Red Auerbach Legacy

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Auerbach coached many players who were inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. He also played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA. In 1950, he drafted Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player. In 1965, he introduced the first African-American starting five. In 1966, he hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach. Auerbach was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. In 1980, the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America voted Auerbach the greatest coach in NBA history. He was also named NBA Executive of the Year in 1980. Auerbach has been regarded as one of the NBA 10 Greatest Coaches in history, was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, and had his number 2 jersey retired at TD Garden, the Celtics' stadium.

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

Auerbach was born in Brooklyn, New York City, on September 20, 1917. He earned the nickname "Red" due to his distinctive flaming red hair and fiery temper. He played basketball at P.S. 122 and Eastern District High School, where he was named "Second Team All-Brooklyn" by the World-Telegram in his senior year. After a season at Seth Low Junior College, he received an athletic scholarship to play for the George Washington Colonials, where he was a three-time letterman, team captain, and led the team in scoring in 1940. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1940 and a Master of Education in 1941. He began coaching at St. Albans School in 1941, then at Roosevelt High School from 1941 to 1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1943 and served for three years as a Rehabilitation and Physical Training officer, primarily at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He was released from active duty as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in October 1946. He coached the Washington Capitols (1946–1949), leading them to a 49–11 record and a 17-game winning streak in the 1946–47 season. He later coached the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–1950) and then the Boston Celtics from 1950 to 1966. In the 1950 NBA draft, he selected Chuck Cooper with the Celtics' second-round pick, the first black player to be drafted into the NBA.

Did You Know?

• Auerbach's 17-game winning streak with the Washington Capitols in 1946–47 stood as the BAA single-season record, not an NBA record; the NBA's single-season winning streak record was set later (e.g., 33 games by the 1971–
• Auerbach was released from active duty in the U.S. Navy as a Lieutenant (junior grade) in October 1946.
• Auerbach drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950, who is described in the source as the NBA's first African-American player.