Why is Bill Russell Important?
William Felton Russell was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969. Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time,…
William Felton Russell was an American professional basketball player who played as a center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association from 1956 to 1969.
Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Like almost all Southern towns and cities of that time, Monroe was very segregated and the Russell’s often struggled with racism in their daily lives. Russell’s father was once refused service at a gas station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers first.
Why is Bill Russell important?
Bill Russell’s legacy blends basketball dominance, activism, and laughs. NBA legend Bill Russell died at the age of 88. The Rush examines Russell’s larger-than-life basketball accomplishments, his work as a civil rights activist, how he’s impacted current and former NBA players, and his wicked sense of humor.
In 1964, Russell’s Celtics were the first NBA team to ever start five African-American players, 14 years after becoming the first franchise to ever draft an African-American when they selected Chuck Cooper in the 1950 NBA Draft.
The first black head coach in all American professional sports. Humanitarian. NBA legend. A celebrated champion who single-handedly revolutionized the game of basketball, Russell used his heightened platform as an NBA star to fight back against the same overt racism and inequality that plague the country today.
