1966 Boston Celtics

For the first time in years, Boston did not finish first. The Philadelphia 76ers won the East at 55-25, one game ahead of the Celtics' 54-26. Auerbach had announced before the season that he would retire from the bench when it ended.

Sam Jones set a Celtics single-game scoring record with 51 points against Detroit in October, a mark that lasted until Larry Bird broke it in 1983. Russell anchored the defense, with Havlicek and Sanders around him and a deeper bench than most title teams carried.

The Lakers stole Game 1 in Boston in overtime. After that, Auerbach announced Russell would coach the team the next season, making him the first Black head coach in a major American league. Boston took a 3-1 lead, lost the next two, then won Game 7 at home, 95-93, holding off a late Los Angeles run.

Auerbach walked off as a champion in his last game on the bench. Russell took over while still playing center, and the titles kept coming.