Is Bill Russell Still Alive or Dead?

Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player. This five-time MVP player led the Celtic dynasty to win 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career. He was also a civil rights activist and also won a 12-time NBA All-Star. He has been described by some as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in heavily segregated West Monroe, Louisiana. He was cut several times from the basketball team twice because he could not play the game well. His high school coach saw his potential and encouraged him to perfect his skills. The encouraging words fueled Russell to work extra hard, and he became a decent player.

In 1956, Russell was drafted by the Boston Celtics, and the same year he was part of the U.S. national basketball team to win the Summer Olympics gold medal. He won his first NBA championship as a rookie and went on to win eight consecutive championships with the Celtics. Russell became the first black head coach in the NBA and was very outspoken against racism.

Is Bill Russell Still Alive or Dead?

Bill Russell died at his Washington house on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. There was an out pour of tributes to this legend. The NBA Commissioner Adam Silver summed Russell as “the greatest champion in all of the team sports.