Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Bill Russell was born on February 12, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana, United States and was credited as a basketball player, basketball coach and actor. Death is recorded on July 31, 2022, at the age of 88. Education on record includes McClymonds High School and University of San Francisco. Recorded honors include NBA Most Valuable Player Award (1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965), NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award (1963), Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year (1968) and 1 more. The listed height was 208 cm.
My Take
Bill Russell convinces me that winning is a discipline, not an accident. Eleven titles in thirteen years is not a career, it is a near-monopoly, and he built it on defense and rebounding rather than scoring vanity. At 208 cm he owned the paint, yet what I admire most is how he refused to hoard the glory. Coming out of Monroe, Louisiana, he fought racism on and off the court and still kept his footing, eventually earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom. That medal feels earned twice over, once for the basketball and once for the integrity. To me he is the rare champion who made everyone around him taller.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Bill Russell
- Name (Japanese)
- ビル・ラッセル
- Reading
- びる・らっせる
- Born
- February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Dog
- Origin
- Monroe, Louisiana, United States
- Height
- 208 cm
- Occupation
- basketball player / basketball coach / coach / actor / high jumper
2. Background
- High school
- McClymonds High School
- University
- University of San Francisco
Awards & achievements
- 1958 NBA Most Valuable Player Award
- 1961 NBA Most Valuable Player Award
- 1962 NBA Most Valuable Player Award
- 1963 NBA Most Valuable Player Award
- 1963 NBA All-Star Game Kobe Bryant Most Valuable Player Award
- 1965 NBA Most Valuable Player Award
- 1968 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
- 2011 Presidential Medal of Freedom
3. Links
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill%20Russell
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%93%E3%83%AB%E3%83%BB%E3%83%A9%E3%83%83%E3%82%BB%E3%83%AB
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q242185
4. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bill Russell born?
Born February 12, 1934.
When did Bill Russell die?
Died July 31, 2022, aged 88.
Where was Bill Russell from?
Bill Russell was from Monroe, Louisiana, United States.
What did Bill Russell do?
Bill Russell worked as basketball player, basketball coach, coach, actor, high jumper.
How tall was Bill Russell?
Bill Russell was 208 cm.
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