When Auerbach hung up the ol’ clipboard in 1966, he went on to serve as the general manager until 1984 and the team’s president until his death (with a few breaks in between). In these roles, it was Auerbach who was responsible for bringing Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale to the Boston Celtics. All three players made their way into the Hall of Fame.
In the end, Red Auerbach is tied with Phil Jackson for the record of most NBA championships. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969 and won the NBA Executive of the Year Award in 1980. This same year, he was named to the NBA’s 35th Anniversary team as the “Greatest Coach in the History of the NBA" by the Professional Basketball Writers Association of America.
As famous as he was as a coach, he was also famous as a cigar smoker: he was known for lighting up a victory cigar before the end of the game when the Celtics looked to win. Fans reveled in this and opponents were infuriated by it, but everyone noticed it. The victory cigar became Auerbach’s mark and something he is most remembered, loved and hated for. When the home arena of the Boston Celtics banned smoking, those in charge decided that, for Auerbach, they could make an exception; he was, after all, exceptional.
Article comments