Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Bill Russell, 11-time NBA champion, passes away at age 88
TWITTER ^ | 31 JULY 2022 | TWITTER

Posted on 07/31/2022 10:50:33 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist

Bill Russell, NBA Hall of Famer, passed away peacefully on Sunday at age 88, his family announced. During his remarkable career, Russell won 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Boston Celtics. He was also a leader in civil rights and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Photo via @wbzsports

(Excerpt) Read more at twitter.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: 1; billrussell; celtics; nba; obit; obituary; russell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last
To: Palio di Siena

Three seasons as player-coach of the Celtics, 1966-1969, winning two championships in those three seasons.


21 posted on 07/31/2022 11:10:48 AM PDT by riverdawg (Wells Fargo is my bank and I have no complaints.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

If Chamberlain could actually shoot Free Throws, might have been a different story. But if you knew you could get away with fouling him, it made him less effective than he should have been.


22 posted on 07/31/2022 11:11:47 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Now only Bob Cousy, age 93, is left from the great Boston Celtic basketball dynasty of the 1950-60s.


23 posted on 07/31/2022 11:11:53 AM PDT by devere
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: alstewartfan

He was not a nice man. Wouldn’t sign autographs as a player. He was very good as a commentator, but was always quite full of himself. RIP.


24 posted on 07/31/2022 11:12:01 AM PDT by Luke21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: consult

“He never had the same success as a coach that he enjoyed in his playing career, however.”

Depends on what you mean by success. He cut the league “games back” amount by far better than half of the previous year in all four of his seasons there when he was hired due to the lack of success of the Sonics. He was a player coach for Boston 66 though 69 and won two championships before he retired the first time. His work in Sacramento was trying to put a bow on a pig.

He was about as successful as expected and then some. Teams, except the wasted effort in Sacramento, were improved by him and while he was in Boston, very successful.

wy69


25 posted on 07/31/2022 11:15:48 AM PDT by whitney69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: alstewartfan

He was also a coach.

See his career history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Russell

As player:
1956–1969 Boston Celtics

As coach:
1966–1969 Boston Celtics
1973–1977 Seattle SuperSonics
1987–1988 Sacramento Kings


26 posted on 07/31/2022 11:15:58 AM PDT by consult
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: gloryblaze

My sports knowledge is very limited, that’s all I meant. If I’ve heard of you, and you didn’t play for a NY Team, you are pretty famous!


27 posted on 07/31/2022 11:17:22 AM PDT by jocon307 (No Dems win - Nov 22)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

In 1992 Red Auerbach named his all-time dream team, and of course Bill Russell topped the list https://celticswire.usatoday.com/lists/nba-boston-celtics-red-auerbach-playoff-dirty-dozen/


28 posted on 07/31/2022 11:17:34 AM PDT by devere
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gloryblaze

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XVkVoBiDzg


29 posted on 07/31/2022 11:18:17 AM PDT by Bob434 (question)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: devere

A True legend-


30 posted on 07/31/2022 11:20:16 AM PDT by Bob434 (question)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: consult

Quite a section on the Wiki post about how racism affected him.

The FBI maintained a file on Russell and described him in their file as “an arrogant Negro who won’t sign autographs for white children”.


31 posted on 07/31/2022 11:20:52 AM PDT by consult
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: BobL

Another jab-death ...


32 posted on 07/31/2022 11:23:04 AM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Bill Russell led the University of San Francisco to national titles in 1955 and 1956, including a 55-game winning streak.

Strangely, after he left USF (he didn’t graduate) he virtually severed all ties with the college that was the only school to offer him a scholarship. Didn’t even answer calls from USF athletic directors over the years. He never offered an explanation.


33 posted on 07/31/2022 11:25:54 AM PDT by GSWarrior
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

One of my basketball idols. RIP Bill Russell, you were a champion.


34 posted on 07/31/2022 11:26:38 AM PDT by Tommy Revolts
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

Russell talks about the control here:

https://www.sportscasting.com/bill-russell-let-wilt-chamberlain-score-pad-stats/

note that wilt still out stat’d russell in head to head...


35 posted on 07/31/2022 11:27:07 AM PDT by stylin19a (It's a fine line tween a numerator and denomiator. only a fraction of people will find this funny)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

Frank Robinson was his team mate in high school.


36 posted on 07/31/2022 11:28:44 AM PDT by TexasGator (UF)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TexasGator

Re: 32 - LOL. There’s always one on these threads!


37 posted on 07/31/2022 11:29:27 AM PDT by Fury
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: TexasGator

“Another jab-death ...”

Well did make it to age 88 - so maybe a pure blood.


38 posted on 07/31/2022 11:29:59 AM PDT by BobL (The Globalists/Neocons desperately want Ukraine to win...makes it easy for me to choose a side)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: RetiredArmy

“Bill was not a big scorer, but a great Def player and rebounder.”

You only saw him in the NBA I guess. In his college career he was averaging around if not over 20 ppg. When Auerbach watched Russell play, he didn’t see a scorer for his machine. He saw a rebounder and how to get the Boston weapon running, the fast break.

Many don’t know that what turned into the basket interference rule in the nba and later other leagues and international basketball was created because of Russell. If there was no time on the clock, and Boston had the ball in forecourt, to include out of bounds, a pick would be set and Russell would curl to the rim tipping the ball through when it was tossed over it. Almost zero time was used and the rim would keep defenders from getting to Russell’s tip.

But his main job was rebounding and clearing to the outside to head down court. He could score, but Red found it more successful for the team to use Russell in this way. And 11 nba championships in 13 years is clearly successful.

wy69


39 posted on 07/31/2022 11:38:56 AM PDT by whitney69
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: GSWarrior

I just now read somewhere that Bill Russell returned to USF in 1957 with the intent of finishing his degree but USF refused to pay the tuition for his remaining 16 units.

I can understand being angry about that. But he was also absent at the teams 50th anniversary reunion and at USF’s 150th birthday celebration. Apparently he disliked accolades of any kind.


40 posted on 07/31/2022 11:43:40 AM PDT by GSWarrior
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson