A kid born in rural Louisiana moved with his family to Oakland, California, for a better future. At the same time, Russell failed to make his high school team due to his mediocre basketball skills and height insecurities. But that did not stop him. Instead, Russell grew and ultimately led his high school to multiple state championships.
Russell would attend the University of San Francisco, where he played for two years. Here he would establish a leadership/winning mentality. He was becoming the cornerstone for African American players for years to come. Before Russell, college basketball was focused on white players. After him, sports painted a picture of a more racially integrated ball club.
Ultimately a unit of black and white players with elite speed and aggressive defense could space the floor in a time when the world could not see eye to eye racially. USF players came together and bought into a system that embraced their team goals—conducting a 55-game winning streak and escaping with two NCAA titles in 1955 and 1956.
However, Bill Russell was the Foundation; his time in San Francisco prepared him to take the next step in his journey.
Russell's dominance in college would land him in the National Basketball Association. Tom Heinsohn and Boston Celtics would acquire Bill Russell in trade from the St. Louis Hawks with the 2nd pick of the 1956 NBA Draft.
Before Russell landed in Boston, The Celtics failed to advance past the second round of the playoff in six consecutive seasons. Legendary Head Coach Red Auerbach hit a home run when he drafted the most prominent African-American player in the NBA.
Big Bill led the Boston Celtics to win 11 of the next 13 NBA Championships. Along the way, Russell stood up for African Americans around the world. He was outspoken and participated in the 1963 March on Washington for Civil rights while defending the Heavyweight Champion of the World, Muhammad Ali, when he refused to serve in the military based on his religious beliefs.
In 1966 Head Coach Red Auerbach stepped down from coaching and passed the torch to Bill Russell, Crowning him the first African-American to coach a professional team in the United States of America, Leading the Boston Celtics to two Championships as a player-coach.
Who would have thought, A little kid from rural Louisiana would grow into an activist against racism and racial democracy? Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from then-President Barack Obama in 2010.
Bill Russell redefined the game of basketball as we know it. He finished as an 11-time NBA champion, five-time MVP, and 12-time All-Star by the time he retired in 1969.
On July 31st, Sunday Morning, His family wrote on social media that Bill Russell had passed away peacefully with his wife Jeannine by his side.
A true HERO, GONE but not FORGOTTEN!
