NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME MEMBER

#6 Bill Russell - C

Bill Russell Career Stats 1956-1969
G
FGA
FGM
FG%
PTS
PPG
3PTA
3PTM
3PT%
FTA
FTM
FT% AST
APG
REB
RPG
BLK
STL
963
12,930
5,687
44.0
14,522
15.1
0
0
0.0
5,614
3,148
56.1
4,100
4.3
21,620
22.5
0
0
 

 

William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, LA.  He was the son of Katie and Charles Russell. Bill had a tough childhood dealing with social issues and death. His father moved the family west to California when Russell was young due to the racial problems in the south. However the biggest pain Russell had to deal with was the passing of his mother before he reached his teen years. Instead of turning down a dark path, Russell stayed in his studies and eventually learned how to play the game of basketball.

 

 

Russell attended McClymonds High School in Oakland, CA. He wasn’t a great skilled player when he arrived and would not see much time playing until he reached his senior year. At 6’9”, Russell had the height and showed potential which got him to start during his last year in high school.  Although he made strides, he didn’t see many scholarship offers coming out of high school. However, he did impress the coaches from the University of San Francisco enough to earn a scholarship.  Russell’s hard work paid off and it paved the way for one of the winningest basketball players the game has ever seen.

 

Bill Russell College Career Stats and Notes

Russell played for San Francisco from 1953-56, teaming up with future NBA teammate and Hall of Famer K.C. Jones. He averaged 20.7 points and 20.3 rebounds during his college career. He led the Dons to the NCAA Tournament 3 times and won back to back national titles in 1955 and 1956. Russell earned the tourney’s Most Outstanding Player award in 1955.  He was a two-time consensus All-American and voted college Player of the Year in 1956.

 

Awards and Achievements
MVP
All-NBA

1st Team: 1959, 1963, 1965

2nd Team: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968

All-Star Selections
1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969
Scoring Titles
NBA Finals MVP
Achievements

NBA Champion

1956-57, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1960-61 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64, 1964-65 1965-66, 1967-68, 1968-69

NBA All Star Game MVP

1963

NBA All Defensive First Team

1969

Member of NBA 25th Anniversary All Time Team

Member of NBA 35th Anniversary All Time Team

Member of NBA 50th Anniversary All Time Team

Member of NBA 75th Anniversary All Time Team

 

 

Bill Russell NBA Career Stats and Notes

Russell was selected 2nd overall in the 1956 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. However, a trade was made that sent Russell to the Boston Celtics and a dynasty was born. Russell played his entire 13-year career in Boston winning an incredible 11 NBA titles, which remains an NBA record. He was a player-coach the last three seasons of his career. Russell retired after winning his last title in 1969. The legendary center was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975. 

 

Bill Russell 1962 NBA Finals Game Seven Performance

One of Russell’s signature playoff moments came in the 1962 NBA Finals. The Celtics faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers, a team led by Hall of Famers Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. This series went to distance. In the deciding Game 7, Russell had a monster performance: 30 points and 40 rebounds. His strong effort lifted the Celtics to a 110-107 series clinching win in Boston. It was the Celtics 5th NBA title in six years.

 

 

List of Basketball Hall of Fame Members