Meanwhile...
Additionally, Auerbach was vital in breaking down color barriers in the NBA. He made history by drafting the first
African-American NBA player,
Chuck Cooper in 1950, introduced the first African-American starting five in 1964,
[3] and hired the first African-American head coach in North American sports (
Bill Russell in 1966).
[4] Famous for his polarizing nature, he was well known for smoking a cigar when he thought a victory was assured, a habit that became, for many, "the ultimate symbol of victory" during his
Boston tenure.
[2]
In 1964, he sent out the first-ever NBA starting five consisting of an African-American quintet, namely Russell,
Willie Naulls, Tom Sanders, Sam Jones, and K. C. Jones.