[5], In the 196465 NBA season, the Celtics won a league-record 62 games and Russell averaged 14.1 points and 24.1 rebounds per game, winning his second consecutive rebounding title and his fifth MVP award. Schayes, who had become the 76ers coach, said: "The Celtics can thank the Good Lord for Bill Russell. Bill Russell Net Worth As a freshman at McClymonds High School in Oakland,[23][24] Russell was almost cut again;[25] as he saw Russell's raw athletic potential, coach George Powles encouraged him to work on his fundamentals. His talent did not immediately shine through. [39][40] During his college career, Russell was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1955, averaging 20.7 points per game and 20.3 rebounds per game. The Celtics managed a 108-89 victory and swept the Nationals in three games. [126], Russell made few public appearances in the early 1990s, living as a near-recluse on Mercer Island, Washington, near Seattle. [1] The Celtics won the 1966 NBA Finals and their eighth consecutive title. The owner of the Hawks called Auerbach later and demanded more in the trade. [69] Both men awed onlookers with "nakedly awesome athleticism",[69] and while Chamberlain outscored Russell 30 to 22, the Celtics won 115106, and the match was called a "new beginning of basketball". [5] Russell is the all-time playoff leader in total (4,104) and average (24.9) rebounds per game, he grabbed 40 rebounds in three separate playoff games (twice in the NBA Finals), and he never failed to average at least 20 rebounds per game in any of his thirteen playoff campaigns. 4 BEAUTIFUL WIVES OF NBA LEGEND BILL RUSSELL RIP "[208] To teammates and friends, Russell was open and amicable; he was extremely distrusting and cold towards anyone else. In its announcement, the WCC stated: "The 'Russell Rule' requires each member institution to include a member of a traditionally underrepresented community in the pool of final candidates for every athletic director, senior administrator, head coach and full-time assistant coach position in the athletic department. [The sound of Russell throwing up] is a welcome sound, too, because it means he's keyed up for the game, and around the locker room we grin and say, 'Man, we're going to be all right tonight. When Russell was eight years old, his father moved the family out of Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California. "[100][216] As a result of repeated racial bigotry, Russell refused to respond to fan acclaim or friendship from his neighbors, thinking it was insincere and hypocritical. They had three children and divorced in 1973. [211] After that, the two were often seen together at various events and interviewed as friends. The relationship between the two was tenuous at best. Bill Russell: Early Life and Education. [224] In 1995, the Celtics left the Boston Garden and entered the FleetCenter, now known as the TD Garden; as the main festive act, the Celtics wanted to re-retire Russell's jersey in front of a sellout audience. [67] Lakers head coach John Kundla praised Russell, stating: "We don't fear the Celtics without Bill Russell. Five times he was named the NBAs Most Valuable Player, and his 21,620 rebounds are second only to Chamberlains career mark. He's the guy who whipped us psychologically. [57] Russell never had to work part-time. Bill Russell The basketball star and his fourth wife Jeannine had continued to [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. 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. His time as a non-player coach was lackluster; he led the struggling SuperSonics into the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but Russell's defensive, team-oriented Celtics mindset did not mesh well with the team, and he left in 1977 with a 162166 record. William Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana. [110] Journalists were often treated to the "Russell Glower", described as an "icily contemptuous stare accompanied by a long silence". 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. Woolpert emphasized defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive skills. As Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry, the press speculated that Russell was worn down. The fans could do or think whatever they wanted. [38] Russell led the team in scoring, averaging 14.1 points per game for the competition. [69] The matchup between Russell and Chamberlain became one of basketball's greatest rivalries. Russell was grief-stricken by the death of his mother, whod been his biggest advocate and pushed him to work hard in school. On August 11, 2022, the NBA announced the retirement of Russell's No. [108] It was so surprising that Auerbach was blindsided and made the mistake of drafting guard Jo Jo White instead of a center. Bill Russell