Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
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
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- 208 cm
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- basketball player / basketball coach / coach / actor / high jumper
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- 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. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Bill Russell born?
February 12, 1934 – July 31, 2022.
Where is Bill Russell from?
Bill Russell is from Monroe, Louisiana, United States.
What does Bill Russell do?
Bill Russell works as basketball player, basketball coach, coach, actor, high jumper.
How tall is Bill Russell?
Bill Russell is 208 cm.
Basketball player — see all → · Basketball coach — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-11
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.