The rise and fall of Bill Russell and his Celtics dynasty, including the 37 teammates who helped him win 11 championships. The timeline runs from Red Auerbach’s hiring in 1950 to Don Chaney’s retirement in 1980.
1950
April
Red Auerbach is hired as head coach, supposedly on the recommendation by a group of local sportswriters to owner Walter Brown
October
Bob Cousy is selected in the dispersal draft organized after the Chicago Stags fold
1951
April
Bill Sharman is acquired via trade from the Fort Wayne Pistons in exchange for Chuck Share
1952
April
Gene Conley (Washington State) is drafted in the 10th round with the #88 overall pick
1953
March
The Celtics make the Conference Finals for the first time in franchise history, losing in four games in a best-of-five series against the Knicks
April
Frank Ramsey (Kentucky) is drafted with the #6 overall pick
Lou Tsioropoulos (Kentucky) is drafted in the seventh round with the #56 overall pick
November
Jack Nichols is acquired via trade from the Milwaukee Hawks
1955
April
Jim Loscutoff (Oregon) is drafted with the #4 overall pick
Dick Hemric (Wake Forest) is drafted in the second round with the #12 overall pick
October
Arnie Risen is acquired via trade from the Rochester Royals in exchange for cash considerations
1956
April
Bill Russell’s draft rights are acquired via trade with the St. Louis Hawks, in exchange for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley
Tom Heinsohn (Holy Cross) is drafted with the #6 overall pick
K.C. Jones (San Francisco) is drafted in the second round with the #14 overall pick
Dan Swartz (Morehead State) is drafted State in the fourth round with the #40 overall pick
August
Andy Phillip is claimed on waivers from the Fort Wayne Pistons
December
Bill Russell signs his rookie contract with the Celtics and makes his first appearance in the team’s 25th game of the ’56-’57 season. He had delayed the transaction in order to retain his amateur eligibility and participate in the 1956 Olympics
1957
April
In the first NBA Finals appearance in franchise history, the Celtics defeat the St. Louis Hawks in a thrilling seven game series. Rookies Tom Heinsohn and Bill Russell are the heroes of game seven, combining for 56 points and 55 rebounds. Russell becomes the second player ever to win an NCAA title, Olympic gold medal, and NBA title
Sam Jones (North Carolina Central) is drafted with the #8 overall pick
1958
April
Due in large part to Bill Russell missing two games of the series with a foot injury, the Celtics are defeated in six games in the NBA Finals by the St. Louis Hawks
Bennie Swain (Texas Southern) is drafted with the #8 overall pick
November
Following a two year stint in the U.S. Army plus a brief attempt at a career in the NFL, K.C. Jones makes his Celtics debut
1959
March
John Richter (N.C. State) is drafted with the #8 overall pick
Gene Guarilia (George Washington) is drafted in the second round with the #16 overall pick
Bill Russell is named league MVP for the ’58-’59 season, the first of five such trophies in his career
April
After a tough seven game Eastern Conference Finals against the Syracuse Nationals, the Celtics win their second NBA title by sweeping the Minneapolis Lakers in four games
1960
April
Avenging a series loss from two years prior, the Celtics defeat the St. Louis Hawks in seven games for their third championship
Tom “Satch” Sanders (NYU) is drafted with the #8 overall pick
1961
March
Gary Phillips (Houston) is drafted with the #9 overall pick
April
In their fourth and final NBA Finals match-up against Bob Pettit and the St. Louis Hawks, the Celtics win in five games
Immediately after winning his fourth championship with the Celtics, Bill Sharman retires at age 34 to become a coach in the fledging American Basketball League
Gene Conley is selected by the Chicago Packers in their franchise expansion draft
May
Carl Braun is signed as a free agent. He had spent his first 12 NBA seasons with the Knicks before being waived at the conclusion of the ’60-’61 season
1962
March
John Havlicek (Ohio State) is drafted with the #9 overall pick
April
In arguably the toughest NBA Finals test of their eventual 11 titles, Bill Russell and the Celtics just barely survive in seven games against a dominant Elgin Baylor and the Lakers
Carl Braun retires at age 34
October
Clyde Lovellette is acquired via trade from the St. Louis Hawks, in exchange for a second round pick
Gary Phillips is traded to the San Francisco Warriors in exchange for cash considerations
1963
March
In an emotional ceremony that was later dubbed the “Boston Tear Party,” a retiring Bob Cousy is honored by the Celtics ahead of his final regular season home game
April
The Celtics defeat the Lakers in six games in the NBA Finals. It’s the sixth and final title of Bob Cousy’s career, and the first of John Havlicek’s eventual eight championships. The mark of six titles also surpasses the Lakers’ five for most in NBA history, a record the Celtics had not since relinquished
September
Willie Naulls is acquired via trade with the San Francisco Warriors, in exchange for terms undisclosed
Gene Guarilla is waived, ending his NBA career
October
Larry Siegfried is signed as a free agent, on the recommendation of college teammate John Havlicek to Red Auerbach
1964
April
In a much hyped first NBA Finals match-up between Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, the Celtics prevail over the San Francisco Warriors in five games
Legendary sixth man Frank Ramsey retires at age 32 after winning his seventh title with the Celtics
Jim Loscutoff retires at age 34 as a six-time champion
Johnny McCarthy retires at age 30
May
Mel Counts (Oregon State) is drafted with the #9 overall pick
Ron Bonham (Cincinnati) is drafted in the second round with the #18 overall pick
John Thompson (Providence) is drafted in the third round with the #27 overall pick
December
The Celtics become the first NBA team to field an all-Black starting five, with Willie Naulls filling in for an injured Tom Heinsohn to join regular starters K.C. Jones, Sam Jones, Satch Sanders, and Bill Russell for tip-off in an eventual win over the Hawks
1965
March
Bill Russell becomes the first player ever to earn five league MVP awards, a number that only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has since surpassed
April
The Celtics defeat the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals. It’s the eighth title in franchise history and their fourth consecutive Finals victory over the Lakers
May
Ron Watts (Wake Forest) is drafted in the second round with the #20 overall pick
October
Si Green is acquired via trade from the Baltimore Bullets in exchange for a fifth round pick
Don Nelson is signed as a free agent
1966
April
The Celtics win their eighth consecutive championship and ninth overall, defeating the Lakers in seven games in the NBA Finals
Red Auerbach steps down as head coach and names Bill Russell as his successor. Auerbach remains with the franchise in a front office role
Willie Naulls retires at age 31
May
Ron Bonham and John Thompson are selected by the Chicago Bulls in their franchise expansion draft
September
Bailey Howell is acquired via trade from the Baltimore Bullets, in exchange for Mel Counts
Wayne Embry is acquired via trade from the Cincinnati Royals, in exchange for a third round pick
1967
April
The Celtics are defeated by the 76ers in the Eastern Conference Finals in five games. It breaks a streak of nine consecutive titles and of 18 consecutive playoff series victories for the Celtics. It also marked the first and only time that a Bill Russell Celtics team: 1) lost a playoff series in which Russell was fully healthy, 2) lost a playoff series to a team featuring Wilt Chamberlain, and 3) failed to reach the NBA Finals
K.C. Jones announces his retirement to accept a coaching job at Brandeis University
May
Ron Watts is selected by the SuperSonics in their franchise expansion draft
Mal Graham (NYU) is drafted with the #11 overall pick
August
Tom Thacker signs as a free agent
1968
May
The Celtics avenge their prior year’s loss with a seven game Conference Finals victory over Wilt Chamberlain and the 76ers
Bill Russell becomes the first Black coach to win an NBA championships, as the Celtics defeat the Lakers in six game in the NBA Finals
Wayne Embry, Tom Thacker, and Johnny Jones are selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in their franchise expansion draft
June
Don Chaney (Houston) is drafted with the #12 overall pick
August
Em Bryant is acquired via trade from the Suns, in exchange for a second round pick
1969
May
The 11th and final title of the Bill Russell era is won in a seven game war of attrition against the Lakers in the NBA Finals. The aging and fatigued Celtics finish the series with an upset win in game seven on the road in Los Angeles
After 13 seasons, 11 championships, five league MVPs, five rebounding titles, and 10 All-Star appearances, Bill Russell retires as both player and coach. He is replaced as head coach by longtime teammate Tom Heinsohn
Sam Jones and Mal Graham retire. Jones finishes his career with 10 titles, the second most all time after Bill Russell, and Graham steps down after just two seasons due to his diagnosis with a rare inflammatory disease
1970
March
The Celtics’ first season without Bill Russell is as disastrous as expected, as the team finishes with a losing record (34-48) and misses the playoffs for the first time in 20 years
May
In the 1970 expansion draft, Em Bryant and Bailey Howell are selected by the Buffalo Braves, and Larry Siegfried is selected by the Trail Blazers
October
Rich Johnson is waived and subsequently signs with the Miami Floridians of the ABA
1972
March
The Celtics retire Bill Russell’s #6 jersey in a private event before a Celtics game. Russell refused to have his jersey retired in a public ceremony, due to racist treatment he received from Boston fans during his career
1973
May
Suffering from the effects of knee surgery, Satch Sanders retires at age 34 after 13 seasons with the Celtics, and eight championships
Bill Russell is named head coach of the SuperSonics. He remains in the position for four seasons, making two playoff appearances and finishing with a 162-166 record
1974
May
The Celtics defeat the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA Finals for their first title without Bill Russell. Hold-outs on the roster from the last Russell championship team in 1969 are Don Chaney, Don Nelson, and series MVP John Havlicek
September
Don Chaney departs as a free agent, signing with the Spirits of St. Louis of the ABA. He would eventually return to the Celtics to close out his career
1976
June
The Celtics win the 13th title in franchise history, defeating the Suns in six games in the NBA Finals. It’s the eighth and final title of John Havlicek’s career
Don Nelson retires after 13 seasons in the NBA – 11 with the Celtics – and five championships. He immediately begins his coaching career, taking an assistant job with the Bucks
1978
April
After winning eight titles over 16 seasons, all spent with the Celtics, John Havlicek officially retires
1980
April
Don Chaney goes down as the last active NBA player who was teammates with Bill Russell, finally retiring after the ’79-’80 season. Chaney also notably becomes the only player to be teammates with both Russell and Larry Bird
Basketball, Listed 