Bill Russell (1934–2022,) fully William Felton Russell, was an American basketball player and coach. One of the sport’s greatest icons, he was the most dominant basketball player of his era.
Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Russell led the University of San Francisco to two NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) championships 1955–56. Playing for the Boston Celtics 1956–69, he led his team to 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons, the last two as a coach, having become in 1967 the first black coach of a major professional sports team. One of the finest defensive centers of all time he was voted the most valuable player in the NBA five times. He later coached the Seattle Supersonics 1973–77 and the Sacramento Kings 1987–88.
Russell supported the American civil rights campaign and spoke out against the Vietnam War. He was at the March on Washington in 1963 when Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his well-known ‘I Have a Dream’ speech. He also backed Muhammad Ali when the boxer was pilloried for refusing induction into the military draft.
Russell’s autobiography is Second Wind: The Memoirs of an Opinionated Man (1979.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Bill Russell
Durability is part of what makes a great athlete.
—Bill Russell
Topics: Part of The Whole, Sports
Concentration and mental toughness are the margins of victory.
—Bill Russell
Topics: Victory, Concentration
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Leave a Reply