Celtics’ profound impact on NBA

Prep Scene

Last week the Boston Celtics, behind the outstanding play of  Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Al Horford won their league-leading 18^th NBA championship defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Rather than repeat the obvious details reported by other media outlets, this columnist feels that a history lesson is in order.

It’s no secret that the Celtics won championships in the 1950s, ‘60s. ‘70s and ‘80s. It’s also no secret that African Americans such as Bill Russell, Sam Jones, Thomas “Satch” Sanders, JoJo White, Paul Silas, Dennis Johnson, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Cedric “Cornbread” Maxwell and Robert Parrish, to name a few,  played a prominent role in their success during this period while much fanfare was given to white players that included Bob Cousy, Tommy Heinson, John Havlicek, Don Nelson, Dave Cowens, Kevin McHale, Bill Walton and Larry Bird.

While Boston has a reputation as a city with racial overtones, the Celtics organization has made decisions involving African Americans that have had a profound impact on the NBA as it is today. Below are those choices and accomplishments that changed the NBA:

The first Black player to be drafted

With the 14^th pick in the 1950 NBA draft, the Celtics selected Charles Cooper, a 6’4” guard from Duquesne University, making him the first Black player to ever be drafted.

Cooper, an All-American while in college, played four years for the Celtics before being traded to the Milwaukee Hawks and finishing his career with the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1956.  

The first Black NBA superstar

With the No. 2 pick in the 1956 draft, the Celtics drafted Russell after an outstanding career at the University of San Francisco. The 6’9” center, an outstanding scorer, rebounder, shot blocker and leader, became the first Black superstar in a white-dominant NBA, leading  Boston to 11 NBA championships in 13 seasons.

The first all-Black starting lineup

The Celtics were the first to start five Black players in the NBA during the 1964-65 season.

When starting forward Tommy Heinson, who was white, injured his foot in December, head coach Red Auerbach had a decision to make before the team faced the St. Louis Hawks.

Rather than start sixth man John Havlicek, who was white, Auerbach inserted forward Willie Naulls, who along with guards Sam Jones and K.C. Jones, forward Thomas “Satch” Sanders, and center Russell formed the NBA’s first all-Black starting five.

The Celtics would not only go on to win 12 games in a row, but they would also finish the season with a league-best 62-18 record en route to their eighth NBA championship.

The first Black head coach in the NBA

After Auerbach retired In 1966, Russell was named coach of the Celtics, becoming the first Black to hold such a position in the NBA. He served as player-coach.

The first Black NBA coach to win a championship

After failing to win the title in 1967, Russell became the first Black NBA coach to win a championship in 1968. Following a repeat in 1969, he retired.

The NBA today

As of  2023,  according to the Statis website, African American players accounted for approximately 70.4% of NBA players, while 17.5 percent of NBA players were white. Boston’s 2024 championship team listed 10 African Americans on its 17-player roster.

The Celtics, who also won a title in 2008, continue to impact the NBA to this day.