Part 3/8:
After a rocky few seasons, Auerbach faced a pivotal moment when he took the helm of the Boston Celtics in 1950. Despite a challenging start, including a controversial draft decision where he opted against selecting star player Bob Cousy, he made history that same draft by selecting Chuck Cooper as the first African-American player in the NBA.
Under Auerbach’s guidance, the Celtics experienced relative success but struggled to secure an NBA Championship. The turning point came when he orchestrated a masterful trade to acquire legendary center Bill Russell, a move that would forever change the dynasty of the Celtics. With Russell in the lineup, Boston began a remarkable run of success.