Bill Russell

See also: William Russell, Russell

William Felton " Bill" Russell (born the February 12th 1934) is a former player of professional basketball American which played station of pivot for the team of the Boston Celtics of NBA.

Five times winner of the trophy of the better player of the NBA and twelve times selected at the All Star Range, Bill Russell were the angular stone of the dynasty of Boston Celtics which gained eleven titles NBA in thirteen years. With Henri Richard, the player of the Canadian of Montreal, it holds the record of titles in a North-American league of sport. Before passing professional, Russel led the university of San Francisco to two national titles (1955 and 1956). It also gained the gold medal with the Olympic Games of 1956 as a captain of the American team of basketball.

Russell is regarded as one of the best defenders of the history of NBA. Its qualities with against and in defense man with man were the main reasons of the success of Celtics. Russel was also recognized for its capacities with the rebound. He was the best rebondor of the NBA with four recoveries and collected a total of 21.620 rebounds in his career. He belongs to two players NBA (with his rival of always Wilt Chamberlain) to have caught more than fifty rebounds in only one match. Although he was never the leader of the attack of Celtics, Russel registers 14.522 points in its career and known to be effective in the play of master key.

In the wake of the pioneers like Earl Lloyd, Chuck Cooper and Ray Felix, Russell was the first player Afro-américain to reach the statute of superstar of the NBA. During three years, of 1966 with 1969, it also endorsed the role of trainer-player for Celtics, consequently becoming occasion the first Afro-American involved in a great American league of sport. However, Russel often had to face the Racisme. Many fans with Boston were sulky Celtics when Russel joined the team. The local press showed him little support. When it took its retirement, Russel left bitter Boston. Its relations with the city however improved its last years.

Russell is today member of NBA Hall off Famed and of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall off Famed. It was named among the 50 larger players of the history of the NBA in 1996. In 2007, it joined FIBA Hall off Famed.

Its beginnings

Bill Russell, wire of Charles and Katie Russell, were born with Monroe, in the state of Louisiana to the the United States. In this state of the South, racism was still very present in the years 1940 and 1950. Its family suffered from it. For example, one day, at a station gasoline, one refused to be used for his father before to have initially served all the white customers. When his/her father decided to leave to find another station, one threatened it with a rifle and obliged it to await its turn. Arrived at the college, McClymonds High School, it hardly played with the team at the time of her first year. It is only at the time of its 2nd and 3rd year with the college that it started to appear. Unfortunately, Bill Russell and its fellow-members Afro-Americans became the target of racist mockeries, coming as well from the supporters of the opposing teams as of the supporters of the university of San Francisco.

On the ground, all was much more pleasant for Russell. It carried out the university of San Francisco for two reasons NCAA in 1955 and 1956, with an impressive series of 55 consecutive victories. It became famous for its iron defense like its qualities of contror, recording up to 13 counter in the same match. The coach of UCLA, John Wooden, qualifies Russell of " larger defender than it never has vu". Its domination was such as the NCAA had instituter several rules known under the name of " Russel Rules" (rules of Russell). As from the season 1956, the width of the racket passed from 6 feet to 12 feet. This rule obliged the pivots to play more far from the basket. Another rule which was created in answer to the play of Russell (and of its rival Wilt Chamberlain) was prohibition to touch the balloon in its downward phase in attack (offensive goaltending).

Draft NBA 1956

At the time of the Draft NBA 1956, Red Auerbach, the coach of the Boston Celtics, had the eye on Russell. It seemed to him that its qualities with the rebounds and with counter could fill the deficiencies of its team in these two sectors of play. It was about a real bet for Auerbach. Indeed, at that time, the value of a player was initially defined by his offensive qualities, defense being only secondary.

However, the chances to be able to retain Russell was mean. Celtics had finished second at the time of the former season, but the teams most badly classified had the choices of draft highest. The choice of draft of Celtics was too low to be able to select Russell. Moreover, Red Auerbach had already used its “geographical” choice of draft to retain the talented winger Tom Heinsohn.

Auerbach knew that the Rochester Royals, which had the first choice of the draft, already counted in their row a young promising rebondor with Maurice Stokes, moreover, they did not wish to pay in Russell the premium of 25.000 dollars that this last required

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