Boston Celtics · Franchise era 1 of 7
Cousy and the early Celtics: the Boston Celtics story
The story in one sentence
Cousy and Sharman made Boston exciting and competitive while Red Auerbach assembled the pieces for a historic leap.
A fast-breaking foundation
Bob Cousy, Ed Macauley and Bill Sharman gave the era its recognizable core.
Its ending created the conditions for russell's dynasty.
Timeline
How it unfolded
The foundation
The franchise context
Boston's history is the league's deepest championship lineage: Russell's standard, Havlicek and Cowens, Bird's revival, the 2008 Big Three and a homegrown Tatum–Brown champion.
1953
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Boston Celtics vs New York Knicks
1954
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
1955
Eastern Conference Semifinals: Boston Celtics vs Philadelphia 76ers
- 10TradeApril 30, 1956
April 30, 1956
The draft-night trade that created the Celtics dynasty
Red Auerbach sacrificed an established local star and another premium prospect for the defensive center he believed could complete Boston.
To BOSTo STLDraftPICKround assetBill Russell to BostonBOS receives Rights: Bill Russell · No. 2STLSTL receives Ed Macauley, Rights: Cliff Hagan3 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → After 1955–56
What came next
Russell made defense, rebounding and team play the center of the sport, leading the most concentrated championship run in NBA history.
The core