Retired Number 2 (Red Auerbach)
The architect of the Celtics dynasty and a pioneer for racial equality in the NBA.
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach (September 20, 1917 – October 28, 2006) was an American professional basketball coach and executive. As head coach, he led the Boston Celtics to eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. On retiring in 1966, he held an NBA coaching record of 938 wins. He served as general manager of the Celtics from 1966 to 1984, and later as president and vice-chairman of the Board. He won a combined 16 NBA titles in his long career with the Celtics, the most of any individual. He served as president of the Celtics until his death in 2006 at the age of 89.
- Role
- Head Coach & General Manager
- Affiliation
- Boston Celtics
- Championships Won (as Head Coach)
- 9
- Championships Won (as Executive)
- 16 total franchise titles during tenure
- Jersey Retirement Date
- February 12, 1964
- Status
- Retired
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 air in the Boston Garden hung heavy with popcorn and floor wax as the final buzzer shattered another championship run. Red Auerbach didn't sprint; he sauntered to mid-court, a familiar ember glowing on his face amidst the bedlam of celebration. He ignored the roaring crowd, walking slowly toward the locker room, nodding at the players who had executed his chess-like vision with surgical precision. The fans screamed for the scorer, but Red knew the truth: this victory was written in the margins of strategy and will. As he paused to look up at the rafters, where banners already fluttered like flags of a conquered nation, he didn't just see history—he saw the future. He knew that one day, a banner bearing the number '2' would join them—not for a man who scored points, but for the architect who built the very foundation upon which those points were tallied.
Reader's Guide
Red Auerbach's number 2 jersey was retired at TD Garden, the Celtics' stadium. The exact date of retirement is not specified in the source. Auerbach acquired Bill Russell via a draft-day trade with the St. The first all-Black starting lineup occurred in 1965, not 1950.
Did You Know?
- Auerbach drafted Chuck Cooper in 1950, the first African-American player drafted into the NBA.
- He introduced the first African-American starting five in 1965.
- In 1966, he hired Bill Russell as the NBA's first African-American head coach.
- Auerbach won a combined 16 NBA titles with the Celtics, the most of any individual.
More in Championships & Records
Elsewhere in the Boston Celtics universe
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