Biography / Wiki
An American former basketball player Bill Russell is one of the best ever players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a retired professional basketball player who was associated with Boston’s Celtics team for a period of 13 years. His moves like shot-blocking and man-to-man defense had helped his team win major tournaments.
He grew up facing racism to which Basketball helped him to overcome this issue. He is recognized across the world for his ability to inspire and motivate his team to improve playing techniques and give the best performances.
He is equally skilled at grabbing rebounds and made more than 50 rebounds in a single game. He was the first accomplished African American player in NBA history to earn achievement and accolades.
Height / Weight / Age
Bill Russell has a towering height of 208 cm and in feet inches, his height is 6’8” tall. He is a well-recognized player who weighs 100 kg in Kilograms or 220 lbs in Pounds. He has turned 88 years old at the time of death.
He has a wide black color eye and tiny and curly salt & pepper color hair. His body measurements are as follows 46 inches chest, 34 inches waist, and 38 inches hips. His shoe size is 16 (US) whereas his biceps size is also 16 inches.
Net Worth
According to the sources, the estimated net worth of Bill Russell is $10 million USD approximately.
Education / Family
Bill Russell was born William Felton Russell to Charles and Katie Russell. He grew up in a racist neighborhood where his family witnessed rampant acts of racism. He lived a difficult childhood due to poverty and lost his mother when he was just 12 years old. He developed an interest in basketball when he attended McClymonds High School.
He received a scholarship from the University of San Francisco (USF) that changed his life of poverty and racism and gave him the opportunity for a bright future. He became the game-changer for the USF team which became a formidable college basketball team.
Name |
Bill Russell |
| Real name | William Felton Russell |
| Birth Place | Monroe, Louisiana, USA |
| Date Of Birth | February 12, 1934 |
| Age | 88 years (At the time of death) |
| Height | In centimeters – 208 cm
In feet inches – 6’8” |
| Weight | In kilograms – 100 kg
In pounds – 220 lbs |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Hair Color | Salt & Pepper |
| Profession | Basketball player |
| Zodiac sign | Aquarius |
| School | McClymonds High School |
| College | University of San Francisco |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nationality | American |
| Home Town | Louisiana, USA |
| Debut | Not known |
| Fathers Name | Charles Russell |
| Mothers Name | Katie Russell |
| Brothers | Not known |
| Sister | Not known |
Career / Fashion And Style
In 1956, Bill Russell was selected for his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess by the Boston Celtics during the 1956 NBA Draft. He was made the captain of the team after the team won a Gold medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics. During the 1956-57 season, he played 48 games with an average of 14.7 points per game and 19.6 rebounds per game.
In the next season, the team won 14 straight games and was earned the title of NBA Most Valuable Player. In the match where The Celtics played against the Philadelphia Warriors, Russell and the Warriors’ center Wilt Chamberlain were amazing centers.
During the 1960-61 season, his team led with a 57-22 record and became the first team to win 60 games. His excellent performance during the 1964-65 season helped his team Celtics win a league record of 62 games.
In 1966, he accepted the offer of becoming the coach of the Celtics that made him the first African American NBA coach. At the age of 35, he had quit playing and became the head coach of Seattle and Sacramento. Suffolk University honored him with an honorary doctorate in 2007.
Girlfriends, Affairs, Wife, and More
Bill Russell has been married thrice to date. Firstly, he was married to Rose Swisher and had three children with her. In 1973, the couple got separated and he got married to Miss USA Dorothy Anstett in1977.
The marriage did not last long and they filed a separation in 1980. Lastly, he got married to Marilyn Nault which lasted the longest till the death of Marilyn in 2009.
| Girlfriends | Rose Swisher
Dorothy Anstett |
| Marital Status | Widowed |
| Wife | Marilyn Nault
Dorothy Anstett Rose Swisher
|
| Children | Daughter – Karen Russell
Sons – William Jr, Jacob
|
Some Interesting Facts About Bill Russell
- Bill Russell was retired with his jersey number 6.
- He refuses to give autographs.
- He is one of the members of Kappa Alpa Psi.
- He has coached NBA’s Sacramento Kings and Seattle Supersonics.
- He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1975 and as a coach in 2021.
- In 1956, he became USA Player of the year.
- His coach George Powles, encouraged him to develop his skills and become a good player whereas his USF coach Phil Woolpert helped him develop his unique technique of defense.
Social Media Profile(s)
- Instagram – @realbillrussell
- Twitter – @RealBillRussell
- Facebook – @realbillrussell
