Red Auerbach's Historic Coaching Handoff to Bill Russell

0:00It's April 17th, from the locker room to your ears. This is Boston Celtics News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story. On this day in Celtics history, Red Hourbok handed the coaching reigns to Bill Russell. It happened in 1966 during the NBA finals, making Russell the first blackhead coach in any major North American pro sport. Hourbok had already said the 1965-1966 season would be his last on the bench. After a game won finals loss, he made the switch official, and Boston still grabbed that year's title with Russell leading the charge. The move broke barriers and set a new standard. Russell proved he could coach winners right away. Hourbok stuck around his general manager into the late 1980s and stayed tied to the team until his passing in 2006. This state also marks when the Celtics snag shooting guard, Sam Jones, 8th overall in the 1957 draft. The North Carolina Central product racked up 10 championships, second only to Russell, and

1:01hit five all-star nods from 1962 to 1968. We got birthdays too for a few quick stint Celtics biggs, Andy Duncan born in 1922 with a 14-game run-back in 1950. 1951, Theo Ratliffe in 1973, two games after a 2006 trade, Ed Syracy from 1952, four games in. 1975, and Matt Ryan, 1997, just one appearance. History keeps stacking up these green team gyms.