Family
William Felton Russell was born on February 12, 1934, to Charles Russell and Katie Russell in West Monroe, Louisiana. Like many Southern … See more

Before his NBA rookie year, Russell was the captain of the 1956 U.S. men's Olympic basketball team that competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics, which was held in November and December in Melbourne, Australia. Avery Brundage, head of the See more

In 1971, Russell joined NBA on ABC to do commentary on the Game of the Week. His No. 6 jersey was retired by the Celtics on March 12, 1972, Russell had worn the same number 6 at … See more

University of San Francisco
Basketball
Russell started college at USF in 1952. He averaged 20 points per game on USF's freshman … See more

The Harlem Globetrotters invited Russell to join their exhibition basketball squad, but Russell, who was sensitive to any racial prejudice, was … See more

Russell is one of the most successful and decorated athletes in North American sports history. His awards and achievements … See more

Russell was a resident of Mercer Island, Washington, for nearly five decades.
In 1959, Russell became the first NBA player to visit Africa. See more