On March 12, 1972, the Celtics retired the number of former great Bill Russell in a ceremony staged in the empty Boston Garden prior to the game against the New York Knicks. The event was brought about by a request from Russell himself, who had said he would not be able to attend his own retirement ceremony.
Russell had been with the Celtics since their inaugural season in 1946 and was considered one of the best center-guards in NBA history. He helped lead the Celtics to eleven NBA championships, more than any other player, and is still regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history.
During his career, Russell scored 100 points eight times and has been listed on at least one all-time team every year since 1952. He also ranks first in playoff games played (54) and second in minutes played (4,929).
After retiring, Russell stayed with the Celtics as a consultant before moving on to coach college basketball. He reached the NCAA Tournament every year except for 1951-52 when he was recovering from surgery. His coaching career started in 1973 with Boston's junior league team, the Cape Cod Cubs. In 1974, he took over as head coach at University of San Francisco. He stayed there for three seasons before moving on to take over at University of Idaho in 1977.
The Boston Herald When Bill Russell's number was retired in 1972, the Boston Garden was almost empty. The Celtics honored great center Bill Russell with a number retirement ceremony on May 26, 1999. Bill Cosby emceed the event, which also included NBA legends Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Oscar Robertson.
In what year did Bill Russell win his first of three consecutive MVP awards? 1969 1970 1971
How many points does Bill Russell have in NBA history? 23,542
Who is the only player to score more than 100 points in a game played at Boston Garden? It was done six times: Bob Cousy (147), Phil Bayly (140), Wes Matthews (139), Kevin Durant (138), Steph Curry (137), and Jayson Tatum (136).
What team has had the most players drafted into the NBA? 6 Different Teams Have Had the Most Players Drafted Into The NBA Since 1985 - Including the Celtics Who Have Had 5 Players Selected In The First Round Of The Draft Since Then.
Why did the Boston Celtics fire their coach, Rick Pitino? The Celtics terminated Pitino's contract after he was charged with sexual assault during the recruiting process for the university basketball program. The incident occurred in 2008, while Pitino was coaching at the University of Louisville.
Russell, Bill
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Coaching career | 1966–1969, 1973–1977, 1987–1988 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1956–1969 | Boston Celtics |
Russell, Bill–12 Russell competed in twelve finals, winning eleven of them. From 1956 until 1969, he was a key role in the Celtics' dynasty. During his 13-year tenure, the Celtics only missed the Finals once, in 1967, when they were defeated in the Division Finals by Philadelphia. Overall, he is +943 in the playoffs.
He finished with more than 50 wins five times, including the last four seasons of his career. In 1957, '58, and '59, he led the Celtics to the NBA Championship; in 1964, he helped Boston win its first of four straight titles. He also won in 1955, '63, and '65. As a member of the Celts, Russell played in all but one playoff game during those years - he was sidelined for two games in 1958 due to an ankle injury - and he averaged nearly 25 points per contest. His 1,719 playoff minutes are still third all-time.
In addition to being one of only three players to win championships with three different teams (the others being Larry Bird and Michael Jordan), Russell is also second only to Jerry West on that list of most consecutive playoff appearances by a player, having appeared in 152 consecutive postseasons beginning with the 1956 NBA Playoffs. The streak ended in the 1968 Eastern Conference Finals when he tore cartilage in his knee while guarding New York Knicks forward Walt Frazier at the free throw line.
The Celtics of Boston William Felton Russell (born February 12, 1934) is a retired American basketball center who played for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. At 6' 11" tall and 250 pounds, he was one of the biggest players in NBA history.
Russell grew up in South Boston, where he spent his childhood playing baseball and basketball. He attended South Boston High School, where he developed into a six-foot-seven-inch (206 cm) tall center that had great leaping abilities.
Russell originally signed with the Philadelphia 76ers but was later traded to the Celtics, where he replaced the retiring John Havlicek as the starting center. Under coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics won eleven championships during the 1960s, tying the Lakers for most all time. After his retirement in 1969, Russell became the president of the Celtics franchise.
He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1976. In 2007, Sports Illustrated ranked him # 2 on its list of the "50 Greatest Players of All Time".
In 2009, ESPN named him the greatest player never to win an MVP award.
Russell played in five NBA Finals during his career, winning three titles with the Celtics. He averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds over those seasons.
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