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(born February 12 , 1934 ) is a retired American professional Basketball player who played Center for the Boston Celtics of the NBA . A five-time winner of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award and a twelve-time All-Star , the 6 ft 9 in Russell was the centerpiece of the Celtics Dynasty that won eleven NBA Championships during Russell's thirteen-year career. Along with Henri Richard of the NHL 's Montreal Canadiens , Russell holds the record for the most championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. Before his professional career, Russell led the University Of San Francisco to two consecutive National Collegiate Athletic Association Championships (1955, 1956). He also won a Gold Medal at the 1956 Summer Olympics as captain of the U.S. National Basketball Team .
Russell is widely considered one of the best Defensive players in NBA history. His Shot-blocking and Man-to-man Defense were major reasons for the Celtics' success, and he inspired other players to elevate their own defensive play. Russell was equally notable for his Rebounding abilities. He led the NBA in rebounds four times and tallied 21,620 total rebounds in his career. He is one of just two NBA players (the other being prominent rival Wilt Chamberlain ) to have grabbed over fifty rebounds in a single game. Though never the focal point of the Celtics' Offense , Russell also scored 14,522 career points and provided effective passing.
Playing in the wake of pioneers like Earl Lloyd , Chuck Cooper , and Ray Felix , Russell was the first African American player to achieve superstar status in the NBA. He also served a three-year (1966–69) stint as Player-coach for the Celtics, thus becoming the first African American coach in any major American professional sports league. However, Russell frequently battled with Racism . Many sports fans in Boston shunned the Celtics during Russell's tenure with the team, and Russell received little support from the local press. When he retired, Russell left Boston with a bitter attitude, although in recent years his relationship with the city has improved.
Russell is now a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall Of Fame . He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players In NBA History in 1996. In 2007, he was enshrined in the FIBA Hall Of Fame .
Bill Russell was born to Charles and Katie Russell in Monroe , Louisiana , where his family often struggled with racism. 1 In one particular instance, Russell's father was denied service at a gasoline station until the staff had taken care of all the white customers. When his father attempted to leave and find a different station, the attendant stuck a shotgun in his face, threatening to kill him unless he stayed and waited his turn. In another instance, Russell's mother was walking down a street in a fancy dress when the local sheriff accosted her. He told her to go home and remove the dress, which he described as "white woman’s clothing". Due to this racism Russell's father moved the family out of Louisiana when Russell was eight years old and settled them in Oakland , California . While there the family fell into poverty, and Russell spent his childhood living in a series of Project Homes .
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