Everyone’s heard the story about Red Auerbach promising Bill Russell, as they were leaving the locker room for his first pro game, that they’d never discuss his statistics when negotiating his salary.
Of course, Red knew at the time that he was addressing a rookie – a precocious one, no doubt – but nonetheless a rookie, a newcomer to the team and its culture.
The veterans on that team, the ones already clued in to that culture, much preferred “talking contract” with the Celtics’ kindly owner, Walter Brown.
The wily Auerbach and Mr. Brown (aided, abetted and occasionally steered by partner Lou Pieri) could be a formidable “Good Cop – Bad Cop” combination, not only within the organization, but within the league.