“Sustained Excellence” is a periodic series looking back at the 50th anniversary of Bill Russell’s coaching debut season, and at the Celtic dynasty in general.
Savvy Red Auerbach scooped up the services of 13-time All-Star John Havlicek with the final pick in the first round of the 1962 NBA College Draft. Had Hondo not been passed up by every team in the league – the Cincinnati Royals exercised their “territorial” rights on Ohio State teammate Jerry Lucas – Auerbach and Walter Brown had their eye on a rugged 6’7” forward out of Bradley University named Chet Walker.
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