The Celtics were primed to win the 1961 NBA World Championship title over the St. Louis Hawks thanks to the efforts of three team leaders. Bill Russell averaged 23.9 rebounds per game and Bob Cousy 7.7 assists per game, while Bill Sharman shot over 92 percent from the free-throw line. Though Sharman retired at the […]

Before a scheduled game in Maryland, the Celtics swung by the White House to visit Boston’s number one sports fan, President John F. Kennedy. Though normally known for his love of football, Kennedy greeted all Celtics players except Bill Russell, who reportedly overslept and missed the tour. (In his defense, Russell didn’t know that the […]

Frank Ramsey (center) didn’t start many games for the Celtics during his nine years in Boston. However, he created a niche for himself as the first player off the bench, or the “sixth man,” a position still in use today. After missing the 1955-56 season to complete military service, Ramsey returned the following year for […]

Members of the 1956-57 NBA World Championship team, the first in Celtics history, put their signature on this basketball. Led by Head Coach Red Auerbach, the Celtics prevailed in the series’ remarkable double-overtime Game 7 against the St. Louis Hawks. Bill Russell tied the game at the end of regulation, then blocked a Hawks shot […]

Celtics players, along with Head Coach Red Auerbach, stood in front of their Douglas DC-3 charter plane. Bob Cousy said of the planes, “We didn’t have any near-death experiences. Those things were the safest planes ever made at the time.” Not every member of the traveling party was as comfortable with the flying experience as […]