On this day in 1968, Boston Celtics big man luminary Bill Russell won his first NBA championship as player-coach of his Celtics when Boston dispatched the Los Angeles Lakers 124-109 on the road in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Celtics forward John Havlicek led all players with 40 points and 10 rebounds, forward Bailey Howard added 30 points and 11 boards, and point guard Larry Siegfried chipped in 22 points and 6 assists in the win.
It would be the Celtics’ tenth banner hung as a franchise, and the first championship won without legendary general manager Red Auerbach serving in the role of head coach.
It was the first time NBA play had taken place in the month of May, and first of the four major U.S. sports to see an African American head coach win a championship in the modern era.