Red Auerbach Legacy

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Auerbach's philosophy centered on team play, conditioning, and defensive intensity. He famously drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950 to break the NBA's color barrier, later introducing the first all-African-American starting five in 1964 featuring Bill Russell, Willie Naulls, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. When he hired Russell as head coach in 1966, he made history again by appointing the league's first African-American head coach. His teams relied on role players like Frank Ramsey and John Havlicek, who became among the first legitimate sixth men. Auerbach prioritized rebounding and forcing turnovers to fuel fast breaks, a strategy that allowed his Celtics to dominate opponents from 1957 to 1966, winning nine of ten championships while denying Wilt Chamberlain a title during his coaching reign.

In Their Own Story

The moment the Celtics secured their eighth consecutive title in 1966, Auerbach retired as head coach with an NBA-record 938 wins. He immediately transitioned to General Manager, a role he held until 1984, continuing his winning streak from the front office. One of his most enduring traditions began during these championship runs: lighting a victory cigar. As described in historical accounts, after a Game 7 win, Red would pull out a cigar and strike a match in the locker room, the smoke curling toward the rafters as a ritualistic confirmation of another dynasty chapter written. This act became symbolic of his success, with his number 2 jersey eventually retired at TD Garden to honor a career spanning from his early days coaching at St. Albans School in 1941 to his death in 2006.

Reader's Guide

To understand the Celtics' identity, one must study Auerbach's specific innovations and records. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 1980 and voted the greatest coach in NBA history by the Professional Basketball Writers Association that same year. His legacy is preserved at TD Garden, where his number 2 jersey hangs, and he remains a central figure in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Fans should note that while his coaching record stands at 938 wins, his total championship count as an executive reached 16. The source highlights his early career moves, such as snubbing Bob Cousy initially before eventually building him into a playmaker alongside Bill Sharman and Ed Macauley. His impact is quantifiable: eight straight titles from 1959 to 1966, a feat that defined an era of basketball.

Did You Know?

• Auerbach scored exactly one point in his only professional game appearance on February 4, 1943, playing for the Harrisburg Senators.
• He led the Washington Capitols to a 49–11 record and a 17-game winning streak in the 1946–47 season, which stood as the single-season league record until 1969.
• In 1950, Auerbach initially snubbed Bob Cousy, calling him a "local yokel," before later recruiting him to become a cornerstone of the dynasty.
• Auerbach was released from active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in October 1946 after serving three years as a Rehabilitation and Physical Training officer.
• He drafted Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player, using the Celtics' second-round pick in the 1950 draft.