1963 Boston Celtics

Boston finished 58-22 and first in the East. Russell won the MVP again, averaging nearly 24 rebounds a game. The change came at the end of the bench: Auerbach drafted Havlicek out of Ohio State, and the rookie scored 14 a game without starting.

Sam Jones had become the team's leading scorer at nearly 20 a night on his bank shot. Cousy, at 34, was winding down a career that had made him the face of the franchise. Heinsohn and Frank Ramsey still supplied frontcourt scoring.

Boston got past Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals in a seven-game Eastern final, then handled the Lakers in six. Cousy hurt his ankle in the clinching game in Los Angeles, came back, and the Celtics closed it out 112-109.

Cousy retired after the season. Havlicek would take over as the team's engine for the next sixteen years.