. Bill Russells daughter, Karen, was born on January 20, 1962. [69] It was the record for most rebounds in a single game until November 24, 1960, when Chamberlain grabbed 55 rebounds against Russell,[13] who led the Celtics to a 132129 win over the Philadelphia Warriors with 18 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. In a game called as "unreal" and "devoid of emotion", the Sixers lost 127118 on April 5. [115] While Russell long had sore feelings towards Boston, there was something of a reconciliation, and he visited the city regularly in his later years, something he never did in the years immediately after his retirement. Constantly provoked by New York Knicks center Ray Felix during a game, he complained to coach Auerbach, who told him to take matters into his own hands. [180] In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968;[180] they divorced in 1980. [186] His older brother was the noted playwright Charlie L. [132][133] In 2008, Russell received the Golden Plate Award of the Academy of Achievement. [5], Despite his limitations on offense, as Russell averaged 15.1 points per game, his rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. He made a free throw, blocked a shot by Sixers player Chet Walker, grabbed a rebound off a miss by Greer, and passed the ball to teammate Sam Jones, who scored to clinch the win. "[213] Describing the Celtics organization, as distinguished from Boston sports fans in the 1950s and 1960s, as very progressive racially, Russell recalled in 2010 a list of the organization's accomplishments on racial progress both in terms of objective milestones and his own subjective experience as a member of the organization. Oliver Hudson. He led the San Francisco Dons to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956,[4] and he captained the gold-medal winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics. Meet Bill Russell's Children. Auerbach, Red and John Feinstein. Russell described himself as an avid reader of Dell Magazines' 1950s sports publications, which he used to scout opponents' moves for the purpose of defending against them. [19] When he later became a standout college player at USF, Russell recalled how he and his few fellow black teammates were jeered by white students. After much debate, Auerbach agreed to give up Hagan and the Hawks made the trade. He was in the . [122] Russell also wrote books, usually written as a joint project with a professional writer, including 1979's Second Wind,[123] and played Judge Roger Ferguson in the Miami Vice episode "The Fix" (aired March 7, 1986). [93], In the 1965 NBA playoffs, the Celtics played the Eastern Division Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. William Jr was born on November 2, 1957,. [59] In the highly-competitive Game 7, Russell tried his best to slow down Pettit, as Heinsohn scored 37 points and kept the Celtics alive;[59] Russell contributed by completing the famous "Coleman Play", as he ran down Hawks forward Jack Coleman, who had received an outlet pass at midcourt, and blocked his shot despite the fact that Russell had been standing at his own baseline when the ball was thrown to Coleman. The teams split the first six games. [206], Russell was known for his distinctive high-pitched laugh, of which Auerbach quipped: "There are only two things that could make me quit coaching. They had three children: daughter Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob. "[5][121] On November 3, 1979, Russell hosted Saturday Night Live, in which he appeared in several sports-related sketches. He was voted the NBA Most Valuable Player but only named to the All-NBA Second Team, something that would occur repeatedly throughout his career, as players voted for the MVP award, something that would last until the 197980 NBA season, while the media has always voted for the All-NBA teams. "[49] The next day, The Boston Globe read: "Russell's Reflexes Befuddles Visitors. [94] In Game 5, Russell contributed with 12 points, 28 rebounds, and 7 assists, plus 10 blocks and 6 steals; blocks and steals became officially recorded statistics in the 197374 NBA season. When I sent you to Harvard, I expected you to be able to do the same. At the time of his death, Bill was married to his fourth wife, Jeannine. His parents, Charles and Katie Russell, decided they would not raise their children in this environment. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. In 1987, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times titled, Growing Up With Privilege and Prejudice.. [51] During that same draft, Boston also drafted guard K. C. Jones, Russell's former USF teammate, and managed to draft three future Basketball Hall of Famers: Russell, Jones, and Heinsohn. [60], The Celtics finished the 195657 regular season with a 4428 record, the team's second-best record since beginning play in the 194647 BAA season, which guaranteed Russell his first NBA playoffs appearance,[61] where the Celtics met with the Syracuse Nationals, a team led by Dolph Schayes, through the Eastern Division Finals. My wife and Russell's laugh. [196] Russell also had a shoe designed by Bristol Manufacturing Corporation in 1966, the Bill Russell Professional Basketball Shoe. The champion marched with Martin Luther King for civil rights. [106], Russell and the Celtics achieved upsets over the 76ers and the Knicks to earn a meeting with the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1969 NBA Finals. Bill Russell was also playing for the US National basketball team, where he was the team captain during the 1956 Summer Olympics, and in fact, the team won it. As the teams split the first six games, the tension was so high that in Game 3 Celtics coach Auerbach punched his colleague Ben Kerner and received a $300 fine. [59], At the start of the 195758 NBA season, the Celtics won fourteen straight games and continued to succeed. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972,[113] Russell had worn the same number 6 at the USF and for the 1956 U.S. Olympic team. She then chose to stay well away from the spotlight while still co-parenting their children, but alas, it all ended on September 11, 2014, as she passed away at the age of 78 owing to some natural health problems. [107] Russell then reversed himself and ordered his team to double-team West and Boston won Game 3. [184][185] He was a resident of Mercer Island, Washington, for over four decades. Nothing went on outside the borders of the court. We won the National Championship. [136] During halftime of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Celtics captains Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce presented Russell a surprise birthday cake for his 75th birthday. So Hirsch went to Seattle to have lunch with Russell and his daughter, attorney Karen Russell. [140] Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday at the White House tennis court. He was notorious for his public surliness and judgmental attitude towards others. Of the book, Bill Bradley wrote for The New York Times Book Review that "Bill Russell is a private, complex man, but on the subject of his love of Red Auerbach and his Celtic teammates, he's loud and clear. When their family uprooted to Oakland, California, they lived in the projects. However, the NBA player did have children from his previous marriage. Russell . If that isn't goaltending, I want somebody to tell me what it is. Bill answered, I played for the Celtics, period I did not play for Boston. So after the season was over, they had a Northern California banquet, and they picked another center as Player of the Year in Northern California. These statues were modeled by a local boy from Somerville and multiple girls from the surrounding area. Bill Russell wound up married to his second wife, Dorothy, in 1977. [5], On February 5, 1960, Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124100 win over the Syracuse Nationals. The truth is she had to pursue different opportunities to make money for herself since she wanted to attend university, which ultimately led her to the glamorous world of pageantry. William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. [61] Russell scored 21 points and grabbed an NBA Finals-record 40 rebounds, plus an assist, in a Game 2 loss,[73] and he added 22 points and 35 rebounds, along with 4 assists,[74] in the deciding Game 7, a 122103 victory for Boston. Updated. NBA Legend Bill Russell receives the 2017 NBA Lifetime Achievement Award. She already does volunteer work as a tutor for underprivileged children in her hometown.. Russell said he was "proud of my grandfather's heroic dignity against forces more powerful than him he would not allow himself to be oppressed or intimidated by anyone." She has had many amazing accomplishments in her life. In fact, she is even a qualified attorney as she earned her Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from Harvard Law School after obtaining a Bachelors in Philosophy as well as Government from Georgetown University. equal . [2] Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record of the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. [49][89], In the 196364 NBA season, the Celtics posted a league-best 5822 record in the regular season. I like most blacks because I am black." Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal . Unfortunately, everything changed in late 2015 as Bill was diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer that had already spread to his liver, especially as it was too advanced to even consider surgery. From Michael Jordan's unparalleled scoring . He was born on November 2, 1957, and spent several years working for Cox Trucking. Many people thought that Russell was more important even though he had only played half the season. As part of the 1961 Celtics boycott, he and the other black teammates refused to play in the exhibition game and flew home, drawing a great deal of controversy and publicity. They were college darlings. [120] In addition, Russell ran into financial trouble. It's all over! As the son of one of Hollywood's most beloved . Fri 5 Aug 2022 10.44 EDT. [197], In 1966, The New York Times wrote that "Russell's main characteristics are pride, intelligence, an active and appreciative sense of humor, a preoccupation with dignity, a capacity for consideration once his friendship or sympathy has been aroused, and an unwillingness to compromise whatever truths he has accepted. It was reportedly back on January 8, 2018, that Jeannine and Bill got married in a private ceremony surrounded by loved ones, just for the union to last until his demise on July 23, 2022. Cooper, the Boston Celtics will never embarrass you.' As Russell takes to the stage to accept the award, some fans may grow curious about his family and children. Bill Russell is survived by three children: Jacob, William Russell Jr, and Karen. Arthur was a man of great courage. This was in contrast to other Celtics who had to work during the offseason to maintain their standard of living; Tom Heinsohn sold insurance, Gene Guarilia was a professional guitar player, Cousy ran a basketball camp, and Red Auerbach invested in plastics and a Chinese restaurant. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russells often struggled with racism in their daily lives. [15], Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. "[214], In 1966, Russell was promoted to head coach of the Celtics. You are a Negro. He shared all three kids with his first wife Rose Swisher. 6 jersey to be retired throughout NBA", "NBA players who currently wear No. [209] He was livid with Russell and saw him as a backstabber. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Please watch: "FULL KYRIE IRVING and GORDON HAYWARD CELTICS Press Conference" youtube.com/watch?v=f7FoDj4-Nzw -~-~~-~~~-~~-~-, Karen Rusell penned an article for the New York Times. [5] He was also known as a fine passer and pick-and-roll setter, featured a decent left-handed hook shot, and finished strong on alley oops. DON'T FORGET TO; SUBSCRIBE+LIKE+COMMENTBill Russell is an American retired professional basketball player, author, NBA legend, and a philanthropist. [12] Russell averaged 16.6 points per game and a league-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. The first [NBA organization] to hire a black [head] coach was the Boston Celtics, and they've had at least five [black head-coaches] over the years. She had actually relocated to Seattle, Washington (his base home) following her high school graduation and was working as a jewelry salesperson when they began building a life together. [4] In his USF years, Russell took advantage of his relative lack of bulk to develop a unique defensive style: instead of purely guarding the opposing center, he used his quickness and speed to play help defense against opposing forwards and aggressively challenge their shots. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 because of military service. But there's another type who makes the players around him look better than they are, and that's the type Russell was. I was first team All American. Karen has a B.A. At age 35, Russell contributed with 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists in his last NBA game. He wrote these words after recounting how grandfather Jake Russell had stood up to the Ku Klux Klan and other whites who attempted to thwart his efforts to build a schoolhouse for black children; his grandfather was the first person in Russell's patrilineal line born free in North America and was himself illiterate. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me. They had three children: daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr. and Jacob. He worked hard and used the benefits of a growth spurt to become a decent basketball player. [78] At that time, he became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, joining Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. Karen Russell. Russell averaged . "[49], Duiring the 196869 NBA season, Russell was shocked by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, and weary from his increasingly stale marriage to his wife Rose; the couple later divorced. [109][220], Russell refused to attend the ceremony when his jersey No. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. Frank Robinson, a future member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates. [56], Russell was an elite help defender who allowed the Celtics to play the "Hey, Bill" defense: whenever a Celtic requested additional defensive help, he would shout "Hey, Bill!" @NBATV before Game 6 of 2013 #NBAFinals. In his 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Boston Celtics, Bill Russell, who has died aged 88, won . Karen is Bill's most well known child, and the only daughter from his union with Rose. Tune in July 10, this is a special honor! [4][8] While at USF, he and Jones helped pioneer a play that later became known as the alley-oop. [49] He ranks No. [189] On October 16, 2013, Russell was arrested for bringing his registered, loaded .38-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun to the SeattleTacoma International Airport. 6 for most regular season MVPNBA Finals MVP awards, despite the latter being assigned only since 1969. [152] In 2009, Russell's erstwhile Knicks opponent Bill Bradley wrote in The New York Times Book Review that Russell "was the smartest player ever to play the game [of basketball]". The couple has 3 children whose name is Karen Russell, William Jr, and Jacob. [160] In 2009, Slam named him the third best player of all-time behind Jordan and Chamberlain. Russell's daughter, Karen, is a legal and political analyst, as well as a blogger. After the next provocation, Russell pounded Felix to the point of unconsciousness, paid a modest $25 fine, and rarely was the target of cheap fouls thereafter. Their union sadly lasted for a mere three years, and since then, it appears as if the now 75-year-old has preferred to lead a quiet life in the wonderous city of Seatle in the heart of King County. In a statement, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that Russell was "the greatest champion in all of team sports". ", "Basketball Players who Caused Rule Changes by Ron Kurtus", "The Bill Russell Story: More Than A Champion", "NCAA Basketball Tourney History: Two by Four", "Stanford Trackmen Finish Fourth in Fresno Relays; Leamon King Equals Century World Record; Landy Runs Mile in 3.59.1; Russell Nears Mark", "Bill Russell attempting to clear 69 1/4. Bill Russell had three kids, Karen, William Jr., and Jacob. 1934-American basketball player. Marilyn Nault Russell would end up as the step-mother of Bill's children from his previous marriage to Rose Swisher. [188] Russell was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, having been initiated into its Gamma Alpha chapter while a student at University of San Francisco. The Celtics won Game 4 in an upset, but the Hawks prevailed in Games 5 and 6, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6. "[165] In 2000, his longtime teammate Tom Heinsohn described both Russell's stature and his uneasy relationship with Boston more earthily, saying: "Look, all I know is the guy came to Boston and won 11 championships in 13 years, and they named a bleeping tunnel after Ted Williams. Date Divorced. Russell responded to the honor by tweeting, Just found out I will be receiving the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, Bill Russell and Rose with their son, William Felton Jr, in 1958, Former Boston Celtics basketball star Bill Russell alongside his daughter, Karen Kenyatta Russell, England win Women's Euro 2022 LIVE REACTION: Party at Trafalgar Square as thousands celebrate, Queen sends praise, Proud captain Williamson vows to lap up England's Euros triumph and calls on fans to go to WSL games, We should be cheering on female footie stars in the same way we support the men, Women's football will never be the same again thanks to Lionesses' extraordinary victory, Adam Peaty stunned at Commonwealth Games as Brit hero loses 100m race for first time EVER and misses medal, England's Lionesses roar with pride as they celebrate their history-making Euro 2022 triumph. [30] Woolpert's choice of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. [117] He finished with a 341290 regular season record and was 3427 in the playoffs. . Russell, a legend on the court and in the civil rights movement, has been an integral part of MENTOR since its inception more than 30 years ago and has remained steadfastly committed as a champion of the mentoring movement. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman's clothing". [18], Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. [55] Russell's first Celtics game came on December 22, 1956, against the St. Louis Hawks, led by star forward Bob Pettit, who would go on to hold several all-time scoring records. Bill Russell Receives the 2017 NBA Lifetime Achievement Award | NBA on TNT. She then chose to stay well away from the spotlight while still co-parenting their children, but alas, it all ended on September 11, 2014, as she passed away at the age of 78 owing to some natural health problems. He replied: "Yes." I'm certainly going to ask Maurice Podoloff." Although Russell was a good runner and jumper and had large hands,[20] he did not understand the game and was cut from the team at Herbert Hoover Junior High School. I was the MVP at the Final Four. Alex Wong/Getty Images. As reported by Sportskeeda, William was employed by Cox Trucking. As for Jeannines current standing, the former competitive professional golfer with several accolades in the Canadian Womens Tour seemingly still resides in Washington, where shes trying to deal with her grief in private. The relationship between the two was tenuous at best. He married Rose Swisher on 9th December 1956, after dating her for several years. In 1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to start three African-American players: K. C. Jones, Hal Perry, and Russell. [53] His former USF and future Celtics teammate K. C. Jones joined him on the Olympic squad and contributed 10.9 points per game,[54] including a RussellJones combined 29 points in the finals. In 1975, he was inducted into the basketball hall of fame. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972. The NCAA had previously prohibited goaltending in response to George Mikan (1945) and later banned the dunk shot due to Lew Alcindor (1967), although the latter rule was later repealed. [138][139] Russell was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in 2011. In this article, we take a look at how many kids Bill Russell had and who they are. Asked by Russell what was wrong, his grandfather replied how proud he was of him, being coach of an organization in which blacks and whites coexisted in harmony. In Game 6, Russell recorded his first career triple-double with 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists as the Celtics won 119105. Although the middle child of Bill Sr. and Rose Swisher (born on July 6, 1959), Jacob is arguably the simplest member of the prominent Russell family in almost every sense of the term. '"[203], In a retrospective interview, Russell described the state of mind he felt he needed to enter in order to be able to play basketball: "I had to almost be in a rage. Performance & security by Cloudflare. [56] He also became famous for his shot-blocking skills and pundits called his blocks "Wilsonburgers", referring to the Wilson NBA basketballs he "shoved back into the faces of opposing shooters". [13], Russell played in the wake of black pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, and he was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. A post shared by Bill Russell (@realbillrussell) on Oct 7, 2018 at 10:07pm PDT. I refuse to smile and be nice to the kiddies. [190], Russell died at his Mercer Island, Washington, home on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. UCLA Bruins coach John Wooden called Russell "the greatest defensive man I've ever seen". If you were too sheltered, you might not be motivated to help others who do not have your advantages.'. Its thus unclear how she and Bill even came across one another after his divorce from Rose was finalized, yet the then-Washington residents did build a connection before getting married in 1977. [21] Of Russell the college basketball player, Mikan said: "Let's face it, he's the best ever. Your login session has expired. In 1977, Bill Russell married his 2nd wife, Dorothy Anstett, who had won the Miss USA beauty pageant in 1968. From his early childhood years, Williams Jr. was fascinated by trucks, and that is why he pursued his passion of being a driver. Bill Russell- a pioneer of NBA, legendary player, Hall of Famer, activist, and Boston Celtics icon who had bagged five MVPs awards and 11 Championships in his career, died on July 31, 2022, due to natural reasons at his home at the age of 88. In the first two games, Russell ordered his players not to double-team West, who used the freedom to score 53 and 41 points in the Game 1 and 2 Laker wins. Russell also ignored Heinsohn's request for an autograph on behalf of his cousin and openly said to Heinsohn that he deserved half of his $300 Rookie of the Year check. In the 1961 NBA playoffs, the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 41 in the Eastern Division Finals. [112] His No. [68] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. His wife name is Jeannine Russell. [98] His second choice was Cousy, who declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. Thus Russell initialized as the first black head coach in NBA history. Bill Russell: Legend tells the remarkable life and legacy of an NBA superstar and civil rights icon." Sadly, Bill passed away on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. [19] In another incident, Russell's mother was walking outside in a fancy dress when a white policeman accosted her. After the loss, he led his grandfather through the Celtics locker rooms and the two saw the white Celtic Havlicek taking a shower next to his black teammate Sam Jones and discussing the game.