Red Auerbach (1917–2006,) born Arnold Jacob Auerbach, was an American basketball coach and executive best known for his tenure with the Boston Celtics, where he revolutionized the game and led multiple championship teams.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, he played college basketball at George Washington University before beginning his coaching career. He coached the Washington Capitols (1946–49) and Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1949–50) before joining the Celtics in 1950. As head coach, he led the team to nine NBA championships, including an unprecedented eight consecutive titles (1959–66.) He later served as general manager and president, overseeing seven more championships.
Auerbach pioneered strategies like the fast break offense and advanced racial integration in the NBA. He drafted the league’s first African-American player, introduced the first all-Black starting lineup, and hired Bill Russell as the NBA’s first Black head coach.
His books include Winning the Hard Way (1966,) Basketball for the Player, the Fan, and the Coach (1975,) On and Off the Court (1985,) MBA—Management By Auerbach (1991,) and Let Me Tell You a Story: A Lifetime in the Game (2004,) co-authored with John Feinstein.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Red Auerbach
To a father, when a child dies, the future dies; to a child when a parent dies, the past dies.
—Red Auerbach
Topics: Dying, Parents, Death
The best way to forget ones self is to look at the world with attention and love.
—Red Auerbach
Topics: Self-love, Attention
Basketball is like war in that offensive weapons are developed first, and it always takes a while for the defense to catch up.
—Red Auerbach
Topics: Defense
The only correct actions are those that demand no explanation and no apology.
—Red Auerbach
Topics: Explanation, Action, Integrity
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