Amanda Knapp
Arnold Jacob Red Auerbach is considered the golden standard of all NBA general managers in the league's history. As the general manager of the Celtics from 1950 to 1984, and head coach from 1950 to 1966, Auerbach led the team to 15 championship titles, including eight consecutive wins from 1959 to 1966. In addition to his impressive career as a coach and general manager, Auerbach played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA, drafting Chuck Cooper, the league's first African-American player, in 1950. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969 and is regarded as one of the greatest personalities in NBA history. While opinions vary on who the best GM in the league's history is, with names like Jerry West, Pat Riley, and Bob Myers also frequently mentioned, Red Auerbach's impact on the Celtics and the NBA as a whole is undeniable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach |
| Birth | September 20, 1917, Brooklyn, New York |
| Death | October 28, 2006, aged 89 |
| Role | Boston Celtics GM (1966 to 1984), President and Vice-Chairman of the Board |
| Achievements | Won 16 NBA titles in 29 years with the Celtics, NBA Executive of the Year in 1980, authored seven books, played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA |
| Known For | His temper, being one of the greatest personalities in NBA history, his signature on the parquet floor near center court |
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What You'll Learn
Red Auerbach's career as a GM
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach, born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 20, 1917, had a highly successful career as a GM. He was a professional basketball player and coach before becoming a general manager. As a coach, he led the Boston Celtics to eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. He retired from coaching in 1966 with an NBA coaching record of 938 wins.
Auerbach served as the general manager of the Celtics from 1966 to 1984. During his tenure, he was responsible for acquiring several talented players through the draft and trades, which helped the team win seven NBA championships during his time as GM. He played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA by drafting Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player, in 1950. He also sent out the first African-American starting five onto the court in 1964.
One of Auerbach's most notable moves as GM was drafting Larry Bird in the 1978 Draft. Bird became a 12-time All-Star, won the MVP award three times, and won three championships with the Celtics. Another significant move was drafting Len Bias, a college superstar, in the 1986 Draft. Unfortunately, Bias passed away from an overdose just two days after being drafted.
Auerbach's success as a GM extended beyond his time with the Celtics. He remained involved with the team until his death in 2006, serving as President (1984-1997, 2001-2006) and Vice-Chairman (1997-2001). He was also a pioneer in modern basketball, changing the way the game was played by implementing a team-first approach instead of focusing on individual players.
Auerbach is considered one of the greatest GMs in NBA history, with Boston Celtics' 15 titles during his tenure as the golden standard. He was named NBA Executive of the Year in 1980 and was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969. His impact on the game and his contributions to the Celtics' success are undeniable, solidifying his legacy as one of the best GMs in basketball.
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Red Auerbach's legacy
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach, born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 20, 1917, is considered the golden standard of all NBA GMs in the league's history. As the Celtics' general manager (from 1950 to 1984) and head coach (from 1950 to 1966), Auerbach produced the most dominating dynasty that won 15 titles, including eight straight in 1959-1966. He won a combined 16 NBA titles in his 29 years with the Celtics, making him one of the most successful team officials in the history of North American professional sports.
Auerbach was a standout basketball player himself. He played as a guard at P.S. 122 and Eastern District High School, where he was named "Second Team All-Brooklyn" by the World-Telegram in his senior year. After a season at Seth Low Junior College, Auerbach received an athletic scholarship to play for the George Washington Colonials men's basketball team in Washington, D.C. He was a three-time letterman, team captain, and led the team in scoring in 1940. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1940 and a Master of Education in 1941. During this time, Auerbach began to develop the technique known as the fast break.
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. He has been regarded as one of the NBA's 10 Greatest Coaches in history and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. His number 2 jersey was retired at TD Garden, the Celtics' stadium, and his signature was placed on the parquet floor near center court, naming the court the "Red Auerbach Parquet Floor".
Auerbach was also a prolific writer, authoring seven books, including Basketball for the Player, the Fan and Coach, which has been translated into seven languages and is the best-selling basketball book in print. He was also known for his love of Chinese food and cigars, and he became a part-owner of a Chinese restaurant in Boston.
Auerbach's legacy is defined by the trades he made, and he is remembered as a pioneer in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA. He drafted Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player, in 1950, and he made deals that brought Bill Russell, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale to Boston. He also drafted Larry Bird a year early to ensure he would come to Boston.
Auerbach died of a heart attack on October 28, 2006, at the age of 89, and his impact on the NBA continues to be felt today.
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Red Auerbach's impact on the NBA
Red Auerbach is considered the "golden standard" of NBA GMs. He is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history, being inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969 and named NBA Executive of the Year in 1980. He is also one of the NBA's 10 Greatest Coaches, according to the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America.
Auerbach spent 57 years with the Boston Celtics, first as a coach and then as general manager and team president until his death in 2006. He won 16 NBA championship rings in 29 years, making him the most successful official in NBA history. He is credited with creating several generations of championship-winning Celtics teams, most notably the first Celtics dynasty with Bill Russell, which won eight consecutive titles from 1959 to 1966. As a coach, he won 938 games, an NBA record at the time of his retirement.
Auerbach was also a pioneer of modern basketball, redefining the game as one dominated by team play and tough defense rather than individual feats and high scoring. He introduced the fast break as a potent offensive weapon. He was also responsible for decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA, drafting Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player, in 1950.
Auerbach was also known for his love of cigars and Chinese food. He was so famous for lighting up a cigar when his team had won that many Boston restaurants had signs saying, "No Smoking" and in smaller letters, "Except Red Auerbach." He also became a part-owner of a Chinese restaurant in Boston, as he believed Chinese takeout was the most convenient nutrition for NBA teams travelling on tight schedules.
Auerbach's impact on the NBA was so significant that during the 2006-07 NBA season, NBA TV and NBA.com aired reruns of his four-minute instructional videos, "Red on Roundball." Additionally, the Boston Red Sox honoured him at their April 20, 2007 game against the New York Yankees by wearing green uniforms and hanging replicated Celtics championship banners on the "Green Monster" at Fenway Park. The Boston Celtics also named the court at their stadium the "Red Auerbach Parquet Floor."
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Red Auerbach's influence on racial discrimination in the NBA
Boston Celtics' Red Auerbach is considered the golden standard of all NBA GMs in the league's history. As the Celtics' general manager (from 1950 to 1984) and head coach (from 1950 to 1966), Auerbach produced the most dominating dynasty that won 15 titles, including eight straight in 1959-1966.
Auerbach 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 the same year, he famously snubbed future Hall of Fame point guard Bob Cousy, arguing that Cousy lacked the poise necessary to make his team. Instead, he selected Bowling Green center Chuck Share with the first overall pick. Auerbach also used the Celtics' second-round pick on Chuck Cooper, making him the first black player to be drafted into the NBA. Fourteen years later, he lined up the first African-American quintet in history as starters.
Auerbach was a Jewish American, and his actions were vital in breaking down the discrimination and racial boundaries that reigned in the NBA. He served in Boston, a conservative city where racial discrimination appeared in different spaces. In 1992, the standard opening question on a book tour was, "Are you calling Red a racist?". This was considered an absurd notion, a wholly false interpretation. First and foremost, Auerbach was an opportunist who was stubbornly loyal to his production and his people, if occasionally unenlightened in his approach. For example, he once walked over to Cedric Maxwell at a team Christmas party and said, "You know, Maxwell, you remind me of that old movie guy Stepin Fetchit," an early 20th-century actor who portrayed blacks as shiftless and simple-minded. In all probability, Auerbach was trying to compliment Maxwell on being likeable and coachable.
Auerbach deserves tremendous credit for putting five African-Americans on the court and for turning the coaching reins of his beloved Celtics over to his main man, Bill Russell, for not allowing his ambitions to be compromised by America’s racial perversions. However, not everyone believed that the championship ends justified the supercilious means. Bob Cousy, for example, stated that Auerbach was "certainly no leader of civil rights."
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Red Auerbach's books
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach was an American professional basketball coach and executive. He led the Boston Celtics to eight consecutive NBA championships between 1959 and 1966. He served as the general manager of the Celtics from 1966 to 1984, and later as President and Vice-Chairman of the Board. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969 and was regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NBA history.
Red Auerbach was the author of seven books. His first book, 'Basketball for the Player, the Fan and Coach', has been translated into seven languages and is the best-selling basketball book in print. His second book, 'Winning the Hard Way', was co-authored with Paul Sann. He also wrote a pair of books with Joe Fitzgerald: 'Red Auerbach: An Autobiography' and 'Red Auerbach On and Off the Court'. In October 1991, 'M.B.A.: Management by Auerbach' was co-authored with Ken Dooley. In 1994, 'Seeing Red' was written with Dan Shaughnessy, and in 2004, his last book, 'Let Me Tell You a Story', was co-authored with sports journalist John Feinstein.
'Seeing Red: The Red Auerbach Story' by Dan Shaughnessy is a biography of Red Auerbach, the former Boston Celtics coach famous for his trademark cigar. The book talks about Auerbach's management techniques as a coach and the moves he made as a general manager to keep the team successful. It also includes little-known facts about Auerbach, such as his favourite TV shows and dog breed.
'Red Auerbach: An Autobiography' is another book that provides insights into the life and career of this basketball legend. Written with Joe Fitzgerald, it recounts Auerbach's experiences in sports and the players and coaches he worked with.
'Let Me Tell You a Story' is a book that combines Red Auerbach's unique experiences in sports with John Feinstein's storytelling skills. It presents entertaining stories from Auerbach's life, including his childhood in Brooklyn and his triumphs at the Boston Garden.
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Frequently asked questions
Arnold Jacob "Red" Auerbach is considered the golden standard of all NBA GMs in the league's history. As the Celtics’ general manager (from 1950 to 1984) and head coach (from 1950 to 1966), Auerbach produced the most dominating dynasty that won 15 titles, including eight straight in 1959-1966. He won a combined 16 NBA titles in his 29 years with the Celtics, making him one of the most successful team officials in the history of North American professional sports.
Red Auerbach played a key role in decreasing racial discrimination in the NBA. In 1950, he drafted Chuck Cooper, the NBA's first African-American player. He was also a successful coach, author, and player.
Some other notable GMs in basketball include Jerry West, Pat Riley, Bob Myers, Danny Ainge, and Jerry Krause.
A GM's role in basketball varies depending on the franchise and what the owner allows. They are the front liners of the team's transactions and negotiations, which are vital to the success of the franchise. They can persuade superstar free agents to sign with the team and even replace the coaching staff.
