Basketball Legend and Civil Rights Activist Bill Russell Died at Age 88

What was Bill Russell's reason for demise? The five-time MVP, 12-time NBA All-Star, and Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree has died at age 88.

Eleven-time NBA champion and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Bill Russell died at age 88.

Born in West Monroe, La., in 1934, Bill gained two NCAA championships at the University of San Fransisco. In April 1956, he was decided on second general by the St. Louis (*88*) (now the Atlanta (*88*)) in the NBA draft. He was traded to the Boston Celtics — and the rest was history. What took place to the basketball player and civil rights activist?

What was Bill Russell's cause of loss of life?

In 1956, Bill served because the captain of the U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball group, main them to victory at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. His first recreation with the Boston Celtics came about on Dec. 22, 1956, towards the St. Louis (*88*) — and he quickly changed this historical past of basketball.

Bill played for the Boston Celtics for 13 seasons, coining strikes like the "Hey, Bill" protection and the "Wilson burger." Bill was once a five-time MVP and a 12-time NBA All-Star. He used to be voted the greatest player in NBA history in 1980.

Bill died peacefully on July 31, 2022, along with his wife, Jeannine, by his aspect, an announcement by way of his family confirms.

Bill broke a record by way of winning 11 NBA championship titles, including two rings gained as the top coach of the Celtics in 1968 and 1969. He gained the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year in 1968, the identify of the NBA All-Defensive Team alongside Walt Frazier, Dave DeBusschere, Jerry Sloan, and Nate Thurmond in 1969, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. He used to be the first-ever winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

"Basketball is a game that involves a great deal of psychology. The psychology in defense is not blocking a shot or stealing a pass or getting the ball away," Bill instructed Sports Illustrated in 1963. "The psychology is to make the offensive team deviate from their normal habits. This is a game of habits, and the player with the most consistent habits is the best. What I try to do on defense is to make the offensive man do not what he wants but what I want."

Bill Russell received a Presidential Medal of Freedom recognizing his work as a civil rights activist in 2010.

In 1961, Bill and his Black teammates on the Celtics, together with Sam Jones, Tom "Satch" Sanders, and Ok. C. Jones boycotted an NBA exhibition recreation in Lexington, Ky., after Sam and Satch had been refused provider at the cafe of the lodge where the staff was staying.

After the assassination of civil rights activist Medgar Evers on June 12, 1963, Bill traveled to Mississippi to assist Charles Evers open the 1st built-in basketball camp.

In addition to his work as an activist, Bill labored as a commentator, TV display host, and media persona. He hosted Saturday Night Live in 1979. He published several books, including the memoirs, Go up for Glory, Second Wind: The Memoirs of an Opinionated Man, and Russell Rules.

Our ideas cross out to Bill's buddies and family at this immensely difficult time.

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