1960 Boston Celtics

Boston was now the league's measuring stick. The Celtics won 59 games and led the NBA in scoring while Russell led it in rebounding. To reach the Finals they got past the Philadelphia Warriors and their rookie Wilt Chamberlain in six.

Russell's rebounding in this series is hard to believe. He took 40 boards in Game 2, a Finals record at the time. Tom Heinsohn carried the scoring, and Sam Jones had grown into a starter alongside Cousy.

The Hawks, now coached by former Celtic Ed Macauley, traded games with Boston into a seventh. Bob Pettit kept St. Louis close, but the Celtics broke the game open at home, 122-103, behind 35 rebounds from Russell.

This was the fourth Boston-St. Louis title meeting in four years. It was also the last NBA Finals ever played in March.