Bill Russell

At 90 years old, Bill Russell has this physical status:

William Felton Russell (born February 12, 1934) is an American former professional basketball player who competed for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969.

He was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player and a twelve-time All-Star, and he was the engine of the Celtics' dynasty that won eleven NBA championships in his thirteen-year career.

Russell and Henri Richard of the National Hockey League are tied for the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league.

Russell coached the University of San Francisco to two NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956, and he captained the 1956 national basketball team.

He is 6 foot (9.06 m) tall, with a 7-ft 4 in (2.24 m) wingspan.

The Celtics' deposition of the NBA came because of his shot-blocking and man-to-man defense.

Russell was known for his resurrecting abilities.

He led the NBA in rebounds four times, had 12 seasons of 1,000 or more rebounds in a row, and remains second all-time in both total rebounds and rebounds per game.

He is one of only two NBA players (the other being popular rival Wilt Chamberlain) to have more than 50 rebounds in a game.

Russell was never the focal point of the Celtics' offense, but he did score 14,522 career points and gave effective passing. Russell was the first black player to break into NBA history, following the likes of black pioneers Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper, and Sweetwater Clifton.

He spent three seasons (1966–69) with the Celtics as their first black coach in North American professional sports and the first to win a championship.

Russell was named a Presidential Medal of Freedom by Barack Obama in 2011 for his services on the court and in the Civil Rights Movement.Russell is one of seven athletes to win an NCAA Championship, an NBA Championship, and an Olympic gold medal.

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

He was voted into the NBA 25th Anniversary Team in 1971 and the NBA 35th Anniversary Team in 1980, and he was selected as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996, one of the youngest four players to earn both three awards.

He was honoured in the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2007 as a scholar.

In Russell's honour, the NBA renamed the Most Valuable Player award in 2009: it is now the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award.

Early years

Russell was born in West Monroe, Louisiana, on February 12, 1934. Monroe was extremely segregated, and the Russells often struggled with racism in their everyday lives. Russell's father was refused service at a gas station until the workers took care of all the white customers first. The attendant refused to leave and find a different station, and if he didn't stay and wait his turn, he'd shot a bullet in his face and threatened to kill him. Russell's mother was walking outside in a posh gown when a white policeman approached her. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he referred to as "white woman's clothing."

The Second Great Migration started in World War II, as large numbers of blacks were heading to the West to search for jobs. Russell and his family were relocated from Louisiana and settled in Oakland, California, when Russell was eight years old. Russell spent his childhood in a string of public housing projects while living in a poverty there.

As sports writer John Taylor noted, his father was described as a "stern, hard man" who began working in a paper factory as a janitor, which was typically low-paying and not particularly challenging. Russell, the elder Russell, became a truck driver when World War II came to an end. Russell was closer to his mother Katie than to his father, and he died when she was 12 years old. In order to be closer to his children, his father resigned from his trucking career and became a steelworker. Russell said that his father, who was in high school, was his hero, later followed by Minneapolis Lakers superstar George Mikan who he met when he was in high school. Russell, the college basketball player, was described by Mikan as "let's face it," he said. He's so good, he scares you."

Russell struggled to develop his basketball skills early in his youth. Russell was a good runner and jumper with large hands, but he didn't know the game and was barred from the Herbert Hoover Junior High School team. Russell was almost suspended as a freshman at McClymonds High School in Oakland, as a result of Russell's raw athletic ability, coach George Powles advised him to focus on his fundamentals. Since Russell's previous interactions with white power figures had often been sarcastic, Powles' warm words reassured him. He trained hard and turned to become a good basketball player thanks to a growth spurt. Frank Robinson, a potential member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, was one of Russell's high school basketball teammates.

Russell was soon known for his unconventional defense style. "You should play safe defense, not me." He later told the world that to respond quickly, you had to remain flatfooted at all times." "I was initially disappointed when I began to make defensive plays and to block shots, but I stuck with it and it paid off." Russell said in an autobiographical account that he became obsessed with researching and remembering other players' moves, e.g., footwork such as which foot they climbed first on which play as preparation for fighting against them. Russell referred to himself as a lifelong subscriber of Dell Magazines from 1950s to present day, which he used to spy out opponents' attempts for the purpose of defending them.

Personal life and death

Russell was married to Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, from 1956 to 1973. They had three children: Karen Russell, a television pundit and advocate, and William Jr. and Jacob, both of whom were children. The couple became more and more distant, and divorced. He married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968, in 1977; they divorced in 1980. Russell married Marilyn Nault, his third wife, in 1996; their union continued until she died in January 2009. Russell was married to Jeannine Russell at the time of his death. For more than four decades, he was a resident of Mercer Island, Washington. Charlie L. Russell, the playwright, was his older brother.

Russell was the first NBA player to visit Africa in 1959. Russell was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, having been initiated into the Gamma Alpha chapter while a student at University of San Francisco. Russell was arrested on October 16, 2013 for carrying his empty, fully loaded Smith & Wesson handgun to the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport. He was issued a citation and released, and the Transportation Security Administration announced that it would levy a civil fine, which would be between $3,000 and $7,500.

Russell died on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88, at his Mercer Island, Washington home. His family shared the news on Twitter. Russell was "the greatest champion in all of team sports," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a tweet.

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College career

Russell was turned down by college recruiters and received no one until recruiter Hal DeJulio of the University of San Francisco (USF) watched him play in a high school tournament. Russell's meager scoring and "atrocious fundamentals" had left him disappointed, but DeJulio had a keen sense of the game, especially in the clutch. Russell was eagerly accepting a scholarship from DeJulio. Since he knew that basketball was his way to escape poverty and bigotry, Russell's life began, sports journalist John Taylor called it a watershed moment, and he promised to make the best of it.

Russell departed as the San Francisco Dons' new starting center for coach Phil Woolpert. Woolpert stressed defense and deliberate half-court play, which favored Russell's exceptional defensive abilities. Woolpert's pick of how to deploy his players was unaffected by their skin color. In 1954, he became the first coach of a major college basketball squad to feature three African-American players, including K. C. Jones, Hal Perry, and Russell. Russell developed a unique defensive style in his USF years: rather than simply guarding the opposition center, he used his agility and stamina to play defense against opposing forwards and aggressively challenge their shots.

Russell, with the stature and shot-blocking skills of a center as well as the foot speed of a guard, became the face of a USF squad that soon became a force in college basketball. "They'll have to rewrite the rules if [Russell] ever learns to reach the basket," Sports Illustrated wrote. Russell's most popular play was rewritten by the NCAA; the lane was widened for his junior year. The NCAA rules committee amended a new rule to combat big men like Russell's play; basket interference was now outlawed. Russell was one of several key men to bring about reforms in college. Goaltending had been outlawed in response to George Mikan (1945) and then banned the dunk shot due to Lew Alcindor (1967), but the latter rule was later repealed.

Russell and his black colleagues were often frustrated by the games, particularly on the road, as Russell and his black teammates were often targets of racial abuses. When Russell and his black classmates arrived in town for the 1954 All-College Tournament, they refused to admit them in one incident. The whole team decided to camp out in a closed college dorm, which was later described as a pivotal bonding experience for the team. Russell recalled that his experiences pushed him against all kinds of violence, saying: "I never encouraged myself to be a victim."

Russell wrote about his life as a team player, saying that it was never acceptable that a black player was the best." That didn't happen... I had what I thought to be one of the best college seasons ever in college during my junior year. We won 28 out of 29 games. We also took home the National Championship. At the Final Four, I was the MVP. I was the first team All American. I had over 20 points and 20 rebounds, and I was the only one in college blocking shots. They had a Northern California banquet and named another center as Player of the Year in Northern California after the season had come to an end. Well, that let me know that if I were to allow these as the final judges of my career, I would die a bitter old man." He is said to have made a deliberate decision to put the team first and foremost rather than worrying about individual accomplishments.

Russell's experiences on the hardwood were much more enjoyable. In 1955 and 1956, he led the USF to NCAA championships, followed by a string of 55 consecutive victories and an unofficial double-double double-double with 26 points, 27 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist. He became known for his excellent defense and shot-blocking skills, with one of his game losing 13 shots. Russell "the best defensive man I've ever seen" in UCLA coach John Wooden. Jones and Jones helped pioneer a game that later became known as the alley-oop while at USF. Russell was the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 1955, averaging 20.7 points per game and 20.3 rebounds per game during his college career.

Russell also appeared in track and field events, besides basketball. Despite not participating in the Olympic high jump competition, he was a standout in the high jump, and Track & Field News ranked him as the seventh best high jumper in the world in 1956, his graduation year, despite not competing in the Olympic high-jump competition. Russell captured high jump titles at the Central California Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) meet, the Pacific AAU assembly, and the West Coast Relays in 2009. Russell tied Charlie Dumas, who would later this year win gold in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, where he made the first person to high-jump 7 feet (2.13 meters). Russell did not use the Fosbury Flop high-jump technique, which set all high jump world records since 1978. He also competed in the 440 yards (402.3 m) distance, which he could complete in 49.6 seconds.

Russell was invited by the Harlem Globetrotters to be part of their exhibition basketball team. Russell, who was sensitive to any racial stereotype, was angered by the fact that owner Abe Saperstein would only talk to Woolpert. When Saperstein spoke to Woolpert in a meeting, Globetrotters assistant coach Harry Hanna tried to amuse Russell with parody, but he was cynical after this snub and turned down the bid. He argued that if Saperstein was too smart to talk to him, he was too smart to play for Saperstein. Russell made himself eligible for the 1956 NBA draft.

Professional basketball career

Red Auerbach, the Boston Celtics' head coach, concentrated on Russell, claiming that his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess were the missing pieces the Celtics needed. Auerbach's thoughts were unusual, because centers and forwards were characterized by their offensive output, and defense abilities were secondary, and defense was secondary. Russell's chances of winning Russell seemed slim considering that the club had finished second in the previous season and the worst teams had the highest draft picks, and the Celtics had slipped too low in the draft order to pick Russell. In addition, Auerbach had already purchased talented forward Tom Heinsohn using his NBA territorial pick. Auerbach knew that the Rochester Royals, who drafted the first draft pick, were already searching for an outside shooter, but that they were unable to pay Russell the $25,000 signing bonus he requested. Walter A. Sullivan, the Celtics' owner, was born in the United States. Brown contacted Rochester owner Les Harrison and was told that the Royals would not afford Russell and would draft Sihugo Green. Brown did not draft Russell and guarantee his performances of the Ice Capades, according to Auerbach later; it's impossible to prove or disprove this, but it is clear that the Royals underestimated Russell.

Russell was drafted by the St. Louis Hawks, the second pick, but Celtics center Ed Macauley, a six-time NBA All-Star who had roots in St. Louis, was vying for Celtics center Ed Macauley, but Celtics center Ed Macauley was vying for Celtics center Ed Macauley, a six-time NBA All-Star who had roots in St. Louis. If the Hawks gave up Russell, Auerbach was able to transfer Macauley, who had previously offered to St. Louis in order to be with his sick son. The Hawks' owner called Auerbach later and asked for more in the trade. Cliff Hagan, the Celtics' top player at the time, wanted to replace Macauley, who had been stationed in the military for three years but had never played for the Celtics, was interested in him. Auerbach decided to forego Hagan after much discussion, and the Hawks made the swap. Boston drafted guard K. C. Jones, Russell's former USF teammate, and then drafted three future Basketball Hall of Famers: Russell, Jones, and Heinsohn during the same draft. Russell's draft-day trade was later identified as one of the sport's most important trades in history.

Russell was the captain of the 1956 Australian men's Olympic basketball team, which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in the Southern Hemisphere, before his NBA debut. Russell had already signed a professional sport deal and was no longer an amateur sportsman, according to Avery Brundage, chairman of the International Olympic Committee, but Russell retained. He had the opportunity to skip the tournament and complete the season for the Celtics, but he was determined to participate in the Olympics. He later admitted that if he had been snubbed by the basketball team, he might have participated in the high jump.

Russell helped the US national basketball team win the gold medal in Melbourne, defeating the Soviet Union national basketball team 89–55 in the final game with an 8-0 undefeated streak. The United States dominated the tournament, winning by an average of 53.5 points per game. Russell led the team in scoring, scoring 14.1 points per game for the first time. K. C. Jones, a former USF and future Celtics player, joined him on the Olympic squad and scored 10.9 points per game, including a Russell-Jones total 29 points in the finals.

Russell could not play with the Celtics during the 1956–57 NBA season until December due to his Olympic service. Russell played 48 games, averaging 14.7 points per game and a league-leading 19.6 rebounds per game. The 1956-1957 Boston Celtics season featured the debut of a starting lineup made up of five potential Hall-of-Famers: center Russell, forwards Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey, and guard Bill Sharman and Bob Cousy. K. C. Jones did not play for the Celtics until 1958 due to military service. Russell's first Celtics game came against the St. Louis Hawks on December 22, 1956, under the direction of star forward Bob Pettit, who would go on to set multiple all-time scoring records. Russell was ordered to shut down the Hawks' main scorer and shot-blocking, and Russell entertained the Boston crowd with his man-to-man defense and shot-blocking. The Celtics had been a high-scoring outfit in previous years, but they didn't have the defensive presence to shut down tight games. The Celtics had a dynasty laid down with Russell's new defensive presence, causing the team to play a conservative strategy, requiring opposing teams to commit numerous turnovers, which resulted in many points on fast breaks.

Russell was a heralded defender who pushed the Celtics to play the "Hey, Bill" defense: when a Celtic needed more defensive assistance, he would yell "Hey, Bill!" Russell was so quick he could play over for a fast double team and make it back in time if the opponents attempted to find the open man. He was also known for his shot-blocking skills and pundits' nicknamed his blocks "Wilsonburgers," referring to Wilson's NBA basketballs, where he "came back to opposing shooters" in their faces. Because Russell was defending the basket, the other Celtics could more effectively defend their men; if they were defeated, they would have known that Russell was guarding the basket. After the Warriors’ victory on January 1, 1957, Russell's defense was called into question by Eddie Gottlieb, coach of the Philadelphia Warriors. In which he scored 17 points and 25 rebounds as a coach, plus an assist, he was called into question. Russell played a one-man zone and goaltended numerous times, and only be called once, according to Gottlieb. "Our Paul Arizin went under for a basic backboard lay-up," Gottlieb said, and Russell batted it away as the ball headed down toward the basket. If this isn't goaltending, I want someone to tell me what it is. I'm sure I'm going to ask Maurice Podoloff." Gottlieb's remarks, according to Auerbach, were "completely ridiculous," and that there was no such thing as a question of sour grapes."

Russell received a lot of negative press as a comedian at the time. He was known for his public hum and his dismissive of others. Russell ignored virtually every well-wisher who approached him at home or elsewhere, including the overwhelming majority of media, and his autograph was one of the most impossible to obtain of any professional celebrity of his time. During a game, New York Knicks center Ray Felix persistently prompted him to speak with coach Auerbach, who pleaded with him to take the initiative into his own hands. Russell pounded Felix to the point of unconsciousness after the next provocation, but it was not until that point that cheap fouls were a target. Russell had a more cordial relationship with several of his peers, with the notable exception of Heinsohn, his old adversary and fellow rookie. Russell resented him, according to Heinsohn, who was named the 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year. Even though Russell had only played half the season, many people felt he was more relevant. Russell refused Heinsohn's autograph on behalf of his cousin, and he deserved half of his $300 Rookie of the Year check, according to Heinsohn. At best, the two people's friendship was tenuous. Despite their various ethnic origins and a lack of common off-court passions, Cousy's relationship with Cousy was amicable.

Russell's first appearance since playing in the 1946-47 BAA season, where the Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals, a team led by Dolph Schayes, in the Eastern Division Finals. Russell had 16 points and 31 rebounds in his first playoff game, as well as seven reported blocks, which were not yet an official statistic. "How much money does the guy make a year?" after the Celtics' 108–89 victory, Schayes, who forced Johnny Kerr to leave the bench because he struggled against Russell in the regular season, asked Johnny Kerr. In the remainder of this series, it would be to our advantage if we paid him off for five years to stay away from us." "Russell's Reflexes Befuddles Visitors" was the Boston Globe's next day.

The Celtics won their first NBA Finals appearance in the 1957 NBA Finals, led by Pettit and former Celtic Ed Macauley. The rivalry was so high in Game 3 Celtics coach Auerbach that he yelled Ben Kerner and received a $300 fine. Russell tried to slow down Pettit for 37 points and kept the Celtics alive; Russell did his best to slow down Pettit, who had earned an outlet pass at midcourt, and blocked his shot despite the fact that Russell had been standing at his own baseline when the ball was thrown to Coleman. With 40 seconds remaining to play in regulation, Boston's slim 103-102 lead was saved, saving the Celtics' match. Both teams were in serious foul trouble in the second overtime: Heinsohn had fouled out, and the Hawks were so depleted that they had only seven players left. The Hawks had the ball at their own baseline when the Celtics led 125–123 with just one second left. For several seconds, reserve forward Alex Hannum threw a long alley-oop pass to Pettit and Pettit's tip-in rolled indecisively on the rim for several seconds before faltering out again. The Celtics won their first NBA championship, earning their first NBA title.

The Celtics won fourteen straight games and continued to prosper in the 1957-58 NBA season. Russell played 16.6 points per game and a game-record average of 22.7 rebounds per game. Russell was more valuable to his team than Russell, according to the NBA, other centers were better all-rounders than Russell. He was named the NBA Most Valuable Player but was not named to the All-NBA Second Team, a development that would continue throughout his career, although the media has always voted for the All-NBA teams.

The Celtics won 49 games and earned their first appearance in the 1958 NBA playoffs, where they met in the 1958 NBA Finals with their old rivals, the St. Louis Hawks. Russell went down with a foot injury in Game 3 and then missed Game 6 of the first two games, but not before Game 6. The Celtics won Game 4 in an upset, but the Hawks won in Games 5 and 6, with Pettit scoring 50 points in the deciding Game 6. Many analysts predicted that Boston would have won if Russell was healthy, but Auerbach said, "You should always look for excuses... we just got beat."

Russell averaged 16.7 points per game and 23.0 rebounds per game in the 1958-19 NBA season. Russell's strong play in the 1959 NBA playoffs led the Celtics back to the NBA Finals for the first time in league history by winning 52 games. The Celtics regained possession of the NBA in 1959, defeating the Minnesota Lakers 4–0. Russell was lauded by Lakers head coach John Kundla, who said: "We don't worry the Celtics without Bill Russell." We'll take him out and see how we can beat them... "He's the guy who whipped us psychologically."

The NBA welcomed 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) Philadelphia Warriors center Wilt Chamberlain's debut in the 1959–60 NBA season, who averaged 37.6 points per game in his rookie year. Russell's Celtics hosted Chamberlain's Warriors and pundits on November 7, 1959, as the match between the best offensive and defensive centers "The Big Collision" and "Battle of the Titans" was held. Both men awed onlookers with their "naked athleticism," and although Chamberlain defeated Russell 30 to 22, the Celtics won 115-106, describing the match as a "new beginning of basketball" in the game. Russell and Chamberlain's match became one of basketball's most close rivalries.

Russell had 23 points, 51 rebounds, and 5 assists in a 124-100 victory over the Syracuse Nationals on February 5, 1960. It was the first time a single game had a record until November 24, 1960, when Chamberlain grabbed 55 rebounds against Russell, who led the Celtics to a 132-129 victory over the Philadelphia Warriors with 18 points, 19 rebounds, and 5 assists. Boston won a then-record 59 regular-season games, including a tie-breaking 17-game win streak. Russell's Celtics defeated Chamberlain's Warriors in the Eastern Division Finals in the 1960 NBA playoffs. Chamberlain defeated Russell by 81 points in the series, but the Celtics won by 4–2 in series. The Celtics defeated the Hawks 4–3 in the 1960 NBA Finals, winning their third championship in four years. Russell scored 21 points and grabbed an NBA Finals rebounds, as well as four assists, in Game 2's deciding Game 7, a 122–103 victory for Boston, with 42 rebounds and 35 rebounds, as well as 4 assists.

Russell's team won by 16.9 points and 23.9 rebounds per game in the 1960-19 NBA season, leading his team to a record of 57–22. The Celtics defeated the Syracuse Nationals 4–1 in the Eastern Division Finals in 1961 NBA playoffs. The Celtics made good use of the fact that the Los Angeles Lakers had defeated the St. Louis Hawks in a long seven-game Western Conference Finals, and Boston defeated the 1961 NBA Finals in five games.

Russell made a career-high 18.9 points per game in the 1961–62 NBA season, as well as 23.6 rebounds per game. Despite his record-breaking season of 50.4 points per game, including Chamberlain's 100-point victory, the Celtics became the first team to win 60 games in a season, and Russell was voted league MVP. Both Cousy and Russell rated it as the best Celtics team of all time. Russell did his best to slow him down in the 1962 NBA playoffs. Chamberlain led the Philadelphia Warriors to 50 points per game this season. Russell held Chamberlain to 22 points, 28 points below his season average, while scoring 19 points in Game 7. Sam Jones sank a clutch shot that won the Celtics the game with two seconds remaining when the Celtics tied it with two seconds remaining.

The Celtics defeated Los Angeles Lakers forward Elgin Baylor and guard Jerry West in the 1962 NBA Finals. The two teams split up in the first six games. The Celtics defeated 119-105, with Russell scoring 19 points, 24 rebounds, and 10 assists in Game 6. He became the fourth player in Celtics history to have a triple-double, playing Macauley, Cousy, and K. C. Jones. When Lakers guard Rod Hundley faked a shot and lost out to Frank Selvy, who missed an open eight-foot last-second shot that would have claimed Los Angeles the championship, it was tied one second before the game ended. Russell had the difficult challenge of defending against Baylor with little frontline assistance: Loscutoff, Heinsohn, and Satch Sanders, the three best Celtics forwards, had fouled out as the game was tied. Russell was robbed of his normal four-man wing rotation in overtime, but the little-used fifth forward Gene Guarilia had a field day, forcing Baylor out of bounds; he and the fourth forward were able to coerce Baylor into missed shots. Russell led off a good game by scoring 30 points, as well as four others, and tying his own NBA Finals record with 40 rebounds in a 110-107 overtime victory.

Following Cousy's retirement from 1962-63 NBA, the Celtics cut him down, while Russell drafted John Havlicek and was rewarded with the NBA All-Star Game MVP award at the 1963 NBA All-Star Game, where he earned his fourth regular-season MVP award and was credited with 16.8 points and 23.6 rebounds per game. The Celtics had a "Do not disturb" sign on their computer before their 128-125 victory over the Cincinnati Royals at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland, on January 31, 1963. Russell had an 18-point, 22-rebound display. Auerbach had warned his actors not to endorse candidates or causes because doing so would alienate supporters; Cousy campaigned for Ted Kennedy in 1962. President John F. Kennedy posed for a portrait with Auerbach and the nine Celtics, but not Russell, who overslept because it was just a tour of the White House and didn't know President Kennedy would meet them. Russell's first regular season triple-double in a 129-123 victory over the New York Knicks on February 10, 1963, after scoring 17 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists. The Celtics reached the 1963 NBA Finals, where they defeated the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time in six games. Russell had 21 points, 38 rebounds, and 6 assists in Game 3.

The Celtics set a new 58–22 record in the regular season from 1963 to 1964. Russell averaged 15.0 points per game and grabbed a career-high 24.7 rebounds per game for the first time since Chamberlain joined the NBA, leading the NBA in rebounding for the first time since the league was introduced in the sport. Boston defeated the Cincinnati Royals 4–1 to earn another NBA Finals appearance and then defeated the San Francisco Warriors 4–1. It was Russell's sixth straight and seventh title in the team's eight years with the team, a streak that was unbeaten in any professional sports league in the United States. Russell later referred to it as the best team of his time and the best defense of all time.

The Celtics won their second straight rebounding title and their fifth MVP award in the 1964-65 NBA season, with Russell averaging 14.1 points and 24.1 rebounds per game. Russell scored 49 rebounds, the third most in a single game in NBA history, in an 112–100 victory over the Detroit Pistons, on March 11, 1965, with 27 points and 6 assists.

The Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Division Finals in 1965 NBA playoffs, beating them in the Eastern Division Finals, a team that had traded for Chamberlain. In the first three quarters of Game 3, Russell held Chamberlain to two field goals. Russell had 12 points, 28 rebounds, 7 assists, plus 10 blocks, and 6 steals in Game 5, during the 1973–74 NBA season, but not many blocks or steals were recorded. "The Celtics can thank Bill Russell for Bill Russell," Schayes, who had been the 76ers' coach, said. Russell turned over the ball in Game 7, ending in a thrilling Game 7 for the Sixers. Havlicek robbed the ball as the Sixers' Hall-of-Fame guard Hal Greer came to bounded, causing Celtics commentator Johnny Most to yell: "Havlicek stole the ball!" said Celtics commentator Johnny Most.

It's all over!

Johnny Havlicek stole the ball!"

The Celtics had a much more enjoyable experience in the NBA Finals after losing 4–1 to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Russell averaged 12.9 points and 22.8 rebounds per game during the 1965–66 NBA season. This was the first time in seven years that he didn't manage to score at least 23 rebounds per game. The Celtics captured the NBA Finals in 1966, their eighth straight title. Russell's team won the Eastern Division Finals against Chamberlain's 4–1, with Russell scoring 25 points and grabbing 32 rebounds, plus giving out an assist in a 95–93 victory.

Red Auerbach, the Celtics' coach, died before the 1966–67 NBA season. Frank Ramsey, the Celtics' former player, was first drawn to coach the Celtics, but he was too occupied to handle his three lucrative nursing homes. Cousy, his second choice, declined the invitation, stating that he did not want to coach his former teammates. No, third pick Tom Heinsohn said no because he didn't think he could cope with Russell, whom he praised as a player-coach. Russell agreed to serve as the Celtics' head coach on April 16, 1966, two days later, a public announcement was made two days later. Russell became the first black head coach in NBA history, and he told reporters: "I wasn't hired because I am a Negro, so I was given the job because Red figured I could do it."

In his first full season as head coach, Boston's Philadelphia 76ers won a record-breaking 68 regular-season games and were the favorites going into the 1967 NBA playoffs, beating the Celtics 4–1 in the Eastern Division Finals. "Right now, he (Wilt) is playing like me [to win]," Russell said during the series. In the clinching Game 5 victory, the Sixers defeated the Celtics by scoring 140 points. Russell acknowledged his first true loss of his career, as he had been hospitalized after the Celtics lost the 1958 NBA Finals, shaking his hand and saying: "Wow!" says the coach. Russell's game ended on a high note. He led his grandfather through the Celtics locker rooms, and the two teams enjoyed a shower next to his black teammate Sam Jones and discussing the game. His grandfather went into screams when he finally did. When Russell asked what was wrong, his grandfather expressed how proud he was of him as the head coach of a company in which blacks and whites coexisted in harmony.

Russell's 34-year-old Russell averaged 12.5 points per game and 18.6 rebounds per game during the 1967–68 NBA season, the latter of which was good enough for the third-highest average in the league. The Philadelphia 76ers had a better record than Boston in the Eastern Division Finals of the 1968 NBA playoffs and were the favorites. Both teams were shocked when one of the ten key players on Sixers and Celtics went black on April 4, the fourth day of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination of eight of the ten playing players, and there were calls to end the series. The Sixers lost 127-118 on April 5 in a game called "unreal" and "devoid of emotion." Philadelphia won Game 2 by 115–106, and then went on to win Games 3 and 4. The press speculated that Russell was worn down as Chamberlain was often defended by Celtics backup center Wayne Embry. No NBA team had ever come back from a 3–1 deficit before Game 5. The Celtics fought back, winning Game 5 122–104 and 114–106, fueled by a spirited Havlicek and aided by a humiliating Sixers shooting slump.

In Game 7, 15,202 Philadelphia fans lost by 100–96, making it the first time a team in NBA history lost a series after leading 3–1. In the second half, Russell restricted Chamberlain to only two shot attempts. Despite this, Russell lead the Celtics only 97–95 with 34 seconds remaining when Russell ended the game with several consecutive clutch plays. He made a free throw, blocked a shot by Sixers player Chet Walker, obtained a rebound off a missed Greer miss, and handed the ball to teammate Sam Jones, who scored to clinch the win. Russell received his tenth title in ten years after beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4–2 in the 1968 NBA Finals, earning him his tenth title in ten years. Russell was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year for his contributions. "If I had the opportunity to choose a basketball player in the league, I would have chosen him. "My No. 11" says Hall-of-Fame Lakers guard Jerry West after losing for the fifth straight games against Russell and the Celtics. Bill Russell has to be the first pick of 1 person. Bill Russell never ceases to amaze me.

Russell was stunned by Robert F. Kennedy's assassination, disillusioned by the Vietnam War, and weary from his increasingly stale marriage to his wife Rose in 1968-1969; the couple later divorced. He was convinced that the United States was a dysfunctional world and that he was wasting his time playing something as superficial as basketball. He was 15 pounds overweight, skipped mandatory NBA coach meetings, and was generally lacking energy after a New York Knicks game, and was diagnosed with acute exhaustion. Russell sparked himself and scored 9.9 points and 19.3 rebounds per game; the aging Celtics struggled through the regular season. The team's 48-34 record was their lowest since the 1955–56 NBA season, and they were ranked as the fourth-seeded team in the East in 1969.

Russell and the Celtics won a match against the 76ers and the Knicks in the 1969 NBA Finals, bringing together the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers were the most favored, with new recruit Chamberlain next to perennial stars Baylor and West. Russell asked his players not to double-team West, who allowed the freedom to score 53 and 41 points in Game 1 and 2 Laker victories. Russell eventually changed his direction and ordered his team to double-team West, and Boston took Game 3. With seven seconds remaining, the Celtics were trailing by a single point and the Lakers had the ball until Baylor stepped out of bounds. Sam Jones used a triple screen by Bailey Howell, Larry Siegfried, and Havlicek to score a buzzer beater that equalized the series in the last play. The teams split the next two games, and it all came down to Game 7 in Los Angeles, where Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke enraged and inspired the Celtics by putting "proceedings of Lakers victory ceremony" on the game leaflets. Russell used a copy as additional motivation and advised his staff to play a running game because in that situation, it was not the best but the more determined team that was going to win.

With five minutes remaining, the Celtics were up by nine points; in addition, West was limping after a Game 5 thigh injury; Chamberlain had left the game with an injured leg. West scored one basket after the other and cut the lead to one, and Chamberlain called to return to the game. Bill van Breda Kolff, the Lakers' coach, kept him on the bench until the end of the game, saying later that he wanted to stay with the squad that was not used for the comeback. Russell claimed his 11th title in thirteen years as the Celtics win their eighth match in 108-106. Russell's last NBA game at age 35 featured 6 points, 21 rebounds, and 6 assists. Russell stormed the game to the distraught West, who had scored 42 points and was dubbed the only NBA Finals MVP in history, clutching his hand and urging him.

30,000 Celtics fans booed their returning heroes just days later. Russell, who once said he owed the public nothing, was not there; he ended his career and severed all ties to the Celtics. It was so surprising that Auerbach was blindsided and made the mistake of drafting guard Jo White instead of a center. Despite the fact that White became a good friend of the Boston Celtics in the 1969–70 NBA season, the Boston Celtics lost to the 1970 NBA playoffs for the first time since 1950, when the Celtics lost their first two years of being able to participate. Both fans and journalists were furious when Russell left the Celtics without a coach and a center, and Sports Illustrated sold his retirement story for $10,000. Russell was accused of predicting the death of the company for a month of his salary. Russell told Auerbach that he would resign from a career in television and movies "in order to find new sources of income for the future."

Russell was hired by NBA on ABC in 1971 to do analysis of Game of the Week. His No. Russell wore the same number 6 at the USF and in 1956 Olympic team as a member of the United States Olympic team, retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972. In 1975, he was accepted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Russell, who had a difficult relationship with the media, was unable to attend either ceremony. He was a mentor in 2021 for the Basketball Hall of Fame in Chicago.

Russell spent time as head coach of the Seattle SuperSonics (1973-1977), and the Sacramento Kings (1987-1988). Russell's time as a non-player coach was lackluster; he led the struggling SuperSonics to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but the team's defensive, team-oriented Celtics philosophy did not mesh well with the team; he retired in 1977 with a 162–166 record. Russell's time with the Kings was much shorter, his last stint with the Kings ended in 1987-1988, when the Kings went 17–41 to begin the 1987–88 NBA season. He had a 341–290 regular season record and was 34–27 in the playoffs. Russell also ran into financial difficulties. He had invested $250,000 in a rubber plantation in Liberia, where he wanted to spend his retirement, but it was bankrupt. The same fate awaited his Boston restaurant Slade's, where he had to default on a $90,000 government loan to buy the store. Russell owes $34,430 in tax money and placed a lien on his house, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Russell became a vegetarian, learned golf, and spent time as a color commentator for CBS and TBS through the 1970s and 1980s, but he was unable as a broadcaster. "The most entertaining television is done in eight-second thoughts," he later said, as well as the things you need to hear about basketball, motivation, and other topics that go deeper than that." Russell appeared in several sports-related sketches on Saturday Night Live on November 3, 1979. Russell also wrote books, most likely written as a joint venture with a journalist, including 1979's Second Wind, and starred Judge Roger Ferguson in the Miami Vice episode "The Fix," which premiered March 7, 1986). Russell, the third overall draft pick from Creighton University who was head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers in 1985, begged him to tutor Benoit Benjamin, the third overall draft pick who left after his junior season; according to Chaney, Russell did not get paid for it.

Russell made few public appearances in the early 1990s, including on Mercer Island, Washington, near Seattle. Russell returned to prominence at the turn of the millennium following Chamberlain's death in October 1999. Russell's Rules were released in 2001, and he convinced Miami Heat superstar Shaquille O'Neal to bury the hatchet with fellow NBA superstar and former Los Angeles Lakers teammate Kobe Bryant and call the game Shaq-Kobe feud in January 2006. Russell, a two-time NCAA champion, was recognized for his contributions to college basketball as a member of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in November 17. He was one of five students, along with James Naismith, Oscar Robertson, Dean Smith, and John Wooden, who were among five others selected to represent the inaugural class. Russell received an honorary doctorate from Suffolk University, where he served as the university's commencement speaker on May 20, 2007. Russell earned honorary degrees from Harvard University on June 7, 2007, and Dartmouth College on June 14, 2009. Russell was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame on June 18, 2007. Russell received the Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award in 2008.

NBA Commissioner David Stern announced on February 14, 2009, that the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award in his honor as an 11-time NBA champion would be renamed. During halftime of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game, Celtics captains Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce surprised Russell with a surprise birthday cake for his 75th birthday. Russell received the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in Game 5 of the 2009 NBA Finals. Russell was named President Barack Obama's Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. At the White House tennis court, Russell and Bryant were spectators to a basketball game for Obama's 50th birthday. Shane Battier, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Maya Moore, Alonzo Mourning, Joakim Noah, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, and Obama's classmates from high school were among the game's participants.

NBA career statistics

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