Bill Russell, whose real name was William Felton Russell, was a center who played in the National Basketball Association with the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969. He passed away on July 31, 2022, and was born on February 12, 1934 in West Monroe, Louisiana, in the United States.
At Herbert Hoover Junior High School, Bill attempted to play basketball but was excluded from the squad. Later, while attending McClymonds High School in Oakland, he was once more cut off. He received no offers from colleges when he first enrolled in school and was ignored by them until recruiter Hal DeJulio from the University of San Francisco (USF) saw him play in a high school game. Although DeJulio was dissatisfied by Russell’s paltry scoring and “atrocious fundamentals,” he felt that the young Bill Russell had an exceptional knack for the game, particularly in the clutch, and so he offered Bill a scholarship, which he eagerly accepted.
The NBA named the Most Valuable Player trophy for the NBA Finals in 2009 to the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his honor. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2011 in recognition of his contributions to the civil rights movement and the judiciary. He received a second induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021 for his work as a coach.
Bill Russell Parents: Meet Charles Russell and Katie Russell
Bill Russell was born to Charles Russell and Katie Russell. His parents suffered a lot of racism during their time which made life pretty difficult for them in the United States.
