From his visit to Alcatraz in 1956 to his legacy as the NBA’s “big politician”, Bill Russell’s influence far exceeds his record 11. Today we will discuss about Bill Russell: Illness| Rings Shaq| Childhood| Wingspan
Bill Russell: Illness| Rings Shaq| Childhood| Wingspan
William Felton Russell (February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022) was an American professional basketball player who played as center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and 12-time NBA All-Star, he was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career. Russell and Henry Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the record for most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. Russell is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the San Francisco Dons to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, and he captained the gold medal-winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 12, 1934 Monroe, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 31, 2022 (aged 88) Mercer Island, Washington, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | McClymonds (Oakland, California) |
| College | San Francisco (1953–1956) |
| NBA draft | 1956 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
| Selected by the St. Louis Hawks | |
| Playing career | 1956–1969 |
| Position | Center |
| Number | 6 |
| Coaching career | 1966–1988 |
Illness
The NBA player was candid about his struggle with his health and revealed that he had a history of illness.
Four years ago, he was hospitalized with dehydration as a suspected diagnosis. According to TMZ, he was reportedly suffering from heart ailment at the time and was having trouble breathing due to his condition.
How did Bill Russell die?
At the age of 88, Bill Russell, a legendary player for the Celtics and the NBA in general, passed away. In a message posted online, his family informed his fans and followers that he has passed away.
The message indicates that he passed away while standing next to his wife Jeanine. After his retirement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver referred to him as “one of the greatest champions in the history of the sport”.
Rings Shaq
Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal are considered one of the best pairings in the history of the sport. However, after a vigorous three-peat run, internal feuds led to a rivalry. At this time, many people forbade Kobe from winning again. However, Black Mamba proved everyone wrong. But none of this would have been possible without the advice of perhaps the greatest NBA champ of all time, Bill Russell.
When it comes to the art of winning, no one liked Russell. In 13 seasons, the lifetime Boston Celtics center won 11 championships. Even with a rival like Wilt Chamberlain, Russell crushed the competition. The five-time MVP team was adept at winning. Along with Hall of Famer teammates, he led the most successful dynasty in NBA history. However, the NBA lost one of the most influential players ever. Russell’s family has revealed the heartbreaking news of the Celtics legend’s passing at the age of 88.
Childhood
Hailed as one of the best players of all time in National Basketball Association (NBA) history, William Felton “Bill” Russell was a professional basketball player who was the centerpiece of Boston’s Celtics for a period of 13 years. He was renowned for his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense, which led his team to numerous victories in major tournaments. The talented player grew up in a neighborhood notorious for its rampant racism. Basketball provided him a means to rise above this negativity and he grew up to prove his worth. He was also highly respected for his ability to inspire and motivate his team members to improve their playing technique and give their best. Equally skilled at grabbing rebounds, he was one of only two players to have made more than 50 rebounds in a single game and a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds. Russell’s superstardom was not only special because of his amazing performances, which made his success even more special, was that he was the first African-American player to achieve such glory in NBA history. There were Americans too. An NBA coach.
Wingspan
When it comes to the offensive side of the ball, Russell has never been credited for being a great offensive player.
He was overshadowed in this category as his main competition (Wilt), scoring nearly 40 points a game throughout his career.
So of course, when it comes to comparing the two, Russell stands on the offensive side.
With that being said, is there more to an offense than just scoring? Isn’t there?
Over the years, we have three prolific passing centers. Wes Unseld of the Washington Bullets, with his ability to grab rebounds and find open outlets under the floor, or the non-selfish ways of Bill Walton when playing for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Finally, there is Johnny Kerr, who was arguably the best passing center to ever play the game.
But, then Russell came shortly after Kerr.
Once Bob Cousy retired, the entire Celtics offense went through Russell. He was neither a pure point guard nor a true scorer on the wing.
So every capture down, Russell always touched the ball.
