1966 Overview

From Hoopedia

1965-66 NBA Season

This campaign brought yet another shell game from Red Auerbach, the set-up being that the 76ers were allowed to hope.

Philadelphia beat the Celtics six times in 10 meetings and won 55 games, taking the Eastern Division title away from Boston for the first time in 10 years. Wilt Chamberlain led the league in scoring for the seventh and final time, averaging 33.5 points per game and supplanting Bob Pettit as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. Rookie forward Billy Cunningham boosted the Philly cause, averaging 14.3 points per game.

For the playoffs, though, the Celtics had added incentive: Auerbach announced his coaching retirement and a move to the front office at season’s end. Boston recovered from a 2-1 deficit to defeat Cincinnati in five games. The Sixers were rusty after resting for two weeks, and the Celtics disposed of them in five games.

Meanwhile, the Lakers sweated out a seven-game Western Finals series over the Hawks to advance to meet Boston. L.A. took the opener in overtime in Boston, but that’s when Auerbach pulled out a trump card, announcing that Bill Russell would succeed him as head coach and become the first black head coach in a major American sports league.

The bombshell announcement inspired the Celtics, who went on to win three in a row and eventually take the title in seven games. It was Boston’s eighth straight championship and ninth in 10 seasons.