Person in history
Bill Russell
Bill Russell, NBA Hall of Fame player and coach (born 1934)
Life at a glance
- Died
- 2022 · July 31
Their story
Who they were
Bill Russell, NBA Hall of Fame player and coach (born 1934)
Early life
Russell was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, to a family that moved to Oakland, California when he was young. He attended the University of San Francisco, where he led the Dons to back-to-back NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956.
Path and career
The Boston Celtics drafted Russell in 1956, and he made his debut in 1957 after competing in the Olympics. He won his first NBA championship that year and went on to capture 11 titles, including eight consecutive from 1959 to 1966.
Russell became the Celtics' player-coach in 1966, making him the first Black head coach in NBA history. He retired as a player in 1969 and later coached the Seattle SuperSonics and Sacramento Kings.
Why this date
Bill Russell appears on our July 31 calendar for 2022 as a death entry.
Sources
Cite this page
“Bill Russell”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/bill-russell, accessed October 28, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about Bill Russell
When did Bill Russell die?
July 31 2022.
Who else was born on this day?
The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.
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