| It’s hard to think about celebratory cigars | | | | he simply knew who was going to be great. He |
| without thinking of Red Auerbach. A man known as | | | | looked for the in control point guard, and the |
| much for his cigar smoking as his command of the | | | | exceptional rebounder and added in three other |
| court, Auerbach went down in history as one of the | | | | talented players, those who could both shoot and |
| most colorful basketball coaches of all time. He also | | | | play defense. From there, he motivated his team in |
| knew a thing or two about success: under Auerbach, | | | | the manner that only a Red Auerbach could. |
| the Boston Celtics won nine NBA championships and | | | | When Auerbach hung up the ol’ clipboard in 1966, |
| finished with a record of 1037 wins and 548 losses. | | | | he went on to serve as the general manager until |
| Still to this day, the 1960’s Celtics team remains | | | | 1984 and the team’s president until his death |
| one of the most dominant in the history of | | | | (with a few breaks in between). In these roles, it |
| professional sports. | | | | was Auerbach who was responsible for bringing Larry |
| After coaching high school, joining the navy, and | | | | Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale to the Boston |
| coaching in the Basketball Association of America, | | | | Celtics. All three players made their way into the Hall |
| Auerbach became the Celtics head coach in 1950. He | | | | of Fame. |
| spent the next several years building his team to | | | | In the end, Red Auerbach is tied with Phil Jackson for |
| greatness and it paid off: between 1959 and 1966 | | | | the record of most NBA championships. He was |
| the Boston Celtics were unstoppable, serving as NBA | | | | elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969 and |
| champions for eight years straight. During the 1965 | | | | won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in 1980. |
| season, Auerbach was named Coach of the Year. | | | | This same year, he was named to the NBA’s |
| The Celtics were a basketball dynasty and Auerbach | | | | 35th Anniversary team as the “Greatest Coach in |
| was their king. | | | | the History of the NBA” by the Professional |
| Auerbach was also known as one of the first | | | | Basketball Writers Association of America. |
| coaches in the NBA to help break the race barrier. In | | | | As famous as he was as a coach, he was also |
| 1950, he became the first coach to ever draft an | | | | famous as a cigar smoker: he was known for lighting |
| African American player. In 1963, he became the first | | | | up a victory cigar before the end of the game when |
| coach to start five African American players. And, | | | | the Celtics looked to win. Fans reveled in this and |
| upon his retirement in 1966, Auerbach named Bill | | | | opponents were infuriated by it, but everyone |
| Russell as his successor, making Russell the first | | | | noticed it. The victory cigar became Auerbach’s |
| African American head coach of an American | | | | mark and something he is most remembered, loved |
| professional sports team. | | | | and hated for. When the home arena of the Boston |
| Auerbach was not known for strategy, his playbook | | | | Celtics banned smoking, those in charge decided that, |
| did not consist of a series of plays and routes to run. | | | | for Auerbach, they could make an exception; he |
| Instead, he had a keen sense of discovering talent: | | | | was, after all, exceptional. |