How did Russell’s family and childhood experiences shape his personality and his ideology?
At the University of San Francisco, how was Russell unconventional, both as an athlete and as a person? Did his lack of convention shape his team’s success?
Russell’s teams at the University of San Francisco won championships and set records, leading to national recognition for its star. Yet he later recalled these years with disillusion. Why?
Given his experiences with the NCAA, the Olympics, and his professional recruitment, why did Russell come to see amateurism as a flawed ideal?
Describe Russell’s relationship with Red Auerbach. How did each serve the other’s ends? Were they friends?
Throughout his career, Russell had a deep, passionate, anxious, remarkable desire for his team to win. Why?
Why did the Boston Celtics start winning so many NBA championships in the late 1950s and early 1960s? Were they simply a superior collection of talented players, or were their other factors?
What did the arrival of Wilt Chamberlain in the NBA mean for Bill Russell? How did it shape Russell’s image?
Why, by the early 1960s, did Russell refuse to sign autographs and act rudely to strangers in public? Was it due just to the quirks of his personality, or did racial politics play a role? Was the civil rights movement changing his idea about the social role of the athlete?
How did the NBA transform from a “bush league” into a “big league”? What role did Russell and other NBA stars such as Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson, Elgin Baylor, and Jerry West play in this transformation?
Describe Russell’s views on the city of Boston. Why was he so critical?
How did the Celtics dynasty evolve over the course of the 1960s? How was the team able to sustain its success?
One underappreciated aspect of Russell’s career, perhaps, is that he was the player-coach for three seasons, two of which resulted in NBA titles. Why did he accept this job? How did he coach? How did his approach evolve?
What was Russell’s place in both sports and politics by the late 1960s? What was his role in the “Revolt of the Black Athlete”?
Did Russell’s personal relationship with Wilt Chamberlain shape their many on-court clashes? When Russell retired from basketball, was he fair to criticize Chamberlain?
Why did Russell become a celebrity in the early 1970s? Did he embody the new culture of the 1970s, or was he an antidote to it?
Evaluate Russell’s impact on the Seattle Supersonics. Should we view his tenure with the team as a success or failure?
What is the current public memory of Bill Russell? Is it an accurate reflection of his ideas, values, and influence during his playing career?
