Bill Russell

Bill with Coach Redhttps://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/phil-learned-bill-russell-red-auerbach-article-1.3291156Who would have thought that a young boy by the name of Bill Russell would have become a world renowned basketball star. As a young boy, Bill couldn't even keep up with his older brother while playing basketball. His skill level at the time couldn't keep up with the other kids who were his peers. Through hard work and determination and passion for the game, Bill, grew into becoming one of the best basketball players in the world. To many, he is an inspiration and a hero. But it didn't come easy for him. Not only did Bill have to work hard to develop his basketball skills but he had to do so at a time when African American players were not readily accepted. No matter the challenges that existed, Bill Russell rose to the top because of his hard work, passion and determination to win not only as an individual but as as a team.  

Bill Russell is a hero because he learned how to play through many unique challenges during his career.  With Russell as captain, the Celtics were the first to feature three African Americans in a starting line-up. Crowds on the road, and even at home in San Francisco, were sometimes vocally hostile toward Russell and his teammates. When Russell and the other black players were denied hotel accommodations in Oklahoma City during the 1954 All-College tournament, the white players on the team chose to stay with them in a vacant college dormitory” (“Bill Russell.” Contemporary Black). Although this challenge had nothing to do with the skill of playing basketball it was a political issue that impacted Russell and his teammates. It put everyone in a compromising position. This situation never made Russell quit but probably made him stronger to want to win as a team because his teammates supported him and some of the other players.

1959 teamhttp://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337485The transformation of accepting African Americans in Basketball took some time but “By the late 1960s most of the sport's biggest stars were minorities, including Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Elvin Hayes, and Willis Reed. These and other talented athletes helped transform the game from a fairly polite and modest-paced game to a fast-breaking and highly physical contest.”(“African”).  Russell loved the game of basketball and would do anything to play his passion which ultimately led to him being tagged as one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history.

Bill Russell is a hero because he was a great teammate and helped his team win many championships. “Between 1957 and 1969 the Celtics--with Russell at center--won 11 National Basketball Association (NBA) titles, at one point compiling an astounding eight in a row. Throughout that period, Russell was the Celtics' dominant force, an elegant defenseman who could grab rebounds and dictate the pace of the game, a scoring threat both in play and from the line, and a wily tactician who could unravel the best-laid plans of his opponents”("Bill Russell." Contemporary Black”).  Russell was an amazing team player and was never selfish. Once Russell joined the team, it was finally complete. He was the one piece of the puzzle the Celtics were missing.  “With Russell anchoring the middle of the floor, the Celtics finished with the best record in the league in 1957, and went on to win the title over the Hawks in a tense seven-game series”("Bill Russell." Contemporary Black”). Bill's teamwork and hard work made him known as one of the greatest to ever play. Bill kept his teammates heads held high even if they just lost a championship game. Bill’s positivity and support and determination was the key to success for the team.  

Bill's championship ringshttps://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/bill-russell-out-hospital-heads-homeBill Russell is a hero to many in the world today. Despite the discrimination that existed heavily years ago, he never let it be a driving force to ruin his dreams of becoming a basketball star.  His honor and passion to be a great team player proved to be the success that teams like the Celtics may have been missing before him. Bill is an inspiration to many because he worked hard to develop his skills that he didn't necessarily have at the start of him playing basketball. He built his talent for basketball with hard work and having the right attitude and courage to stand up for what he truly believed in.  Russell once said, “Success is a result of consistent practice of winning skills and actions. There is nothing miraculous about the process. There is no luck involved”(“Bill Russell” Quotes). Bill never took anything for granted and always worked hard because as he has been known to say “Luck is not involved”. Bill did not stop working hard and he ended up following his dreams all the way to the NBA Hall Of Fame.

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"Bill Russell." Contemporary Black Biography, vol. 8, Gale, 1994. Biography In Context,

https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1606000135/BIC?u=powa9245&sid=BIC&xid=52208470. Accessed 5 Dec. 2018

"Bill Russell." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 20, Gale, 2004, pp. 320-322.  

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“Bill Russell.” Great Athletes (Salem Press), Oct. 2001, p. 2180. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=b6h&AN=5386330&site=brc-live.