Bill Russell is a legendary name in the American basketball field, where he made several records and is also regarded as the most decorated player in the entire basketball league history.
Sadly, Russell died last year at the age of 88, as per an announcement made through his official Twitter account. His contribution to the American basketball leagues will always be remembered. In this blog post, we have gathered the professional and personal information of Bill Russell along with his net worth, which is estimated to be around $10 million at the time of his death.
Bill Russell’s Biography
The greatest basketball player of all time, Bill Russell, was born in the year 1934 in West Monroe, Louisiana, to parents Katie and Charles. He was only eight years old when he and his family moved to Oakland, California. He belonged to a poor class, so he had seen struggling days and spent most of his growing years in poverty. He attended McClymonds High School, where he won multiple state basketball championships consecutively in his junior and senior years.
The legendary American basketball icon has various career highlights and achievements, which are remarkable for a player who has gone through racism in his career. After spending a phenomenal career in basketball, Russell died last year, leaving his fans sad about the loss of a great basketball icon.
Bill Russell’s Career
Bill had a good height and even good running speed, making him qualified for his high school basketball team. Although he played a key role in winning state championships for his team, his tough days were not over yet, as he had to face racist remarks and was mostly ignored by the college recruiters. Russell received a scholarship from the University of San Francisco, where he became a key player in the college’s basketball team. The team won NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. Russell also participated in the high jump competition and secured his position as the world’s seventh highest high-jumper.
Russell’s career started flourishing when he served as the Captain of the US basketball team during the Summer Olympics in 1956 and helped his team win the gold medal by defeating the Soviet Union in the final. In the same year, Russell joined Boston Celtics and played his first game against St. Louis Hawks, securing a 44-28 record on the board. His exceptional defensive skills made Celtics appear in the NBA finals for the first time and conquer it at the top spot. He played 13 seasons with Boston Celtics and won 11 rings, which was a record in itself, especially for the team struggling to appear in the finals before Russell. Russell scored an average of 16.6 per game with 22.7 rebounds per game. With a winning streak of 52 games in 1958-59, Celtics made a new winning record in the league and later won another NBA title.
In 1960, the team won the third championship with Russell being a key player, and the winning round just continued with seven more NBA titles in the house. The record is still not achieved by any other professional USA sports league. Russell’s rebounding and shot-blocking skills earned him a great, unmatched reputation. Not just as a player, Russell did a great job as a head coach when 1966-67, he was appointed as a coach for Celtics.
His exceptional career went through a downfall when he suffered due to racism and the repercussions of the Vietnam War. Russell skipped NBA coaching meetings and gained a lot of weight. However, it was not the end of his career as Celtics once again won the NBA title under the coaching of Bill Russell. Not only was he a successful basketball player on the field, but he played an equally amazing role as a Head coach for Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings
Bill Russell’s Personal Life
Bill Russell married his college girlfriend, Rose Swisher, in 1956 and had three children together. The couple couldn’t survive their relationship for longer and got divorced in 1973. In 1977, Bill married Dorothy Anstett, who is a former Miss The couple got divorced in 1980. Russell married for the third time in 1996 to Marilyn Nault, who passed away in 2009. Russell was deeply in love with Marilyn and was with her at the time of her demise. In 2019, Russell married Jeannine, but nothing has been declared by him or Jeannine about how they both met.
Russell was also known as the first Black Coach to win an NBA title followed by NCAA Championship. His name was also put on on the Hall of Fame Coach and Hall of Fame Player. After his retirement, Russell started playing golf and hosted ‘Saturday Night Live.’ He also appeared as a color commentator.
Bill Russell’s Net Worth
Being a reputable name in American basketball and one of the top NBA players, celebrities like Bill Russell, it wouldn’t be wrong to call him one of the highest-earning players. In 1956, at the time of Russell signing the contract, his worth was approximately $24,000. Russell was the superstar of the time when players were not paid as high as today’s sports persons, so his net worth was not as lucrative as today’s players. His dealings with the NBA made him earn $100,001 annually, and he was also regarded as one of the highest-paid NBA players. He was paid $25,000 for his services as a player-coach. At the time of Bill Russell’s death, his net worth was around $10 million. Russell also purchased several properties in the USA, and his Washington House was among these lavish properties.
Bill Russell’s Cause of Death
Although Russell was physically fit and never had any serious illness, he was hospitalized in Seattle in 2018 for a day due to dehydration. He was discharged from the hospital in a day and never had any further complaints. On 31st July 2022, Bill died a peaceful and natural death at the age of 88. His wife, Jeannine Russell, made the announcement on his official Twitter account.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How many kids does Bill Russell have?
Bill Russell has three kids named Karen, William Jr., and Jacob.
What was the cause of Bill Russell’s death?
Bill Russell was not suffering from any serious illness and died peacefully at home.
How many NBA championship titles were won by Bill Russell?
Bill Russell won a total of 11 NBA championship titles in his career as a player.
For how many years did Bill Russell serve NBA as a player?
Bill Russell served NBA for thirteen years, from 1956 to 1969.
What was the height of Bill Russell?
The height of Bill Russell was 6 feet 9 inches.
What was the weight of Bill Russell?
The weight of Bill Russell was 100 kg.
Name the wives of Bill Russell?
Bill Russell married four times, and his wives’ names are Rose Swisher, Dorothy Anstett, Marilyn Nault, and Jeannine.
John Davis is a passionate content writer with a knack for crafting engaging narratives across various subjects. With a keen eye for detail and a love for storytelling, John brings ideas to life through the power of words. His dedication to delivering high-quality and informative content has made him a trusted voice in the digital realm. When he’s not at his desk, you’ll find John exploring new hobbies and seeking inspiration in the world around him.
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