Red Auerbach Hiring

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Lore & Background

Auerbach’s philosophy centered on suffocating defense and forcing turnovers to fuel his fast break. After acquiring Bill Russell via trade in 1956, the Celtics anchored their dominance on Russell's rebounding, which allowed them to limit opponents to low-percentage shots from beyond range. He cultivated legendary role players like Frank Ramsey and John Havlicek, creating the first legitimate "sixth man" roles in NBA history. The result was a run of nine championships in ten years between 1957 and 1966. This era included an unprecedented eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966, the longest streak in North American sports. During this reign, they secured six Finals victories against the Los Angeles Lakers' stars Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, while denying Wilt Chamberlain a title.

In Their Own Story

The tension on the court was palpable as Auerbach drilled his players on the necessity of tough defense over individual scoring. When the Celtics finally broke through in 1957, it began a decade of dominance defined by team cohesion rather than star power. In 1964, Auerbach made history by sending out the first African-American starting five: Bill Russell, Willie Naulls, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. This move shattered racial barriers just years after he drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950. His leadership culminated in 1966 when he retired as a coach to name Bill Russell the NBA's first African-American head coach. For every victory, Red lit a cigar on the sideline, a ritual that signaled his team's expectation of winning and demoralized the opposition.

Reader's Guide

The Auerbach blueprint prioritizes collective effort over individual stardom. His strategy relied on acquiring defensive anchors like Russell to control the glass and initiate fast breaks. He valued versatility, utilizing players like Ramsey and Havlicek as critical bench forces who could change the game's momentum. This approach allowed the Celtics to win 16 NBA titles in total, the most by any individual in history. The organization’s culture was forged in these years of winning: from 1957 to 1966, they captured nine of ten championships. Auerbach’s legacy as a builder extended beyond coaching; he served as General Manager until 1984 and President until his death in 2006, ensuring the team's sustained excellence long after his retirement from the sidelines.

Did You Know?

• In 1943, Auerbach appeared in a game for the Harrisburg Senators of the American Basketball League and scored exactly one point.
• Auerbach's team set a single-season league record with a 17-game winning streak in 1946–47, which stood until 1969.
• He traded more than two dozen players in just six weeks to rebuild the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in 1949.
• Auerbach 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.
• He served as president of the Celtics until his death at age 89 in 2006.

The Dynasty Builder

Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach led the Boston Celtics to eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. Before this streak, he guided the team to a title in 1957, starting a run of nine titles in ten years. His coaching record stood at 938 wins upon his retirement in 1966, an NBA record at the time. Auerbach’s teams were defined by their fast-break offense and elite defense, often forcing opponents into difficult shots due to the lack of a three-point arc during that era. He emphasized role players like Frank Ramsey and John Havlicek, who became pioneers of the sixth-man position. His tenure as head coach ended in 1966, but his influence on the franchise's winning culture was permanent.

A Pioneer for Equality

Red Auerbach played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA through specific, historic actions. In the 1950 draft, he selected Chuck Cooper as the first African-American player ever drafted into the league. In 1964, he introduced the first African-American starting five in NBA history, featuring Bill Russell, Willie Naulls, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K.C. Jones. His commitment to integration culminated in 1966 when he hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach. These moves not only strengthened his teams but also broke significant barriers within professional sports.

The Executive Legacy

After retiring as a head coach in 1966, Auerbach served as general manager of the Celtics until 1984 and later became president and vice-chairman of the Board. In these roles, he continued to win, accumulating a combined total of 16 NBA titles with the franchise, the most by any individual. His executive prowess was recognized in 1980 when he was named NBA Executive of the Year. That same year, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America voted him the greatest coach in NBA history. He remained president until his death on October 28, 2006, at the age of 89.

From Brooklyn to Immortality

Born in Brooklyn on September 20, 1917, to Russian-Jewish immigrants Hyman and Marie Auerbach, Arnold Jacob earned the nickname "Red" for his flaming red hair and fiery temper. He played basketball at Eastern District High School before earning a scholarship to George Washington University, where he led the team in scoring in 1940 and developed the fast-break technique. After serving as a Rehabilitation and Physical Training officer in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946, he coached various teams including the Washington Capitols and Duke Blue Devils before joining Boston. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969, named one of the NBA's 10 Greatest Coaches, and had his number 2 jersey retired at TD Garden.