Watch as Ed Macauley provided an assist for Chuck Cooper to make an easy shot against the Minneapolis Lakers. Cooper was the first Black player drafted in NBA history and Macauley later relayed the thoughts of the Celtics players at the time: “No one ever said, ‘Hey, we’ve got this black guy coming to the […]

Red Auerbach shared a joyful moment with Sonny Hertzberg and Ed Macauley during the 1950-51 season, Auerbach’s first as Celtics head coach. Hertzberg and Auerbach already knew each other from their previous team, the Washington Capitols. According to an account Hertzberg published later in his life, “Walter Brown…by the way, asked me about a new […]

Nicknamed “Red” in part for his temper, Red Auerbach and Bob Cousy had a strong relationship defined by an obsessive desire to win. Cousy later said, “We all wanted to win badly. [Auerbach] more than anybody. But psychologically, he knew how to maintain that motivation.” Under Auerbach’s wing, Cousy helped Boston win six NBA World […]