<P> The Boston Celtics were formed on June 6, 1946, by Boston Garden - Arena Corporation President Walter A. Brown as a team in the Basketball Association of America, and became part of the National Basketball Association after the absorption of the National Basketball League by the BAA in the fall of 1949 . In 1950, the Celtics signed Chuck Cooper, becoming the first NBA franchise to draft a black player . </P> <P> The Celtics struggled during their early years, until the hiring of coach Red Auerbach . In the franchise's early days, Auerbach had no assistants, ran all the practices, did all the scouting--both of opposing teams and college draft prospects--and scheduled all the road trips . One of the first great players to join the Celtics was Bob Cousy, whom Auerbach initially refused to draft out of nearby Holy Cross because he was "too flashy". Cousy eventually became the property of the Chicago Stags, but when that franchise went bankrupt, Cousy went to the Celtics in a dispersal draft . After the 1955--56 season, Auerbach made a stunning trade . He sent perennial All - Star Ed Macauley to the St. Louis Hawks along with the draft rights to Cliff Hagan in exchange for the second overall pick in the draft . After negotiating with the Rochester Royals--a negotiation that included a promise that the Celtics owner would send the highly sought - after Ice Capades to Rochester if the Royals would let Russell slide to #2--Auerbach used the pick to select University of San Francisco center Bill Russell . Auerbach also acquired Holy Cross standout, and 1957 NBA Rookie of the Year, Tommy Heinsohn . Russell and Heinsohn worked extraordinarily well with Cousy, and they were the players around whom Auerbach would build the champion Celtics for more than a decade . </P> <P> With Bill Russell, the Celtics advanced to the 1957 NBA Finals and defeated the St. Louis Hawks in seven games, giving the Celtics the first of their record 17 championships . Russell went on to win 11 championships, making him the most decorated player in NBA history . In 1958, the Celtics again advanced to the NBA Finals, this time losing to the Hawks in 6 games . However, with the acquisition of K.C. Jones that year, the Celtics began a dynasty that would last for more than a decade . In 1959, the Celtics won the NBA Championship after sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers, the first of their record eight consecutive championships . During that time, the Celtics met the Lakers in the Finals five times, starting an intense and often bitter rivalry that has spanned generations . In 1964, the Celtics became the first NBA team to have an all African - American starting lineup . On December 26, 1964, Willie Naulls replaced an injured Tommy Heinsohn, joining Tom' Satch' Sanders, K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, and Bill Russell in the starting lineup . The Celtics defeated St. Louis 97--84 . Boston won its next 11 games with Naulls starting in place of Heinsohn . The Celtics of the late - 1950s--1960s are widely considered as one of the most dominant teams of all time . </P> <P> Auerbach retired as coach after the 1965--66 season and Russell took over as player - coach, which was Auerbach's ploy to keep Russell interested . With his appointment, Russell also became the first African - American coach in any U.S. pro sport . Auerbach would remain the general manager, a position he would hold well into the 1980s . However, that year the Celtics' string of NBA titles was broken as they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals . The aging team managed two more championships in 1968 and 1969, defeating the Los Angeles Lakers each time in the NBA Finals . Russell retired after the 1969 season, effectively ending a dominant Celtics dynasty that had garnered 11 NBA titles in 13 seasons . The streak of 8 consecutive championships is the longest streak of consecutive championships in U.S. professional sports history . </P>

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