Bill Russell

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Lore & Background

After being chosen by the St. Louis Hawks with the second overall pick in the 1956 NBA draft, Russell was traded to the Boston Celtics for Celtics center Ed Macauley and small forward Cliff Hagan. With Russell as their starting center and defensive anchor, the Celtics went on to win their first NBA championship in 1957 and won an NBA record eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. A five-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and a 12-time NBA All-Star, Russell's rebounding, defense, and leadership made him one of the dominant players of his era. Standing at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall, with a 7-foot-4-inch (2.24 m) arm span, his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense were major reasons for the Celtics' dominance during his career. Russell also led the NBA in rebounds four times, had a dozen consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds, and remains second all-time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game. Russell played in the wake of black pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, and he was the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. During the final three seasons of his career (1966–1969), he served as player-coach of the Celtics, becoming the first black NBA coach to win a championship. Russell ended his playing career and left his position as Celtics coach after helping the Celtics win the 1969 NBA championship.

In Their Own Story

Before becoming a legend, Russell faced significant adversity. Born in segregated West Monroe, Louisiana, his family moved to Oakland, California, where he lived in public housing projects and struggled with poverty. In high school at McClymonds, he was cut from the junior varsity team before coach George Powles recognized his raw potential. Russell admitted he initially did not understand the game, but he compensated by obsessively studying opponents' footwork and practicing in front of a mirror. College recruiters ignored him until Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco saw an extraordinary instinct for clutch play despite 'atrocious fundamentals.' This skepticism vanished once Russell took the court, where his unusual style—jumping to block shots rather than staying flatfooted as was taught—redefined defensive play and silenced critics.

Reader's Guide

Russell served as head coach and general manager of the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973 to 1977. He also coached the Sacramento Kings from 1987 to 1988. Russell also worked as a color commentator and authored several books. Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975, was one of the founding inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006 and was enshrined in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007. He was selected into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, was named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 (being one of only four players to receive all three honors), and was selected to the NBA 75th Anniversary Team in 2021. In 2009, the NBA renamed the NBA Finals MVP Award in his honor. In 2011, Barack Obama awarded Russell the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his accomplishments on the court and in the civil rights movement. In 2021, Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame a second time in recognition of his coaching career. Shortly after his death in 2022, the NBA retired Russell's #6 jersey league-wide, making him the only player in NBA history to receive that honor, as well as the third person in North American major professional sports to have their jersey number retired league-wide, behind Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky.

Did You Know?

• Russell led the San Francisco Dons to consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956 and captained the gold medal-winning U.S. national basketball team at the 1956 Summer Olympics.
• Russell was one of only eight players in the history of men's basketball to achieve the Triple Crown (NCAA championship, Olympic gold, NBA championship) according to the source.
• Russell's draft rights were traded from the St. Louis Hawks to the Boston Celtics in a pre-arranged deal; he never played for the Hawks.

The Foundation of a Dynasty

William Felton Russell's early life in West Monroe, Louisiana, was marked by segregation and racial hostility. His father, Charles, was threatened with a shotgun at a gas station, and his mother was accosted by a policeman for wearing what he called 'white woman's clothing.' During the Second Great Migration, his family moved to Oakland when he was eight, where they faced poverty until his father became a steelworker. Russell's basketball journey started in struggle; cut from junior high teams and nearly cut again as a freshman at McClymonds High School, he flourished under coach George Powles. Powles recognized Russell's potential and supported him through negative experiences with white authority figures. Russell graduated in 1952, having developed an analytical approach to defense by memorizing opponents' moves from Dell Magazines sports publications.

Redefining Dominance in Boston

Drafted second overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1956, Russell was immediately traded to the Boston Celtics for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan. This transaction anchored a dynasty that won eleven of twelve possible championships during his tenure. As the starting center and defensive anchor, Russell's 7-foot-4-inch arm span allowed him to dominate the paint with shot-blocking and man-to-man defense. He led the NBA in rebounds four times and maintained a streak of twelve consecutive seasons with over 1,000 rebounds. His statistical excellence earned him five MVP awards and twelve All-Star selections. Russell played in the wake of pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton, becoming the first black player to achieve superstar status in the NBA.

Breaking Barriers On and Off the Court

Russell's impact transcended basketball statistics. In his final three seasons (1966–1969), he served as player-coach for the Celtics, becoming the first black NBA coach to win a championship after helping the team secure the 1969 title. He retired following this victory. His leadership extended into the civil rights movement, earning him the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2011. Professionally, he served as head coach and general manager for the Seattle SuperSonics from 1973 to 1977 and coached the Sacramento Kings from 1987 to 1988. He also worked as a color commentator and authored several books, continuing his influence long after leaving the court.

An Unparalleled Legacy

Russell's accolades are historic: inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 (playing) and again in 2021 (coaching), he was a founding member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. He was selected for the NBA 25th, 35th, and 75th Anniversary Teams and named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996, one of only four players to receive all three honors. In 2009, the NBA renamed the Finals MVP award the Bill Russell Award. Following his death on July 31, 2022, the NBA retired his #6 jersey league-wide, making him the only player in history to receive this honor and the third person in North American major sports after Jackie Robinson and Wayne Gretzky.