NBA Champions ·

1964 Boston Celtics

The 1963-64 Celtics won their sixth straight title, the first without Bob Cousy. Defensive guard K.C. Jones took over at the point and Boston still won 59 games. The Finals brought the first Bill Russell-Wilt Chamberlain meeting on that stage, with Boston beating Chamberlain's San Francisco Warriors in five.

Cousy was gone, but the Celtics barely slowed down. K.C. Jones, a defense-first guard, replaced him and Boston went 59-21. The team leaned harder on defense than ever, with Russell leading the league in rebounding and Sanders and Jones hounding ballhandlers.

John Havlicek, still a reserve, led the team in scoring at around 20 a game. Sam Jones scored from the wing. Boston had six players averaging double figures and no single star carrying the offense.

San Francisco had Chamberlain, who had moved west with the Warriors. This was the first time he and Russell met in the Finals. Chamberlain put up big numbers, including 38 rebounds in Game 4, but Boston's depth won out in five games.

Russell and Chamberlain would meet in the Finals only once more, in 1969. Boston won this round.

Championship roster

Featured in Ring Holders Club

1964 Boston Celtics members featured in Ring Holders Club
PlayerRoleRating
Bill RussellC97
John HavlicekSF89
Sam JonesSG85
Tom SandersPF76
K.C. JonesPG80
Willie Naulls6th man77
Red AuerbachCoach95

Ratings are year-specific curated estimates for Ring Holders Club, not official NBA stats.

Rest of the roster

Other players on the championship roster
PlayerPos
Tom HeinsohnF
Frank RamseyG/F
Larry SiegfriedG
Clyde LovelletteC
Jim LoscutoffF
Johnny McCarthyG

More Boston Celtics titles