Astute fans of the Boston Celtics don’t need any explanation as to why the storied franchise chose to retire a jersey number to honor Arnold “Red” Auerbach, a man who never played a single minute for the Celtics. But for those still learning the lore of their favorite team, the legendary coach and team president had a hand in all but one of Boston’s 17 titles.
The feat has not been bested by any front office occupant in NBA history and a singular achievement in North American sports more generally. The Celtics organization honored the iconic executive in 1985, raising the No. 2 jersey to the rafters in honor of his accomplishments with the team.
Auerbach was a true giant of the game, and Bostonians reaped the rewards for generations.
To get a look back at that historic day, check out the video embedded above courtesy of CLNS Media.
If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” “Celtics Lab,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.
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