The 7 Boston Celtics Who Powered the NBA's Greatest Dynasty

The Boston Celtics dominated the 1960s, winning nine titles in 10 seasons, including seven in a row from 1960 to 1966—a near-perfect decade that has never been replicated in major North American professional sports. The only year in the 1960s that Boston did not win a title was 1967, the season the Celtics lost to eventual champion Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference finals.

The Celtics’ dynasty had two major inflection points: In 1950, owner Walter Brown hired 33-year-old Arnold “Red” Auerbach as head coach and general manager. On April 29, 1956. Auerbach traded Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan to the St. Louis Hawks for their first-round draft pick, 6-foot-10 University of San Francisco center Bill Russell.