On March 14 1972, future Boston Celtic forward Paul Silas was traded to the Massachusetts franchise from the Phoenix Suns, and was not happy about it.
As compensation for relinquishing the draft rights for player Charlie Scott, legendary Celtics president Red Auerbach squeezed the Suns for assets, netting him the contract of Silas in return for letting Scott go to Phoenix.
The Arkansas native, having just bought a home in Arizona, was displeased even while aware of the growing mystique surrounding Boston.
“It was difficult … I just didn’t want to go, so Red Auerbach started talking to me and whatnot and I just didn’t have much to say,” explained Silas via Grantland’s Jonathan Abrams. “I did not want to go.”
Eventually, the team and particularly Auerbach would win over the reticent big man, who came around to the organization after some time with Red and his basketball-obsessed mind.
“I’d talk to him about basketball, about this, about that, whatever,” offered Silas . “It was just special. He was so smart and I began to love being there.”
Silas would go on to win two of his three rings with Boston in 1974 and 1976.
The Celtics also happened to become the first team to win 61 games 54 years ago today, as a John Havlicek, Tommy Heinsohn, Willie Naulls, Sam and KC Jones, and Bill Russell-led Celtics took the 1964-65 Celtics to the record number of victories with a 106-98 win against the San Francisco Warriors at home.
That iteration of the team would eventually go on to win the 1965 NBA championship against Boston’s oldest rival, the Los Angeles Lakers.
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