Trivia

Declared Greatest Player in the History of the NBA by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America (1980).

Holds NBA Finals single-game record for most free throws attempted in one half (15, April 11, 1961) vs. St. Louis; most rebounds (40, March 29, 1960 vs. St. Louis and April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles); most rebounds by a rookie (32, April 13, 1967 vs. St. Louis); and most rebounds in a quarter (19, April 18, 1962 vs. Los Angeles).

Despite winning 11 championships in 13 seasons with the Celtics, Russell greatly disliked playing in Boston and was often the target of racism.

His second wife, Dorothy "Didi" Anstett, was the 1968 Miss USA.

After Red Auerbach retired as Celtics' coach in 1966, Russell became player-coach, thereby becoming the first ever African-American to direct a team in a professional sports league. Led the Celtics to NBA titles in 1967-1968 and 1968-1969.

One of the first players to utilize the blocked shot as a weapon. He would direct his blocks to a player releasing on a fast break or off the backboard to keep the ball in play. Before, most players would just reject the blocked shot into the stands.

Celtics retired his jersey number 6.

Named "Sportsman of the Year" by Sports Illustrated (1968).

NBA Boston Celtics, player/head coach (1966-1969).

Holds the NBA single-game record for most rebounds in a half (32) vs. Philadelphia on Nov. 16, 1957.

Celtics's all-time leading rebounder (21,620, 22.5 rpg) in 963 games; second best in history.

Holds career playoff record for most rebounds (4,104, 24.9 rpg) in 165 games.

Holds NBA Finals record for highest rebound per game average (29.5 rpg, 1959) and by a rookie (22.9 rpg, 1957).

After his death he was interred in Lake View Cemetery in Seattle WA. The cemetery is also the final resting place of martial arts action star Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee.

Refuses to sign autographs.

Played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics.

Inducted into the Sport in Society Hall of Fame, 2000.

Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 as a player and 2021 as a coach.

Also coached the NBA's Seattle Supersonics and Sacramento Kings.

Selected by the St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks as a territorial draft choice in 1954. His draft rights were traded by the Hawks to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Joined the Celtics in mid-season in 1956-1957 after a stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. That season, he led the Celtics to what would be the first of 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons.

NBA All-Defensive First Team (1969).

Twelve-time NBA All-Star (1958-1969).

MVP All-Star Game (1963) after 19 points and 24 rebounds.

NBA 25th Anniversary All-Time Team (1970).

NBA 35th Anniversary All-Time Team (1980).

NBA 50th Anniversary All-Time Team (1996).

Member, gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic Team (1956).

USA Player of the Year (1956).

As head coach, compiled a 341-290 record (.540) in eight seasons.

NCAA Most Outstanding Player (1955).

NBA Most Valuable Player (1958, 1961-1963, 1965).

All-NBA First Team (1959, 1963, 1965).

All-NBA Second Team (1958, 1960-1962, 1964, 1966-1968).

NBA Seattle Supersonics, player/head coach (1973-1977).

NBA Sacramento Kings, player/head coach (1987-1988).

Two-time All-Conference, State, District and American.

Refused to attend the ceremony when his #6 jersey was retired in 1972 and his Hall of Fame induction in 1975 because of bitterness towards the people of Boston. After his retirement from the NBA, he had originally demanded his jersey be retired in an empty Boston Garden arena. However, when the Celtics moved out of the Boston Garden and into their new arena, TD Waterhouse Arena, in 1995, they asked him to attend a "re-retirement" of his jersey and he obliged. The ceremony was held in May 1999 to a sellout crowd with Wilt Chamberlain, Larry Bird, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in attendance, and the crowd gave him a long standing ovation.

Disliked playing in Boston due to racism, but played his entire career in Boston out of loyalty to coach Red Auerbach.

Attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, California

Inducted into the ESPN Boston Hall of Fame in 2011 (inaugural class) with Red Auerbach, Larry Bird, Bobby Orr, and Ted Williams.

Consultant, Boston Celtics (1999-present). (December 2003)

Friends with K.C. Jones and Elgin Baylor.

Is a member of Kappa Alpa Psi.

He is considered among the greatest players in NBA history.

Taped "The Bill Russell Show" in March of 1972 at CBS Television City, studio 41.